Some have argued that this provision would require 11 million prosecutions. That is not true. Prosecutorial resources are limited. and authorities would rather quickly deport an alien whose only offense is to be here unlawfully rather than to prosecute and have to detain that alien pending trial. Even if an alien were prosecuted under this provision. a conviction of unlawful presence would not prevent an alien from some day attaining legal status or even citizenship if the alien would otherwise qualify. Making unlawful presence a crime. however. would serve as a greater deterrence to aliens overstaying their visas. For these reasons. I ask that the Members support this amendment.