Speech #970051044

S. 47. the United StatesMexico Good Neighbor Act. which I introduced on January 5. 1981. and which was introduced in the previous Congress for considerable discussion. would create just such a broadbased guest worker program. That is. it would basically conform to reality and legalize the program that is currently illegal. This bill would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish temporary worker visa program between the United States and Mexico. Under the program. workers would be issued 8month visas which would allow them to enter the United States to seek employment. Mr. President. the current immigration situation is relatively simple with respect to our relations with Mexico. The United States shares a 2.000mile border with the Republic of Mexico. In no other part of the world does a developing country with severe economic problems border such a technologically and economically advanced country. The combination of unfilled jobs in this country not sought by U.S. workers and substantial unemployment and underemployment in Mexico has created a massive migration to the United States. which is currently illegal. Changes in the immigration law have caused much of this migration to remain illegal. even though there have been attempts to legalize this flow. From 1942 to 1964. the bracero program admitted large numbers of Mexican workers to perform agricultural work in the United States. The end of this program and the imposition of a ceiling of 20.000 immigrant visas per year in 1976 have exacerbated the problem. The bracero program. as we all know. Mr.