Speech #1050094877

I rise in support of H.R. 1493. Mr. Speaker. this legislation would provide assistance to communities in identifying people who have been arrested who are either deportable criminal aliens or who are unlawfully present in the United States. It builds on successful pilot projects. such as the one in Anaheim. CA. which identified a substantial number of individuals who are either in the United States illegally or who might otherwise be subject to deportation. The bill would require the Attorney General to detail INS employees to certain selected local government jails and prisons in order to identify prior to arraignment deportable criminal aliens or aliens unlawfully in the United States. The program will be focused on jurisdictions having high concentrations of aliens who are illegally in this country. It would have the benefit of providing better information to immigration authorities and local governments about the extent to which illegal and criminal aliens are in our criminal justice system and would provide immigration authorities with the information they need to remove those individuals who should not be in the United States at all. much less to remain here to commit crimes. I want there to be no mistake. this Nation has benefited tremendously from Immigration and from the contribution of the many millions of people who came here from other lands. In my own city of New York. immigrants are rebuilding old neighborhoods right now and contributing to a rebirth of our city. We should welcome and support them. and not confuse those many lawabiding immigrants with the few who would disregard our laws. But the United States has every right. as do all nations. to expect that its laws will be respected and obeyed. The enforcement of the immigration laws is the responsibility of the Federal Government. The failure of the Federal Government to do so has placed a real burden on some local communities. a burden which the pilot program established by this bill will help alleviate. I urge approval of the bill.