Speech #1040190279

MCCOLLUM. CONDIT. and GOODLATTE for all their hard work. In order to obtain a firsthand understanding of the problem. the task force reviewed the record of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. received testimony and reports from a wide range of Individuals and organizations and conducted 3 factfinding missions to San Diego. New York. and Miami. With an estimated 4 million persons Illegally crossing the border each year the Issues of border enforcement and enhancement. political asylum. and refugees were explored at these major ports of entry. The insights we gained during these trips were critical to our efforts to find effective solutions to the problem of illegal immigration. I would like to thank all of the members who accompanied me on those visits. Once the investigating and fact finding concluded the task force set out to produce a comprehensive and results oriented report. On June 29. the task force presented to the Speaker Its findings and recommendations. Our Task Force concluded that the 1986 IRCA law had failed to deter illegal immigration. that the Federal Government did not provide the necessary resources to combat the problem. and that the incentives which bring people here Illegallyemployment. social welfare benefits. and free educationhad to be seriously addressed or our success at ending this problem would be minimal. Our Task Force made 100 separate recommendations ranging from ways to enhance and enforce existing policies such as additional border patrol agents and new barriers. to proposing enactment of new. but forceful laws regarding criminal incarceration and verification. Mr. Chairman. we all know task forces come and task forces go and little is ever accomplished. We knew that our work to produce the report was just the beginning and that we had to translate our efforts into meaningful legislation. Working closely with Immigration Subcommittee Chairman LAMAR SMITH. who deserves so much praise for his efforts. the task force was successful in including over 25 of our recommendations in H.R. 2202 when it was first introduced. By the time H.R. 2202 emerged from the subcommittee and full Judiciary Committee markups. over 80 percent of our recommendations were incorporated into what I consider a forceful bill. In conclusion my colleagues. America is often described as a land of immigrants. But it is also true that certain areas of this Nation have become a land of illegal immigrants. Despite the amnesty of 1986. it Is estimated that between 4 and 6 million persons are in this country illegally with that number growing by 300.000 each year. America is also referred to as the "land of opportunity." Again. that is true. But America is not the land of unlimited resources. The Impact of illegal immigration is profound: It severely affects our Federal budget as well as those of our State and local governments. It contributes to high crime rates and is often linked to criminal activities such as narcotics trafficking. It displaces American workers. And most of all. it is in itself against the law. My colleagues. the legislation before you today is the product of a very intense and comprehensive review of our current immigration crisis. And believe me. we are In a crisis. The provisions of H.R. 2202 provide the legislative reforms and enforcement procedures necessary to accomplish our two principle objectivesdiscouraging and preventing illegal entry. and identifying. apprehending. and removing illegals already here.