It retains the present numerical ceilings--170.000 for the Eastern Hemisphere and 120.000 for the Western Hemisphere. Second. It provides a uniform nondiscriminatory. nofavored nation treatment for every country in the worldall will have the same numerical maximum of 20.000 immigrants per year. Third. It applies the same identical preference system to both hemispheres. Fourth. It makes no basic changes in the existing preference systemonly redefining refugees to accord with the United Nations Protocol definition. and adding to the labor certification requirements specific directions for the Labor Department to provide quarterly statistics to the Congress. Fifth. It provides that temporary nonimmigrant workers may be admitted temporarily to permanent jobs when the Department of Labor certifies there is a shortage of U.S. workers and that U.S. wage standards will be maintained. This provision should be particularly helpful to employers in the Southwest in obtaining needed Mexican labor. Sixth. It provides that the parole section of the law can be used for the admission of groups or classes of refugeesas has been done in the past--only with advance consultation with the Congress. Seventh. It provides a cleanup program for approximately 11.000 nonimmigrant workers who were admitted to the Virgin Islands more than 5 years ago and have become a permanent work force there. Eighth. It raises the limitation on immigration from dependent areas of the world which are not independent countriessuch as Hong Kong. Cape Verde. Grenada. the British Virgin Islands. et cetera. from 200 to 600 annuallybut without increasing the total numerical ceilings. This is a good billthe result of hearings extending over several Congresses. It has received thorough and conscientious study. It will correct inequities present in our system of immigration and provide uniform treatment for all aliens who apply for admission. I urge its prompt passage.
Keywords matched
immigration immigrants refugeesas refugees