[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 27, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H1900]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    ILLEGALS USING FED TO WIRE MONEY

  (Mrs. BLACKBURN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. You know, the United States is a Nation founded on 
the rule of law. Those who do not follow the law are held accountable, 
except when you are an illegal immigrant.
  We have already learned that a few of our major banks are issuing 
credit cards to illegal immigrants, but a recent article in the L.A. 
Times uncovered a program through our own Federal Reserve Bank that 
makes it easier for illegal entrants to send money back to Mexico, 
direct to Mexico. A federally sponsored program allows illegal 
immigrants without a Social Security number to wire money through the 
Federal system for a fee.
  What is even more shocking is that the Fed expanded the program that 
allows anyone, illegal or not, to open accounts at participating banks. 
This is a big business. We have learned it is 27,000 transfers from 
illegal immigrants every month, totaling $23 billion a year, all with 
the help of our Federal Government.
  We are sending mixed messages, Mr. Speaker. We say we want to stem 
the tide of illegal immigration, but once again, here we go. We will 
not only turn a blind eye; we will make it easy for illegal immigrants 
to send money back to Mexico.

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