Speech #1050097393

And it would develop a feeling of distrust. This is simply unacceptable. When former Senator Simpson crafted this immigration reform proposal last year. he did not intend to create a new documentation requirement for our northern neighbors. Rather. the issue he wished to address was the illegal overstay rates of foreign nationals. I cannot agree more that the illegal overstays need to be addressed. The Immigration and Naturalization Service currently cannot provide accurate data on overstay rates. However. the answer does not lie in requiring documentation of every alien entering through our land points of entry. Section 110. if implemented as is. will only create more headaches for our friends and neighbors attempting to enter the United States and slow both trade and commerce that crosses our land border each day. It will do little to address my primary concern about overstay rates and subsequent illegal immigration. For these reasons. I am supporting Senator ABRAHAMS efforts to correct section 110 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 and exempt land entry border points from collecting a record of arrivals and departures. I hope that my other colleagues join me in cosponsoring S. 1360. the Border Improvement and Immigration Act of 1997. Mr. President.