Richard Pombo: “I rise today in support of the Beilenson, Condit, Thurman amendment. For too long the States that are the victims of our…”

“I rise today in support of the Beilenson, Condit, Thurman amendment. For too long the States that are the victims of our national immigration policy have been forced to use their scare funds to educate, feed, and incarcerate illegal aliens. This arrangement is no longer acceptable. Today, over 50,000 of our prisoners in State and Federal facilities are not citizens of this country. In my State of California, more than 12 percent of the State prison population, some 16,000 inmates, are illegal aliens. The cost to California for incarcerating undocumented criminal aliens in fiscal year 1994-95 will be $393 million. In this legislation there are funds for prisoners, programs for gang members, and even court time for midnight basketball players. My question is: ``Where is the support for the taxpayers of California, Florida and all other States affected by illegal immigration?'' Shouldn't the taxpayers of these States be reimbursed for our Nation's failed immigration policy? Congress has a bad habit of making ``feel good'' policy--but then does not provide the money to pay for it. Congress should end the failed national immigration policy, or at the very least it should have the decency to pay for it. Please join me in support of the Beilenson, Condit, Thurman amendment.”