[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 23, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6497-S6499]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              IMMIGRATION

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I am going to use time in morning 
business to discuss the very important bill that is before us that we 
will be going on in about 20 minutes, and that is the immigration bill. 
This sometimes is referred to as the ``grand compromise.''
  It is no secret that I have had concern about the immigration issue, 
and now specifically this bill, and in my opinion it contains an 
amnesty program. I know around here those who are backing this ``grand 
compromise'' don't want us to use the word ``amnesty,'' but I think if 
it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is a duck. So I am 
going to refer to it as the amnesty program for illegal aliens already 
in the United States.
  Not too many Senators today can say they voted for the 1986 amnesty 
bill. That was the Simpson-Mazzoli Act, the present law we are 
amending. I did vote for that amnesty bill, so, in a sense, I voted for 
amnesty. I am here to tell you that I felt at that time as though I 
were doing the right thing. I can also tell you that now, looking at 
history, it was the wrong thing to do. I thought then that taking care 
of 3 million people illegally in the country would solve the problem 
once and for all. I found out, however, if you reward illegality, you 
get more of it. Today, as everybody has generally agreed, we have 12 
million people here illegally.
  I did believe that bill would solve our problems, but it was not only 
shortsighted, the one we passed 20 years ago, it turned out to be 
unworkable. It was soft on enforcement and weak on legal reforms. We 
believed a legalization component was in the best interest of the 
country.
  The American people, myself included, thought that illegal 
immigration would decline with an amnesty program. We were wrong. The 
1986 legislation failed us, as well intended as it was. That was not a 
bill that went through very quickly. That bill was worked on over a 
period of 6 years, as we have been working on other immigration 
legislation at least over a 3- or 4-year period of time.
  Today we are back as a body we call the Senate to put another bandaid 
on this issue. I don't blame the American people for being angry or 
rejecting the promises some are making that we will enforce our laws 
from now forward because I heard that same thing in 1986--from now 
forward. I think it is fair to say the people of this country are 
cynical on this issue. They don't have any

[[Page S6498]]

