Deterring Illegal Immigration

This 1995 presidential memorandum directs a comprehensive strategy to deter illegal immigration through border control expansion, worksite enforcement, visa overstay tracking, expedited deportation procedures, and international cooperation. It sets specific deadlines for interagency reports and plans while requesting congressional action on wiretap authority, asset seizure, and expedited exclusion procedures.

Federal Register Open PDF 60 FR 7885

Impact dates

Dec 31, 2000
Goal of at least 7,000 Border Patrol agents
Mar 1, 1996
INS and SSA interim report on work authorization pilot projects
Jun 30, 1995
Recommendations on visa overstay reforms to White House IWG
Apr 30, 1995
DOJ finalizes National Detention, Transportation, and Removal Policy
Mar 9, 1995
State and Justice Departments report to NSC on anti-smuggling interagency coordination

Key directives

Attorney General to accelerate technology utilization for border deterrence
DOJ to implement flexible border response capacity
DOJ to assess and potentially expand fingerprinting/prosecution for repeat crossers
State and Justice Departments to report to NSC within 30 days on anti-smuggling interagency coordination
President to propose wiretap authority and asset seizure legislation for alien smuggling
President to propose expedited exclusion authority for Attorney General
Relevant agencies to review visa overstay policies; recommendations to IWG by June 30, 1995
INS and SSA to establish, implement, monitor work verification pilots; interim report by March 1, 1996
INS to reduce authorized work verification documents for noncitizens
DOL to intensify investigations in industries with labor law violations promoting illegal immigration
DOJ to develop streamlined expedited removal procedures
DOJ to finalize National Detention, Transportation, and Removal Policy by April 30, 1995

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Memorandum publication in Federal Register
Direction to Attorney General to accelerate border technology utilization

Near term (90d)

State and Justice Departments report to NSC on interagency anti-smuggling coordination by March 9, 1995

Long term

INS and SSA interim report on work authorization pilot projects by March 1, 1996
White House Interagency Working Group recommendations on visa overstay reforms by June 30, 1995
DOJ finalization of National Detention, Transportation, and Removal Policy by April 30, 1995
Goal of 7,000 Border Patrol agents by year 2000
Proposed 25% increase in immigration-related spending by 1996 vs. 1993 levels

Risks & tensions

Worksite enforcement expansion risks discrimination against legal immigrants and citizens of Hispanic/Latino origin, acknowledged in anti-discrimination section
Tension between border security and civil rights/privacy protections
State cost-shifting disputes may persist despite federal reimbursement promises
International readmission agreements may conflict with non-refoulement obligations under Refugee Protocol
Rapid deportation expansion risks due process concerns given expedited procedures