Later, participants met with staff to both California Senators and various California Congressional delegation or their staff. California wins substantial share of federal fusion expenditures. The House Judiciary's Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims held a hearing on March 18 on the issues of illegal alien smuggling, visa overstays, and non-citizens in federal prisons. The Subcommittee heard from a number of witnesses, including several from the executive branch. They agreed that smuggling operations are increasing and becoming more sophisticated.
Estimates are that nearly four million persons are smuggled across U.S. borders annually.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Donna Hamilton testified on visa overstays. Secretary Hamilton pointed out that it is not feasible to accurately count the number of visa overstays in the U.S., because visa holders can also change their immigration status in some way and lawfully remain in the country. The State Department, however, has heard of estimates as high as 25 percent to 41 percent of visa holders overstaying. The Department is examining ways to increase its information on visa holders who overstay so that it can refine its knowledge on its criteria for granting or denying a visa application. Amy F. Dale, Administrator, Detention Services, Federal Bureau of Prisons, testified that the federal government held about 33,250 non-U.S. citizens in Bureau custody as of the end of fiscal year 1998.