Alan Simpson: “I think my old friend, Senator Bradley from New Jersey, has put his finger right down on one of the most critical issues…”

“I think my old friend, Senator Bradley from New Jersey, has put his finger right down on one of the most critical issues in dealing with the problem of illegal immigration, which is the magnet of jobs, employment, which draws illegals to this country. This amendment would establish an office within the INS, as I understand it, specifically staffed and mandated to perform both of the functions that are essential to the success of any employer sanction provisions. That is, the office would both educate employers about the law and their responsibilities to prevent unlawful discrimination, and would investigate and prosecute those employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens. I think that we cannot claim to be serious about dealing with the problems of illegal immigration unless we are serious about dealing with those who knowingly hire illegals. So long as they can get the jobs they seek, illegal aliens will continue to regard this country as the land of opportunity, and some will refer to it almost as the land of slave labor as they come here as illegals and remain in that status. That is why it is important that we remove illegal persons from our society or else make them legal.”