[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 46 (Monday, March 13, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H3052]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
(Mr. ROHRABACHER asked and was given permission to address the House
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, in the last Congress there was a lot of
tough talk about illegal immigration; however, little got accomplished.
The Democrat majority repeatedly prevented us from considering
legislation to stop the flood of illegal immigration facing our
country. And contrary to public demands, they even slipped in a change
to immigration law which rewards illegal aliens for breaking into our
country. This provision was snuck into last year's Commerce, State,
Justice appropriation bill without most Members' knowledge and allows
certain aliens who are in the United States illegally--let me repeat
that, illegally--to pay an $800 fee to the INS and acquire temporary
legal status while applying to become permanent legal residents. These
illegal aliens then are eligible for a whole host of taxpayer-funded
Government benefits.
Our social service agencies are already stretched to the limit trying
to provide services to eligible citizens and permanent residents who
need them. How are we going to handle the needs of the 100,000 people
the INS estimates will qualify this year, alone, under this fee-for-
preference system?
I have introduced a bill, H.R. 592, which will repeal this travesty
of justice. Let's stop rewarding those who have flagrantly violated our
immigration laws by closing this loophole immediately. Cosponsor H.R.
592 today.
Let us make this Congress act, unlike when the Democrats controlled
Congress and refused to stop illegal immigration. We Republicans will
do the job.
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