Jeff Flake: “I rise today to continue a series of discussions I am having on the unforeseen and undesirable effects resulting from…”

“I rise today to continue a series of discussions I am having on the unforeseen and undesirable effects resulting from our Nation's current immigration policies. There has been much talk in recent years about ``holding the line'' against the flood of illegal immigrants flowing across our Nation's borders. Unfortunately, as I mentioned in my comments last week, our recent attempts to control the border have not been a resounding success. I certainly do not believe that our Nation's borders should be left wide open. Especially today, in light of terrorist threats, we must know who is entering the country and leaving the country. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, we currently have very little idea who is entering the country outside of the legal ports of entry on the border. Some have estimated that 700,000 illegal immigrants breach our borders every year. We can try to tighten our border enforcement even more than we already have, but as long as the U.S. offers Mexicans more opportunity for work than Mexico does, for example, people risk their lives to cross the border. According to Steven Camarota of the Center for Immigration Studies, ``A real effort to control the border with Mexico would require perhaps 20,000 agents and the development of a system of formidable fences and other barriers along the parts of the borders used for illegal crossings.'' I believe the wisdom of embarking on such a project is questionable, at best.”