faith that the law is going to be enforced.
  One specific aspect of this bill that is so concentrated on 
enforcement, first, before we do anything else, is called the trigger 
mechanism. I am going to talk about that trigger mechanism. Before I 
get to the amnesty program and trigger, I want to point out that the 
trigger that is included in this substitute, the trigger says the Y and 
the Z visa program would be subject to a trigger. I wish to point to 
the famous Trigger, Roy Rogers' Trigger. I think everybody knows about 
that Trigger. I point to that because I think, if Roy Rogers were here 
today--and he has been dead about 20 years--he would say: Boys, saddle 
up. There is going to be a rough ride ahead for us.
  The ``Trigger'' is coming in handy today. He first galloped into this 
Chamber when I used ``Trigger'' during a budget resolution because 
there is a trigger in the budget resolution just adopted. Now 
``Trigger'' is back for the immigration debate because there is a 
trigger mechanism in this bill.
  You can see from the chart that Trigger is a very impressive-looking 
horse. He looks big and strong and probably can help do some of the 
chores around the farm. I am sure my grandkids would like to ride 
Trigger, if they knew he was safe to ride. This horse and its rider 
look very safe and confident. But I wish to make the point, in this 
bill, with a trigger mechanism, we can't trust the trigger in this 
bill. It is false and it is misleading and that is what I wish to point 
out.
  I have heard Members of this body talk about how amnesty would not 
start until the trigger is pulled. It says on page 2, ``with the 
exception of the probationary benefits,'' the Y and Z visa programs 
cannot start until certain actions and certain items are completed. So 
12 million illegal aliens will apply and likely get a probationary 
card. This card gives the illegal alien a work authorization, a Social 
Security number, and protection from removal. That is problem No. 1. 
Amnesty is given away before we even get to the trigger.
  I wish to talk about four of the key actions that the trigger 
requires. First, it requires the establishment of an electronic 
employer verification system. I am a champion for that concept--make 
the employer responsible for making sure the person is legally in the 
country. In fact, I wrote title III last year. It could be a very solid 
enforcement tool. But the trigger only says it needs to be established. 
It says nothing about requiring all businesses to use it. Under the 
compromise, employers would not be forced to use it until up to 3 years 
after the date of enactment.
  Second, the trigger says that 18,000 Border Patrol agents have to be 
hired. According to the Department of Homeland Security, we already 
have 14,000 agents, so the trigger requires that 4,000 more are hired. 
Sure, we can hire these agents. But the trigger doesn't require that 
the agents be trained and stationed and doing their job.
  Third, the trigger says we have to construct 370 miles of real fence 
along the border. I understand this construction is currently underway. 
Congress authorized 700 miles of fencing in the Secure Fence Act of 
last year. We also provided billions of dollars for fencing and 
infrastructure last year. Why doesn't the trigger require that all 700 
miles has to be constructed?
  The trigger also says the Department of Homeland Security needs 
resources to detain up to 27,500 aliens per day on an annual basis. If 
they are caught, you have to have someplace to secure them. The problem 
is these spaces are full this very day.
  How do these trigger actions, then, add to our present day 
enforcement? The impression is left by the author of the trigger--and I 
think it is the intent of that author and the ``grand compromise''--
that all these security provisions are going to be in place before any 
of the other provisions of the law, such as allowing legality of people 
here illegally--before those provisions can go into effect.
  Fourth, the trigger requires the United States to end what we call 
the catch-and-release practice. Maybe it is late-breaking news to some 
around here, but we ended that practice already. Secretary Chertoff was 
on TV, telling the world on August 23, last year, that he ended catch 
and release.
  However, further along in the bill it says--and it is referred to as 
OTMS, ``other than Mexicans''--can be released into our community on a 
$5,000 bond. The policy of catch and release will not end. This part of 
the trigger in my judgment is false and misleading.
  There is a lot missing from the trigger. For example, title I of the 
compromise has border security requirements, but they are not in the 
trigger. The bill requires the Department to have a national border 
security strategy and surveillance plan. One would think a plan is 
necessary right away in order to secure the borders, not after the 
trigger is pulled.
  The trigger does not include authorizations for a number of Homeland 
Security personnel. While the bill requires the Department to hire more 
investigators for alien smuggling and more interior enforcement 
personnel, these requirements are not part of the trigger.
  I think, before an amnesty starts, we should require interior 
enforcement measures to be met. Our national security is not just a 
border issue.
  Finally, I think the trigger should include something we have been 
trying to do since 1996, after the first attacks on the World Trade 
Center. Congress enacted a law that requires an entry and exit system 
to track all foreign travelers. That is known as the US-VISIT Program. 
We had to endure another attack in 2001 before people took the entry 
and exit system seriously. We got it partly implemented, but the 
administration decided on their own that the exit portion was not worth 
the cost, so that 1996 mandate still remains ignored.
  After 10 years, for us in Congress it is still like pulling teeth, 
trying to get an implementation schedule out of the agency bureaucrats. 
I think we should be ashamed that is not done yet. This trigger is not 
legitimate or worthy of the tradition of Roy Rogers. It is only a 
coverup for amnesty.

