Speech #1100022201

But more and more when you go talk to the American people. they want to know what has kind of been tagged this. what they call it. "anchor baby" issue because they see this huge open door for abuse. In California alone. I want you to know and I just say this to the people. how big a problem. how big a price tag can automatic citizenship to foreign nationals and Illegal aliens can be. How big can it be? Just In California. it costs the State of California to pay for the births of the children of illegal aliens $400 million a year. and that is a price tag to people who are illegally in the country. Let us face it. that $400 million could sure provide a lot of basic health care to legal Americans. both immigrants and U.S. citizens. that is being denied those people of need. while we accommodate those who have broken our laws and their families and encouraged them to emigrate. So I thank you very much for taking this leadership role. and I greatly appreciate the fact that Georgia is represented on the Immigration Caucus. and that is a great advantage for us. Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker. I have the privilege to serve on the Immigration Caucus. and as someone who grew up on the Mexican border between San Diego and Tijuana. I saw this issue as it has evolved over the last 45 years. I grew up in an area where illegal immigration was just sort of a matter of fact. You saw people going north. and I got to tell you. as a young man. you never knew where they were going. They were all going to a place called L.A. or norte. norte. and you never understood what was the impact In the communities beyond the border.