Speech #1040190365

My provision has been included in this amendment to clarify the intent of the 1994 crime bill. It would simply ensure that all local governments have the opportunity to apply for the financial compensation they are entitled to for costs associated with incarcerating criminal aliens. I also strongly support a provision in the amendment that would authorize a pilot project by the INS to identify illegal aliens among those incarcerated by the city of Anaheim and the County of Ventura. Under the proposed pilot program. an INS agent would be stationed in two local government jails to perform frontline documentation and appropriate questioning of criminally charged suspected illegal aliens. By helping to speed up the deportation process. I believe this program has the potential to be a significant benefit to the entire country. I support it strongly. I rise in strong support of the managers amendment. and urge my colleagues to vote in favor of its passage. There are two provisions in this amendment that I believe are particularly important to States. such as California. which are heavily impacted by criminal aliens. Although It is the responsibility of the Federal Government to enforce immigration policy. State and local governments Incur significant costs relating to the incarceration of criminal aliens. And while the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act authorized States to receive Federal reimbursement of criminal alien Incarceration costs. it was only recently that local governments received similar treatment. In fact. it was the 1994 crime bill that for the first time allowed socalled political subdivisions of a State to be reimbursed for costs associated with Incarcerating criminal aliens. This was a very important gain in having the Federal Government recognize its responsibllity for criminal aliens.