Speech #1040192285

I rise today in support of the ChryslerBrownback amendment which separates the issue of legal and illegal Immigration. Without a doubt. we need to tackle illegal Immigration in this country. Hundreds of thousands of illegal Immigrants pour across our border every year. and quite frankly. people have a right to be angry. Illegal aliens are after all Illegal and their presence is a reflection of the Federal Governments inability to address the problem. According to the INS. there are an estimated 4 million illegal aliens in the United States. New YorWs share of this figure is 449.000. or 13 percent. This bill gets tough on illegal immigration. and I commend Chairman SMITH for his hard work and diligence in tackling this Issue. But I remain unconvinced that we need to target those who play by the rules. work within the process. and legally Immigrate to this country. Those who are illegal aliens are breaking the law. There are tens of thousands of family members who have obeyed the law and are within the legal immigration process who would have the door slammed in their faces should this provision remain in the bill. I have heard many of my colleagues talk about how we are a Nation of immigrants. and then in the same breath aigue that we need to cut the number of legal immigrants. Although it is argued that the decrease is modest. the question is whether it is really necessary. I have heard the argument that this reduction in legal immigration is profamily. But I find it ironic that many of the groups that I have heard from in New York that would be most affected. such as Irish. Italian. and Jewish groups. among others. have told me that this would divide families. not unite them. Some have argued that legal familybased Immigrants have less to contribute. and there Is always the threat that they will become a public charge. But keeping familiesIncluding extended familiesIntact. Is culturally and empirically. a way to keep people off the public dole. especially among many foreign cultures from which these individuals come. Besides. there are other provisions In the bill which address this without excluding these Individuals. As someone who grew up In the shadow of the Statue of Liberty. and. like most of us. Is a descendant of immigrants. I believe that legal Immigration enriches our country. rather than pulling It down. Those who have come to this country to make a better life for themselves. and their families. have given our Nation its strength and Its unique character. It Is simply unfair to punish those who follow the rules for the sins of those who do not.