Speech #970147911

In 10 years it had impacts are of great significance. I increased to over 1 million. Those are think most would agree with me that people apprehended. the national interest of the American Just 4 years ago applications for people also includes certain even more asylum. that is those who are refugees important and fundamental aspectswho apply for asylum here instead of such as preservation of freedom. per. in their countiy. was 5.000. That was sonal safety. and political stability. as several years ago. And today that well as the publicand I emphasize backlog is over 106.000. That system is the word "public"-cultural qualities in total disarray and has been severely and the political institutions which are gimmicked. their foundation. The number of illegal aliens already Let me here say that I wish to reemin the country is unknown. The Select phasize my deep personal belief that Cormmission on Immigration and Refu- no individual applying to this country gee Policy used the figure of 3.5 to 6 lawfully in search of freedom and op. million as the number for 1978. Obvi- portunity. and desiring to integrate ously there are more now. fully into American society. should be Immigrationlegal plus illegalnow discriminated against because of race. appears to be accounting for 30 to 50 color. or religionwhich we have cerpercent of our annual population tainly sometimes done in our past. I growth of about 2 million. say this to you because I realize that Mr. President. I am certain that what I am about to say is directed to a some of my colleagues are thinking most sensitive and complex issue and "Why should any of that concern us?" there is every risk of misunderstandLet me try to explain why all Ameri. ing. cans should be concerned. If immigration is continued at a high At the present time. net immigra level. but a substantial portion of tionthat is legal plus illegalprob- these new persons and their descendably exceeds 750.000 per year. A net ants do not integrate fully into the so. annual immigration of 750.000 would ciety. they may well create in America lead to a U.S. population in 100 years some of the same social. political. and of 300.000.000. even if it is assumed economic problems which exist in the that the fertility rate of the existing countries from which they have population remains at its present low chosen to depart. Furthermore. if lan. levelwhich is unlikelyand the fer- guage and cultural separatism rise tility rate of the new immigrants im- above a certain level. the unity and pomediately declines to that of the litical stability of the Nation willin present population as a wholewhich timebe seriously eroded. Pluralism is even more unlikely. Onethird of within a united American nation has this 300.000.000 would consist of immi- been our greatest strength. That unity grants arriving after 1980 and their de- comes from a common language and a scendants. core public culture of certain shared Indeed. these figures actually under- values. beliefs. and customs. which estimate the impact of immigration. make us distinctly "Americans." which is concentrated in only a few re- Mr. President. I and my fine col. gions of the country. league. RON MAZZOLI. who is chairman For example. under the same as. of the House Immigration Subcommit. sumptions. and assuming continuance tee. intend to do our utmost to achieve of existing settlement patterns. the the type of reform of U.S. immigration population of California would double law and enforcement procedures by 2080. which the American people desire and The problems which may be caused deserveand upon which Americas by excessive population growth are future depends. It is not our intention to seek to isolate the United States from the rest of the world. Immigration can continue to benefit the United States if the law is reasonably amended to be appropriate for present conditionsand if the law can be enforced. Today Congressman MAZZOLI and I are introducing in our respective Houses a bill intended to bring immigration to the United States back under the control of the American people. The bill contains what we feel are the minimum features required to meet the most serious deficiencies in present law and enforcement procedures. Let me review with you the major provisions of the bill.