Speech #930041716

Before answering this objection. I would like to say that among those making it are some growers organizations which have not. in the past. been noted for their liberal views or their concern about discrimination. I caution those who are genuinely concerned about this issue to beware of the hysteria cynically being worked up by some who stand to lose if the illegal alien is no longer available as a source of cheap labor. It is my opinion. and that of the JuCXIX---896Part 11 diciary Committee. that the provisions of H.R. 982 would benefit. rather than harm. the Mexican American and other members of minority groups. foreign or otherwise. Mr. Chairman. quite frequently foreign immigration has been blamed for high unemployment in the United States. This is sheer fallacy. Labor certification is required for all lawfully admitted aliens who plan to become American citizens. other than immediate relatives. such as mothers. fathers. sons. daughters. brothers. and sisters. My colleagues will recall it was the intention of the Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1965. which I cosponsored and supported. to make it easier to reunite families and bring together members of families who had been tragically separated for so many years. Also. the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service has assured Chairman RODINO that this measure will not force relatives of U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens to leave the country. During fiscal year 1972. 29.000 to 30.000 skilled immigrants entered the United States with the required labor certification which was issued to them only because their skills were in short supply in the United States. Thus. labor certification has been used as an effective tool in limiting ddmission of aliens to those whose skills are needed in the American labor market. It is not the lawfully admitted aliens who are taking jobs away from Americans. To the contrary. lawfully admitted aliens are usually highly educated. highly skilled individuals who are supplementing our labor supply when it is short in certain specific areas. and quite frequently. we find other nations lamenting their "brain drain" because only their highly qualified citizens can meet the requirements for immigration to the United States and therefore. they are losing their most productive citizens. Their loss. of course. is our gain. Our country was built. and its greatness was assured to a very large degree by the lawfully admitted aliens who have come to America from all over the world.