Speech #1090055795

As the chairman knows. one of the greatest roles entrusted to the hardworking employees of the Department of Homeland Security is to protect our Nations borders and curb the growing tide of illegal immigration in this country. I thank my friend and colleague from New Hampshire for doing his best to address this great need with increased funding for. and greater attention to. this problem. As I travel around the State of Utah. there is not a single place I go where I do not have citizens come up to me and ask me to do something about the illegal immigration problems in their area. They are upset that our country continues to be unable to enforce our immigration laws and I do not blame them. I feel the same frustration. For example. Mayor Toni Turk of Blanding recently informed me that his police department has made several arrests of illegal aliens and seized nearly 7 kilos of cocaine in the process. It would seem drug smugglersmost of whom are in the country illegallyare taking advantage of the de minimis level of immigration enforcement in remote areas of southeastern Utah. Incidents such as this one formed the basis of my request for the creation of an ICE/CBP office in Blanding. UT and I am grateful to the chairman for addressing my request in his committee report. I have heard it said many times thdt the objective of illegal immigrants coming through the southern border of the country is to get as far north as possible as fast as he or she can. This comes from the either perceived or real concern that immigration enforcement is much tougher in the southern portion of the U.S. than it is in the northern portion. For a State located directly above some of the most porous borders in the country. this is a real concern. U.S. Interstate 70 and U.S. Interstate 15 in Utah have become large conduits for the smuggling of illegal immigrants and illegal substances as these foreigners flee from the southern states as fast as possible in order to get north where they believe enforcement is less stringent. With two major arteries for illegal immigration running through the southern portion of Utah. citizens in that beautiful area have grown tired of the strain and difficulties presented by the flood of illegal immigrants. Is the distinguished Senator aware of the significant immigrationrelated problems facing Utah. especially in the southern portion of the state including St. George and Blanding. UT.