Speech #930120722

Mr. Speaker. this bill represents. along with H.R. 982 which has already passed this House. the results of more than 2 years of hearings and study by the Immigration. Citizenship and International Law Subcommittee of the Committee on the Judiciary. Passage of this bill will complete the action necessary to meet the two most pressing needs of our immigration policyto check the flow of illegal aliens into the United States. and to provide equal terms for the admission of natives of the Western Hemispherethat is. a preference system similar to that applicable to the Eastern Hemisphere. The purpose of H.R. 981. then. is to extend to natives of the Western Hemisphere exactly the same preference system and the 20.000 per country limitation on the annual number of immigrant visas. which applies to the rest of the world. The absence of a hemisphere preference system and per country ceiling for the Western Hemisphere resulted from the imposition of a Western Hemisphere total ceiling of 120.000 by amendment originating in the other body during consideration of the 1965 Immigration Act. As a consequence. unlike Eastern Hemisphere immigration. aliens seeking admission from countries of the Western Hemisphere enjoy no relative preferences or priorities based upon skills. Western Hemisphere immigration. therefore. since 1968 has operated entirely on a firstcome. firstserved basis. without any per country limitation. The only restriction is that an alien entering the country to perform skilled or unskilled labor must obtain a certification from the Secretary of Labor indicating that his entry will not adversely affect the American labor market. Parents. spouses. and children of U.S. citizens or of aliens legally admitted for permanent residence are exempt from this requirement. As a direct result of the imposition of the Western Hemisphere ceiling of 120.000 without a preference system. all intending immigrants from this hemisphere who fall under the numerical ceiling are presently experiencing almost a 2year wait for their visas. This backlog has been accumulating steadily. and the situation appears to be worsening each month. The objective of this bill. accordingly. is to put an end to what amounts to two diverse immigration systems and to establish one uniform system with equal treatment for all aliens who seek admission to the United States. H.R. 981 provides one uniform preference systemwhich is the means by which we establish priorities for aliens seeking admission under our selective immigration policyfor both hemispheres. and in both. the same per country limitation of 20.000 per year. The existing separate total hemisphere ceilings of 170.000 for the eastern and 120.000 for the western are maintained. however. That means there will be no increase in our total numerical worldwide immigration limitations. A unified worldwide immigration system in some form is the ultimate goal after the Western Hemisphere situation has been resolved. and after there has been some opportunity to observe the operation of the preference system and per country numerical restriction in that hemisphere. The State Department has consistently recommended the temporary retention of separate ceilings so that the effects of the preference system on the Western Hemisphere may be evaluated before the next logical step is taken. The bill proposes one slight change in the preference systema redefinition of the refuge category to conform to the term in the U.N. protocol relating to the status of refugees. Extensive revision of the present preference system does not appear needed at this time. since experience in the Eastern Hemisphere indicates the objectives of the 1965 actto bring order and uniformity of treatmenthave been achieved for that part of the world. With a uniform preference system and per country limitation. H.R. 981 marks the end of the last vestige of the old quota system. The discriminatory mostfavored nation plan of immigration will now be completely abandoned. National origin no longer will be the key for ad.missionuniform treatment for all aliens regardless of place of birth will be our policy and law. Other provisions of this bill are designed to meet special situations which have developed since the 1965 act. Section 2 will permit temporary workers to be admitted when a need is demonstrated for their services in any field of employment whether the jobs are seasonal in nature or permanent. This arrangement. to be carefully regulated by the Department of Labor. will be helpful to employers facing labor shortages and to aliens seeking to improve their economic lot. The need for this arrangement has been particularly demonstrated to the Immigration Subcommittee in Guam and in the Southwest. Another section of the bill provides that the remaining Cuban refugees in this country who have not yet acquired permanent resident status will not be charged against the hemisphere ceiling when they do qualify for such status. Another section will regularize the status of certain aliens who have long been resident in the Virgin Islands. This is a good bill. one that is needed to bring uniformity and equality of treatment to our immigration system. I urge its prompt passage. Mr.