Mr. Chairman. I would like to first congratulate the gentleman from Texas and the gentleman from California for the tremendous job they have done in putting this legislation together. I have been deeply involved in this issue for over 5 years now. While the Democrats controlled this body. we could not get a vote on the illegal immigration issue. We could not bring this Government to come to grips with this problem that was destroying the State of California and threatening to overwhelm the entire country. But in a democracy. if elected officials do not act. the people will. What happened. there .s no coincidence that proposition 187 out in California passed at the same time that the people kicked the Democratic majority out of control of the House of Representatives because they want action in their behalf.
Identified stereotypes
Illegal immigration was destroying the state of California and threatening to overwhelm the entire country.