Speech #890120798

Mr. Chairman. I am supporting this much needed change in the present Immigration laws with some misgivings. since It does not provide some relief from the highly discriminatory portion of the present law. which is perpetuated by todays proposal. that says that certain relatives of citizens or permanent resident aliens from the Western Hemisphere should be subJected to requirements that intending immigrants with identical relationships from the rest of the world are not subject to. Section 212(a) (14) would. under the bill we are considering. require the Intending immigrant to obtain the Secretary of Labors clearance prior to issuance of a visa. if that immigrant falls under the third or sixth preference categories for quota immigrants. under the nonpreference classification from quota countries. or if he Is from the Western Hemisphere. The committee report on page 14. points out that. in the case of persons from quota countries who fall into the preference categories solely on the basis of relationship. "such certification by the Secretary of Labor is unnecessary" because "there is a clear responsibility assumed by citizens and permanent resident aliens who have filed preference petitions for relatives to come to the United States." Citizens and permanent resident aliens who have relatives in the Western Hemisphere are denied the opportunity to assume this clear responsibility. There is no preference system In the Western Hemisphere. and the consular offices are required to impose the provisions of section 212(a) (14).