FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	AG
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1994	(202) 616-2777
	TDD (202) 514-1888

           STATEMENT BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN REACTION 
      TO THE COMMISSION ON IMMIGRATION REFORM'S FINAL REPORT

	I welcome the Report and recommendations of the Commission, and am
pleased that it is so supportive of our focus on stopping illegal immigration
at the border.  This administration has launched the most comprehensive,
sound, and aggressive border control effort in history -- an effort that will
take the next step tomorrow with the commencement of "Operation Gatekeeper" at
the California border.
	We support the Commission's recommendation that employer sanctions be
enforced more vigorously.  This administration is the first ever to file a
criminal case against an employer for violating this law, and if necessary,
there will be more indictments in the future.  Moreover, Congress has given us
the funding for stepped-up enforcement efforts, and we intend to do so --
while also enhancing our anti-discrimination work, to ensure that legal
residents are not unfairly denied employment.   	We also agree with the
Commission that two improvements are essential to better enforcement of the
law:  

	First, worker identification must be made more fraud-resistant, and
the number of documents that can be used for employer verification must be
reduced.  We have already made some progress on this, and we will propose
legislation next year to enable us to do more.
	Second, it must be easier for employers to verify a worker's
eligibility -- and our databases of such information must be more accurate. 
As the Commission recommends, we will continue with our efforts to improve and
update INS's database.  And like the Commission, we think telephone
verification of a worker's eligibility should be tested -- that is why we will
significantly expand, to 200 sites next year, our pilot project of phone-in
verification for employers.  
	In closing, I want to again thank Dr. Jordan, all of the
Commissioners, and their staff, for their superb work on this report.
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