[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 21923]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 MAKING IT FIRM THAT IT IS ILLEGAL TO BE IN AMERICA WITHOUT PERMISSION

  (Mr. POE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, according to the Dallas Morning News, 
``Farmers Branch, Texas, on Monday adopted strict measures against 
illegals, requiring apartment renters to provide proof of citizenship 
or residency and making English the city's official language.''
  ``The city also unanimously agreed to let police apply to participate 
in a Federal program that would enable them to check the residency 
status of suspects that they arrest and initiate deportation 
proceedings in certain cases. These measures, believed to be the first 
of their kind in the State of Texas, brought cheers from some 
supporters, but sparked anger among some Hispanics.''
  Madam Speaker, cities across the Nation are taking positive action in 
dealing with illegals. These are commonsense steps the Federal 
Government has refused to take for political reasons.
  Of course, the pro-illegal immigrant crowd has threatened lawsuits. 
It seems odd that illegals can use American courts to prevent cities 
from enforcing laws against illegal entry.
  The example of Farmers Branch, Texas, is a statement that cities 
cannot and will not continue to bear the costs in education, health 
care and social services of illegals. This Nation must be firm that it 
is illegal to be in America without permission.
  And that's just the way it is.

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