[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 23 (Thursday, February 27, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E348-E349]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    STEMMING THE RISING TIDE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: THE NEXT STEPS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DOUG BEREUTER

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 27, 1997

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, the Immigration and Naturalization Service 
[INS] recently announced that the estimated population of illegal 
aliens living in the United States increased by well over 1 million 
people to a total of 5 million in the last 4 years. This revelation 
should act as a call to action for all who serve the best interests of 
our Nation. The integrity and well-being of the United States continues 
to be under siege from a rising tide of individuals who, by entering 
the U.S. illegally and exploiting the rights and privileges accorded to 
legal residents, demonstrate a fundamental lack of respect for this 
country's laws and the rights and commitments of American citizens who 
honor and abide by them.
  Mr. Speaker, illegal immigration continues to have a profound 
negative impact on our job market and workforce, our public assistance 
programs, our educational institutions, and our health care system. 
Moreover, massive illegal immigration places a tremendous strain on the 
social fabric of this Nation and our society's capacity to continue to 
welcome generous numbers of legal immigrants to America. The negative 
impact of illegal immigration is being felt by not just one or a few 
regions of the country in particular; it is being felt throughout the 
Nation--from the rural communities of Nebraska and Iowa to the 
metropolitan areas of New York and California.
  Last year, the 104th Congress took a major step toward stemming the 
tide of illegal immigration when it passed the most sweeping 
immigration reform legislation introduced in recent history, the 
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. 
However, it is clear that further steps need to be taken. Mr. Speaker, 
this Member commends to his colleagues the following editorial written 
by the Norfolk Daily News in Norfolk, NE. It touches upon some of the 
areas in which the U.S. Government can take additional positive steps 
in the effort to stop illegal immigration. If we as a nation are to 
stop illegal immigration, we must stop illegal aliens from using 
fraudulent documentation and acquire jobs and other benefits accorded 
to legal residents, and we must improve upon recent efforts to stop 
aliens from gaining long-term illegal residence in the United States by 
overstaying their visas.
  In implementing voluntary worksite enforcement and pilot programs in 
employment eligibility verification, reducing the number of work 
authorization documents, and making border crossing identification 
cards tamper-resistant, Congress and the administration has taken some 
necessary initial steps toward hindering the ability of aliens to 
illegally enter the U.S. for employment or other purposes. It is 
imperative that the establishment of tamper-resistant Social Security 
cards and the implementation of tested, effective, mandatory employment 
eligibility verification programs be among some of the next steps that 
this country takes in addressing the problem of illegal immigration. In 
this Congress, the Gentleman from the 8th Congressional District of 
Florida, Mr. McCollum, has introduced legislation of which this Member 
is proud to be an original cosponsor. This legislation would improve 
the integrity of the Social Security card and system and provide 
criminal penalties for fraud and related activity involving work 
authorization documents.
  Mr. Speaker, more time is needed to adequately measure the beneficial 
effects of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility 
Act of 1996. It is clear to this Member that the 105th Congress and the 
administration must work together and propose additional tough measures 
that will assist in closing the door to massive numbers of illegal 
aliens. A country that cannot effectively control its borders against 
illegal immigration is failing a basic responsibility of a sovereign 
nation.

                  [From the Daily News, Feb. 19, 1997]

More Illegals Despite Reform--Numbers Much the Same as in 1986 When New 
                        Legislation Was Adopted

       There are 5 million illegal immigrants in America, 
     according to the Immigration and Naturalization Service. It 
     is an estimate only. That means the problem is the 
     approximate equivalent of that which prompted the Immigration 
     Reform and Control Act of 1986. Under that act, 3 million 
     long-termers were legalized and subsequent steps were taken 
     to limit new illegal arrivals.
       Obviously, and despite strengthening border patrols and 
     creating additional physical barriers, the flow continues. 
     Many (41 percent by INS estimates) of the illegals are people 
     who entered the United States legally but have simply 
     remained in the country after their visas expired.
       A stab at immigration reform last year, which increased the 
     enforcement manpower levels to create tighter border control, 
     does not appear to have had much effect.
       Members of Congress continue to reject the idea of a 
     mandatory identification card for workers. But with such a 
     system, fake documents might not be quite so easy to obtain. 
     Employers could be expected to exercise more control in 
     hiring.
       Americans already carry driver's licenses; photo IDs are 
     required for air travel these

[[Page E349]]

     days. Social Security cards are needed, though there is no 
     penalty for not having one in your billfold. Americans who 
     want to travel abroad do have to prove citizenship and be 
     issued passports.
       So the intrusion on personal freedom of an identification 
     card for workers seems slight under the circumstances. And if 
     it would be a help to employers to make sure they are not 
     hiring illegals, and to all those officials being paid to 
     enforce immigration laws, then it would be worthwhile.
       Injustice is done to all legal immigrants and to all 
     American citizens and taxpayers by ineffective controls. 
     Surely the requirement for ID cards is preferable to 
     financing higher barricades or hiring more border patrol 
     officers.

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