Speech #930042865

H.R. 980. the Department of Labor indicated thatIn light of our experience with the use of temporary alien workers. I oppose any expansion of our admissions policy for nonimmigrant aliens or broadening the existing job limitations. If Congress deems it advisable to authorize admission of more aliens to perform work. an increase in the number of immigrant visas for workers would be preferable to the arrangement provided for by this bill. This position presupposes that the majority of aliens are desirous of entering this country on a permanent basis. This view is not accurate since our hearings have revealed that a large number of aliensincluding the vast majority of illegal aliens who are presently filling these undesired jobsdo not intend to enter the United States permanently. Instead. they seek to come to the United States temporarily in order to earn sufficient money to sustain their families and then return to their native country. In addition. the 1965 amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act instituted new procedures for obtaining labor certifications. Many witnesses who have appeared before the Immigration Subcommittee have indicated that the revised procedures have resulted in extreme hardship to many intending immigrants who are unable to satisfy the job offer requirement. It has been suggested that it is unrealistic to require an alien to obtain an offer of employment from an unknown employer or for an employer to make such an offer to an employee whom he has never interviewed or observed. If these procedures have proved to be unduly burdensome to employers. intending immigrants or even to the Department of Labor itself. why has the Department of Labor failed to come forward with positive recommendations for remedial legislation? Unquestionably. these problems are not new and have existed for many years. For example. on March 23 of last year the Associate Manpower Administrator statedThe Labor Department feels strongly that it should remain in the [labor certification] business in connection with temporary certification . . .