Published June 2002 — Download PDF of the original newspaper column
Byrd's-Eye View By U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd Removing Rewards for Illegal Immigration
The United States is undergoing an unprecedented wave of immigration. Even at the peak of the last great wave of immigration in the early 20th century, the number of immigrants entering the country was only 850,000 per year, compared to at least 1.3 million immigrants who annually settle in the country today. Illegal immigration is a driving force behind this wave. The Census Bureau recently estimated that there are as many as 8.7 million illegal aliens in the United States -- more than two times the number of illegals estimated in 1990. During the last decade, illegal immigration added between 6 million and 7 million people to the nation's population -- a net increase in the illegal population of about 500,000 immigrants per year. While the United States is a generous nation when it comes to immigration, Americans are justifiably concerned about the current record levels of illegal immigration. Combined with our post-September 11 concerns about tracking who crosses our borders, this kind of population growth is placing tremendous strain on the infrastructure network, especially on education and health care systems. Instead of cracking down on illegal immigration, President Bush has urged Congress to provide amnesty to those people who break the law. In doing so, the government effectively relinquishes control over those who cross the nation's borders. Moreover, such amnesty is not fair to those who abide by the rules and enter and remain in the country legally. I find the President's amnesty proposals to be grossly irresponsible. That is why I blocked an amnesty provision from inclusion in border security legislation that recently was passed by Congress, and why "Americans for Better Immigration" recently honored me with an "A+" grade for my efforts to reduce illegal immigration. The United States is a compassionate nation when it comes to immigration, but that does not mean that the nation should turn a blind eye to those people who illegally cross our borders. The federal government certainly should not encourage that kind of unlawful behavior with amnesty initiatives. Given the nation's financial constraints and heightened security concerns in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, we cannot afford to allow this dangerous practice to continue. June 5, 2002