Mr. Speaker. I rise today to Introduce legislation to correct what are well Intentioned. but misguided efforts by the United States Immigration Service to protect our northem borde against United States cIOzens who seek to reenter their own country after a recreational boating trip to Canada. In what appears to be a federally sanctioned game of waterway robbery. the Immigration Service is willing to forego Its legal obligation to Inspect all vessels retuming to a United States port from Canada. If boaters are willing to pay a $16 perperson peryear fee to purchase what Is known as the 168 Canadian border boat landing permit. The 168 permit program was established in 1963 but was not Implemented nationally until a few years ago when Congress directed Federal agencies to begin charging a fee for some Federal programs. I have no problem with the feeforservice approach. but where Is the service? The 168 program would have the boating public paying the INS for the convenience of not Inspecting their boats. Its difficult to see how this approach would stem the tide of Illegal Immigration from Canada on recreational boats. a problem that is not well documented by the INSif It exists at all. We do know. however. that the number of United States boaters visiting Canada from the Great Lakes Region fell 15 percent In the 1996 boating season to just under 40.000. This translates to a loss of over $2 million in destination spending on the Canadian side and it can be assumed that similar losses were felt on the United States side.
Keywords matched
Illegal Immigration Immigration