Speech #1040056647

Mr. President. it is a privilege to introduce the Immigration Enforcement Improvements Act of 1995 today on behalf of the Clinton administration. This important bill builds upon the administrations already impressive record in addressing the pressing national problem of illegal immigration. We must take strong steps to stop illegal immigration. while continuing to welcome those immigrants who enter lawfully within our immigration ceilings and contribute so much to the Nation. This administration has done more to close the door on illegal inmigration than any previous administration. With expected increases this year and next. we will have increased border control staffing by 51 percent since President Clinton took officeincluding border patrols and inspectors at border crossing points and airports. We have tripled the deportation of illegal immigrants and targeted the removal of criminal aliens. We have increased the budget of the Immigration Service by over 70 percent from $1.5 billion in 1993 to $2.6 billion requested for 1996. The real credit for these impressive accomplishments goes to President Clinton. Attorney General Janet Reno. and Immigration Commissioner Doris Meissner for their effective leadership and commitment to meeting the challenge of illegal immigration. The legislation introduced.today recognizes that there is no single solution to illegal immigration. The bill will give the administration a variety of tools to control our borders more effectively. to deny jobs to illegal workers. and to remove illegal immigrants who are here in violation of our laws. The bill authorizes increases in enforcement personnel of no less than 700 Border Patrol agents annually for the next 3 years. and authorizes the increases in INS inspectors needed to enable full staffing at airports and entry points. The bill imposes new. stiff penalties for alien smuggling. document fraud and other serious immigration offenses. The bill authorizes pilot programs to test effective ways to verify that job applicants are eligible to work in the United States. The goal is to find simple and effective ways of denying jobs to illegal immigrants. and thereby shutting down the magnet that draws so many illegal aliens to this country. The bill promotes coordination on workplace enforcement between the Immigration Service and the Department of Labor. since employers who hire undocumented workers often also violate other labor standards as well. Finally. the bill expedites the removal of criminal aliens by eliminating needless procedures and redtape. I commend the administration for their impressive initiative. Immigration should not be a partisan issue. In the weeks ahead. I look forward to working closely with Senator SIMPSON. the chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration. and with many other colleagues onboth sides of the aisle to bring bipartisan legislation before the Senate capable of dealing with the serious challenges we face. I ask unanimous consent that a more detailed summary of the bill may be printed in the RECORD. along with the text of the bill itself.