    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 30, Number 16 (Monday, April 25, 1994)]
    [Page 889]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Statement on the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program

    April 22, 1994

        When people enter this country illegally and commit crimes while
    they are here, it is not fair to ask the States to bear the entire cost
    of their imprisonment. This new program will help them considerably.
        After many years of virtual neglect of the illegal immigration
    issue, our administration is taking major steps to address this problem.
    First, we are making a substantial investment in efforts to reduce the
    flow of illegal immigration, primarily by toughening our border
    enforcement. That is the Federal Government's primary responsibility in
    this area.
        But we also need to help those States with large numbers of
    undocumented aliens to shoulder the resulting financial burdens. Today,
    we take another important step in that direction.

    Note: This statement was part of a White House press release announcing
    the creation of the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program to help
    States pay for the costs of incarcerating illegal aliens convicted of a
    felony.