Speech #1050084209

Unfortunately. the INS appears to maintain. regardless of the intention. that the law clearly calls for a record of every entry and departure by noncitizens entering or departing the United States. I will be sending a letter to INS Commissioner Doris Meissner to ask how the agency interprets section 110. how the agency plans to implement the law. and how we might work together to remedy what I see as an enormous problem on the horizon. Bumpertobumper traffic is not an unusual occurrence in many parts of the country. whether its a morning or afternoon commute or a trip to a football game. This also occurs every day at already busy border crossing points. But imagine if you will. the traffic nightmare of backup for miles and miles that would result from implementing this new provision at all U.S. border crossings. Under the section 110 statute. every Canadian citizen and American permanent resident must present a visa or proper immigration form to border inspectors. In 1996 alone. over 116 million people entered the United States by land from Canada. Similarly. over 52 million Canadian residents and United States permanent residents entered Canada last year.