Speech #1050119692

I will end on the point that I think we should extend the program. We can all agree on that. But we should not expand the program because if we do so. then we are going to eliminate that screening proces when individuals apply for visas from Portugal or Greece and. therefore. we are going to be in a position where all one needs is a passport to come to the United States. and we are going to end up with a lot more people coming In Illegally and overstaying their period of time. I think it is an interesting argument that the individuals make who want to expand the program. accusing the programi of now being arbitrary and yet they also favor an extension of the program to the 2year length of program. If the program is so arbitrary. it seems to me they would not support an extension of the program for 2 years. but In fact they do. Lastly. I just want to make the point. and again we cannot say enough about how great those two countries are. bul. unfortunately what we need to do Is to encourage those countries to take steps so that they have a lower visa refusal rate. rather than lowering the standards and making a special (itspensation for certain counl.ries. The answer to those countries becoming visa waiver countries is to frankly have a bettor record. and they have control over what they do to determine that. Lastly. Mr. Chairman. in the case of Portugal. 1 mentioned a minute ago that they have at least 26.001 individuals from that country who are in this country illegally. Those ar 26.000 people that have overstayed their visas. If Portugal did not even have a visa screening program. how many times In that 20.000 would we have illegal Indtviduals .vtho were from Portugal who would then come to America? There Is no answering that. But we do have a comparison to make. Thai. is. If we look at all the visa countries that we have today. almost all of thuse countries just had I or 2 or 3 or 4.000 individuals illegally in the country today. Portugal. with this 26.000 with the visa screening process. If we lift that screening process and just allow Individuals to come with a passport only. it is very clear that lortugai. If it. became a visa waiver country. would have all exponentially larger number of illegal aliens in the country than any other visa waiver country. That is wihy the administration opposes any weakening amendments. and that is why I think my colleagues should as well. Now.