Speech #1130114320

Our asylum system is plagued by fraud. The House Judiciary Committee reported this: Asylum approval rates overall have increased dramatically in recent years. Approval rates by asylum officers have increased from 28 percent in 2007 to 46 percent in 2013 and approval rates by immigration judges in affirmative cases have increased from 51 percent in 2007 to 74 percent in 2013. Combining both of these approval rates. the vast majority of aliens who affirmatively seek asylum are now successful in their claims. The report goes on: This does not even take into account appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals or federal courts. At the same time. an internal Department of Homeland Security report shows that at least 70 percent of asylum cases contain proven or possible fraud. Our system as it is being run today is not lawful. it is not principled. it does not have integrity. and it has no ability to carry out the wishes of the American peoplewhich has always been to have a system that is effective and lawful and serves the national interests. And remember. all of these entries are in addition to the huge flow of annual permanent immigration into the United States as well as work authorization. That is all in addition to the lawful flow that we have. Between 2000 and today. the U.S. Government issued nearly 30 million lawful visas for individuals and their relatives to either live permanently in the United States or to come to take a job. We are a generous Nation. We have a very generous immigration policymore than any nation in the world. And the American people have the right to expect that our laws are enforced. that we dont have open borders. They have never believed in that. and no official. to my knowledge. will stand up publicly and advocate for that. although many of the policies being promoted would result in just that. Now consider what will happen to our system if the President goes through with his plan to provide work authorizations for another 5 million people living illegally in the United States. What immigration law will be left. colleagues? The government is not enforcing visa overstays. illegal entries. illegal work. or asylum fraud. And now the President is just going to start printing millions of work permits for people illegally in the countryafter Congress has loudly declared .no." Congress has refused to pass his plan. What is the Presidents excuse for wanting to do this unlawful act? He says Congress wont act.