Speech #1090100477

I am urging my colleagues to support this amendment. We need only look at a new study done by a staff member of the 9/11 Commission to see why we need to ensure that the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service has a strong law enforcement component. which this amendment guarantees. and why we need to have stronger measures to fight fraud. In this study. they looked at 94 terrorists. including six of the 9/11 hijackers. who have operated on the U.S. soil between the early 1990s and 2004. and here is what they found: Twothirds. 59 of them. twothirds of the foreignborn terrorists studied committed immigration benefits fraud prior to or in conjunction with taking part in terrorist activity. In 47 of these instances. immigration benefits sought or acquired prior to 9/11 enabled the terrorists to stay in the United States after 9/11 and continue their terrorist activities. In two of these instances. terrorists were able to acquire immigration benefits after 9/11. There were 11 cases of passport fraud and 12 instances of visa fraud amongst these 94 terrorists. In total. 34 Individuals were charged with making false statements to an immigration official. Fraud was used not only to gain entry into the U.S. but also to remain in the country. And once they were in the United States. 23 terrorists applied for lawful permanent residence. Sixteen of those were approved by the INS. Twentyone terrorists applied for naturalization. and 20 of them were approved and became citizens. We need this amendment to ensure the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service focuses on a law enforcement component to act as a backstop to interior and Customs enforcement. and we fund it by providing that aliens using our immigration system pay a modest security fee to provide USCIS the resources and personnel it needs to fully investigate and prosecute immigration benefits fraud and corruption. And just as importantly. it stops potential fraud by prohibiting the granting of any immigration benefits that are in question until a thorough investigation has been conducted. Mr. Chairman.