  I wish to address the flaws that I found in title 6, the part of the 
bill that gives probationary status and Z visas to illegal aliens 
currently in the United States. I am simply going to list my top 15 
flaws. I don't have time to go into them in great detail. I will be 
glad to supply more detail if people want it.
  No. 1, probationary benefits are not subject to the trigger. 
Probationary benefits, including work authorization, protection from 
removal, and a Social Security number are granted to illegal aliens 
immediately, even if the alien's background check is not complete. I 
wish to emphasize that point--even if the alien's background check is 
not complete.
  No. 2, many criminal provisions may be waived. Numerous criminal 
provisions are waived for eligibility purposes. For example, an alien 
who falsely claimed U.S. citizenship would be considered eligible for 
amnesty, even though it is a crime.
  No. 3, background checks are taken too lightly. An illegal alien can 
apply for probationary status and a Z visa without thorough background 
checks. Immediately after the bill passes, the alien can apply for 
probationary legal status and receive a card, even if the alien's 
background check is not complete.
  No. 4, illegal aliens are protected from removal. If an alien is in 
removal proceedings or being detained at the time of enactment, the 
alien can still apply for amnesty. Aliens who apply for amnesty cannot 
be detained or deported while their application is being processed, 
essentially giving them immunity from justice.
  No. 5, terrorists and criminals can apply for amnesty. The Secretary 
of Homeland Security is allowed to waive the grounds of ineligibility 
for those who have an outstanding final administrative order of 
removal, deportation or exclusion. Currently, there are more than 
637,000 alien absconders in the United States who have defied orders to 
leave.
  No. 6, taxes. Illegal aliens are required to provide the Internal 
Revenue Service information about tax payments only when applying for 
legal permanent residence if that avenue is pursued. Illegal aliens can 
skirt the Federal, State and local tax laws because it is not a 
requirement to prove one has paid outstanding tax liabilities to get 
probationary or Z status.
  No. 7 limits eligibility to illegal aliens. It creates a Z 
nonimmigrant

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visa program for illegal aliens and illegal aliens only. No one else is 
eligible for this program, particularly those waiting their turn in 
line. Also, there is no cap on the number of eligible participants.
  No. 8, indefinite renewal of the Z nonimmigration visas. Z 
nonimmigrant visas are valid for 4 years and may be renewed 
indefinitely. This is a disincentive for illegal aliens to pay the 
$4,000 penalty, touch back to their own country, and prove that they 
paid their taxes or receive a very important medical exam.
  No. 9, health standards are ignored. No medical exam or immunizations 
are needed to get a Z visa.
  No. 10, there is no incentive to learn English. There is no English 
requirement to get a Z visa. Each Z nonimmigrant must only demonstrate 
``an attempt to gain an understanding of the English language'' upon 
the first renewal of the Z visa. There are waivers even for that 
requirement.
  No. 11, green card applicants are not required to return to their 
home country. Green card applicants, only for the principal alien, must 
be filed in person outside the United States but not necessarily in the 
alien's country of origin.
  The alien can then reenter, likely on the same day, under a Z 
nonimmigrant visa because it serves as a valid travel document. Again, 
there are exceptions for the requirement.
  No. 12: Fault with these provisions. Fines are, quite frankly, false 
and misleading. Not everyone is required to pay the $5,000 penalty. The 
principal alien pays some fines and fees, and the dependents only have 
to pay a processing and State-impact fund fee. To get a green card, if 
an alien intends to pursue this route, a Z-1 nonimmigrant must pay a 
$4,000 penalty. Z-2 and Z-3 aliens are only required to pay application 
fees.
  No. 13: Fines will not adequately pay for the cost of amnesty. The 
bulk of the monetary fines are required at the end of the program. All 
fines may be paid in installments, and waivers are available in 
extraordinary circumstances.
  No. 14: Impact on State and local government. State impact money will 
be granted to States to provide services for noncitizens only, instead 
of providing services to all citizens impacted by the large number of 
illegal immigrants. Examples would be school systems and health care 
services.
  No. 15 and last: Revocations of terrorist visas. You know that visas 
revoked on terrorism grounds--I am talking about terrorists--if a visa 
is revoked on terrorism grounds, it would allow Z visa holders to 
remain in the United States and use the U.S. court system to appeal 
those terrorism charges.
  The bill, including the amnesty program, does not address visa 
revocation for any visa holder.
  I would like someone to tell me that this is the last time we will do 
an amnesty because I heard that 20 years ago. I will not hold my 
breath. Nobody is making any promises that this is the last amnesty, 
and that is because we all know amnesties will continue. We are on a 
path to make what I consider a mistake that I made in 1986. We ought to 
get it right and focus on the long-term solutions to this problem.
  So I am going to be offering some amendments to fix some of these 15 
flaws, but I am not sure it can be repaired at the end of the day. It 
is my plan, when we go into the bill, to offer an amendment, to lay an 
amendment before the body.
  Madam President, I yield the floor.

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