Washington, D.C. – The Interior Appropriations Subcommittee will hold a hearing to examine the impacts of illegal immigration on public and tribal lands at 9 am in B-308 Rayburn, Thursday, June 15, 2006.  Almost half of the southwest border consists of public and tribal lands and illegal immigration represents a serious public safety and environmental challenge for federal agencies managing these lands.  The subcommittee will hear from a number of seasoned field operatives who deal with these challenges on a daily basis along the border, as well as, Members of Congress who have been outspoken on immigration matters. 

 

Witnesses include:  William T. Civish, District Manager, BLM Gila District; Mitch Ellis, Refuge Manager, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge; Kathy Billings, Superintendent, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument; Selanhongva McDonald, BIA Southwestern Regional Office; Tina Terrell, Forest Supervisor, Cleveland National Forest; The Honorable Thomas G. Tancredo (CO); The Honorable Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ)