Speech #960330137

In the early 1960s he served as Director of the Peace Corps in the Philippines. He is the author of numerous articles and books on ethnic politics and the role of the family in American life. I commend his remarks to the attention of my colleagues: I welcome this opportunity to speak to you this morning about the work of the Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy. In 1978 the Congress established the Select Commission in response to growing public concern over national immigration policies. The Commission is now in the process of studying and evaluating existing immigration laws. policies and procedures. By March. 1981. it will submit its final report containing recommendations on streamlining and upgrading the laws and administrative procedures governing the admission of immigrants and refugees. In 1907 President Theodore Roosevelt established the first joint commission on immigration. After spending $3 millionthe equivalent of $24 million in todays pricesthe commission presented its findings on the causes. sources and effects of European immigration in 41 volumes. We will do our job for a little more than two million. So. we have some progress to report. We are also doing it with an open mind. which was not true of the 190710 Commission. The task facing our Commission today is no easier than that faced by our predecessor some 70 years ago: we must arrive at a reasonable consensus on many difficult issues including undocumented aliens. amnesty. employer sanctions and labor certification. In Congress disturbing questions have been raised about the effectiveness of present immigration laws. Many view the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 as outdated. unenforceable and inflexible. Its many critics point out that it does not take into account the migratory pressures from different countries as well as the important relationship between immigration levels and the needs of presentday American society. Members of the Select Commission include four cabinet officers. four members appointed by the President. including the Chairman. Rev.