Speech #1030116383

I rise in support of Senator BOXERs amendment adopted on November 10. Mr. President. this amendment increases the civil penalties for immigration document fraud. In 1990. I offered an amendment to the Immigration Act of 1990 to create civil penalties for document fraud. This amendment was necessary because U.S. attorneys were reluctant to bring criminal charges against aliens and others who used fraudulent documents to obtain immigration or employment benefits. By establishing new civil penalties for this type of document fraud. immigration officers could file complaints and bring these charges without involving the U.S. attorneys. This amendment would increase the civil penalties for a first offense from a minimum of $250 to a minimum of $1.000. and it would increase the maximum penalty from $2.000 to $5.000. The amendment would also increase the civil penalties for subsequent offenses from a $2.000 minimum to $5.000. and from a $5.000 maximum to $10.000. In addition to increasing the civil penalties for document fraud under the immigration laws. the amendment would also increase the criminal penalties for document fraud under the Criminal Code. Document fraud is one of the .most serious and difficult problems we are encountering in our efforts to control illegal immigration. Stiffer penalties may reduce the incidence of document fraud. and I support the amendment.