Chairman. I rise today to support this legislation. New Jerseys 13th District is the homo to many immigrants. immigrants who are proud to reside in this great land and immigrants who abide by her laws. For most of these individuals. America is an opportunity. an opportunity to work. an opportunity to succeed. and an opportunity to provide a better life for their children. However. I believe it is time we send the message that America is also a privilege and if you choose to violate her laws. your privileges will be revoked. You will be tried. you will be convicted. and you will be deported. It is right to seek reimbursement to States for the incarceration of criminal aliens. The burden on the State for the incarceration of criminal aliens is overwhelming. and it is unfair to expect the American people to bear this expense. In June 1989. the GAO estimated that 22 percent of the Federal prison population were aliens and over half had been convicted of a crime for which they could be deported. at a cost of over $15.000 per prisoner per year this is unacceptable. For New Jersey this means annual costs of $6.6 million for the incarceration of criminal aliens. And in New York City. across the Hudson River from my district. in a 15month period 12.300 aliens were arrested for felonies.
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