Speech #1040190247

SMITH for persevering in bringing H.R. 2202 to the floorand I am proud to be a cosponsor. This is about the failure of the Federal Government to control our borders and the impact that failure has had on our society. Although I agree that the issues of illegal and legal immigration are distinct. I know that they are closely related. All immigration is out of control. We cannot consider either legal or illegal in a vacuum without looking at the othera conclusion with which many Americans agree. In recent weeks the Wall Street Journal reported that 50 percent of Americans surveyed oppose any legal immigration. Such views are born of years of watching the system fail. Mr. Speaker. the problems of illegal immigration are readily definable. Today more than one quarter of all Federal prisoners are illegal immigrants. fraudulent employment and benefit documentation is rampant. and criminal aliens linger in our country at significant taxpayer expense. Well. H.R. 2202 doubles the number of Border Patrol agents. dedicates more resources to prosecuting illegal aliens. streamlines the rules for removal of illegal and criminal aliens. and strengthens penalties against those who disobey orders to leave. H.R. 2202 also clamps down on illegal aliens accessing public benefits. And it implements a program to address a major incentive of todays illegal immigrationthe promise of jobsby setting up a 1800 number for employers to call and verify citizenship status. This provision does notrepeat. does not--create a "Big Brother is watching you" system with a new national identity card. And this provision is not an unfair burden on employers. In fact. employers who have tried it have given it rave reviews. When it comes to legal immigration. there are also serious problems. Today there are approximately 1.1 million cases pending in the system. which can translate into a 40year waiting period. Those who get caught up in this bureaucratic nightmare suffer from prolonged separation from their families and uncertainty about their futures. Its no surprise that they get frustrated and seek to jump the line. H.R. 2202 increases the percentage of immigrants admitted on the basis of needed skills and education. It places emphasis on core family units. favoring "nuclear family" admission over "extended family" admissions. And it guarantees a way for bona fide refugees to enter our country in an orderly manner. Immigrants have contributed immeasurably to the greatness of this Nation. This legislation doesnt close the doorbut it does seek to balance the generous nature of Americans with the reality of limited resources. That is a laudable result.