Speech #1040197333

Mr. President. let me begin by applauding the leadership of Senators SIMPSON and HATCH and the rest of the Judiciary Committee in passing out of the committee this very important immigration bill to stem the tide of illegal Immigration in our country. both among those who come here illegally and those who come here legally but who do not leave our country when their visas expire. It has been said before that. according to the INS. these visa overstayers represent about 50 percent of the illegal population. The bill we are debating this week also includes provisions to crack down on criminal aliens and alien smugglers and to ensure that neither Illegal nor legal immigrants come to the United States to take Jobs from taxpayers or to depend upon our Nations welfare benefits. There will be an effort on the floor to pass a senseoftheSenate resolution declaring that any attempt to reform laws related to legal immigration should be considered separately from illegal Immigration reform. I oppose this effort and will speak against it when it is offered. I plan to offer an amendment with Senator SIMPSON that will provide a temporary 10percent reduction in overall legal immigration. This is a very modest reduction. but it will at least provide a sharp contrast to the increase in immigration that will result under the bill as it was amended in the committee. It is important to make clear that immigration will not be reduced under the committee bill. Immigration will increase at a slightly lesser rate than under current law. but it will increase. Having said that. Mr. President. I move to the bill we are debating today and one of great importance to the Nation. and specifically to my home State of Arizona. Immigration and Naturalization Service figures show that illegal immigrants are entering Arizona at a faster rate than they are entering any other State. Over the past year. Arizona has surpassed even Texas in illegal immigrant apprehensions. California is the only State with higher apprehension levels. and although apprehensions have decreased somewhat in what had been the hot spot for illegal entry in Nogales. AZ. apprehensions for March 1995 to March 1996 have increased over 300 percent in the Nations newest hot spot for illegal entry.