Increasing Costs of Illegal Immigration - Hearing Before the Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate, One Hundred Third Congress, Second Session, Special Hearing #233132

What is the effect of this lax system? First, it encourages more individuals to try their luck on getting here and staying illegally. Second, it must have a discouraging effect on those individuals who are trying to get here the right way through the legal application process, which is often time consuming and difficult. Third, if whole immigrant communities in the United States are here by flouting the law, what will be their long-term attitude to ward compliance with the laws in general in this country? Fourth, it stimulates hostility toward immigrants in general on the part of the American people and undermines support for our legal immigrants. This is a Nation based on laws and not men, and that adage must have new life breathed into it in this vexing area. So, there is a range of problems that must be addressed, and while additional resources will be needed in various areas, we are not going to solve the illegal immigration problem by throwing money at it even if we had the money to throw. More money is not the magic answer. First and foremost, there has to be an agreement at all levels of government that this is a top priority and a corresponding commit ment to better enforce the law. Second, we are all going to have to work together in a much more cooperative fashion, sharing information and resources if we are to be successful.