Mr. Chairman. I am delighted to vote in favor of final passage of H.R. 981 which will regularize and improve our system of immigration for the Western Hemisphere. It is with great regret. however. that I oppose the amendment offered by the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey and the learned chairman of the House Judiciary Committee which seeks to increase the quotas of Mexican and Canadian immigrants from 20.000 to 35.000 each. As a member of the Subcommittee on Immigration. Citizenship. and International Law. I am very familiar with the arguments both in favor and against this amendment. And although under most circumstances I would defer to my chairman. I feel in this circumstance that I cannot support his amendment. Under the present bill every country in the world would be treated the sameno country would be able to send more immigrants to the United States than any other. To grant a preference to Mexico and Canada smacks of the national quota system that we fought so long to abolish. In addition. it would reduce the number of immigrant visas available for people from other Western Hemisphere countries. Also. the evidence available demonstrates that many of the immigrants from Mexico do not seek to become American citizens. but seek rather to work here. For that reason it is unfair to reduce immigration from other Western Hemisphere countries to accommodate people who seek only to work in the United States.
Identified stereotypes
Many Mexican immigrants do not seek to become American citizens, but seek rather to work here.