Speech #1040191002

I have been working diligently to get an INS office located in Des Moines. a centrally located office to help combat problems like this. A single INS office located in Nebraska serves all of Nebraska and Iowa. Federal immigration officials admit they are swamped and they cannot keep up with the increasing number of undocumented workers in these States. The director of NebraskaIowa INS says the number of noncitizens committing crimes is increasing at. quote. "an alarming rate." about 10 percent a year over the last 10 years. One of the primary causes of this influx is that displaced migrant farm workers have found numerous employment opportunities in agribusiness located in Iowa. Jobs at Iowa meat packing plants continue to attract large numbers of migrant workers. Mr. Chairman. the Latham amendment helps address the problem of the paucity of INS officers by giving local law enforcement officers authority to apprehend illegal aliens when the INS just is not there to do it. For the Younie family. Iowa and our Nation.