Speech #1040067948

The premise of my amendment. Mr. President. is that fighting illegal immigration is one such compelling purpose. Mr. President. illegal immigration is rampant in this country. Some estimates show that 300.000 illegal immigrants come to this country each year. Despite its past admirable work. the Immigration and Naturalization Service is woefully understaffed and underfunded. We need more border patrol agents to stop illegal immigration and other INS officials to help deport those who are living in this country illegally. Mr. President. illegal immigration is a major problem. Ask State and local officials from California. Texas. Florida. New York. and New Jersey about the toll that illegal immigration takes on their economies and local services. Mr. President. at a minimum a majority of the Senate ought to be free to provide up to $1 billion into fighting illegal immigration. if we can identify savings from military spending that the Senate agrees is wasteful. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.