Speech #1030121825

Mr. Speaker. we are a nation of immigrants. and I am the daughter of immigrants who came to America seeking peace and prosperity and found both. Immigrants built our cities. settled the West. defined our culture and created a nation that values individual freedom and security above all else. Our strength as a country derives. in part. from our diversity. But our Nation. States. and communities are burdened with an onslaught of illegal immigration that undercuts our struggling economy and drains vital public resources. It is estimated that 1.000.000 illegal immigrants and their children live in Los Angeles. Governor Pete Wilson estimates that medical. K12 educational. and law enforcement costs for Californias illegal immigrants total nearly $2 billion annually. and that figure is rising. Currently. twothirds of all the babies born in Los Angeles County public hospitals are born to undocumented immigrants. My priority in the Congress is to retain and build highskill. highwage jobs in the South Bay. I firmly believe that the onslaught of illegal immigration that burdens our community is destructive to our ability to generate those jobs. and the opportunity for all who live in the South Bayregardless of race or economic circumstanceto fill those jobs. I believe that to combat the illegal immigration problems that face California and the Nation. we must carry out a threepronged strategy. We must strengthen our control of our borders. increase enforcement of the laws against employing undocumented workers. and relieve the tremendous burden that illegal immigration imposes on our local. State. and Federal treasuries.