Speech #970148322

The related issue of the method for verifying work eligibility. however. proved deeply divisive. This bill resolves the Select Commissions dilemma by authorizing employers to relyfor the time beingon existing identifiers and requiring the President to develop and implement a fraudresistent employment verification system within 3 years. The United States. at the same time that it acts decisively to deter future illegal flows. must respond compassionately to the plight of those illegal aliens who have acquired important equities in our society through years of living in the United States. Here the Select Commissioei pointed the way by its unanimous recommendation to legalize a substantial percentage of the undocumented population. That recommendation represented a recognition of the need to provide humane treatment for persons who possess a major stake in this country. A mass deportation effort directed at persons who have lived among us fol a number of years would prove seriously disruptive of our national life. The United States. moreover. simply lacks the tools to round up and expel millions of generally lawabiding people. This bill attempts to deal realistically with persons who can document years of U.S. residence and firmly with both recent illegal arrivals and persons intent on violating our immigration laws in the future. This bill does not approach the problem of illegal entry in isolation but recognizes that the potential for large future increases in numbers of legal immigrants also must be addressed. This legislation retains the numerically exempt classifications for immediate relatives of citizens and special immigrants. but limits other categories of legal immigration to a figure that takes into account the level of numerically exempt admissions. The bills total figure for legal immigration of 425.000 corresponds to todays totals of numerically exempt immigrantsapproximately 155.000and numerically limited immlgran..- 270.000. The United States possesses the capacity. for the foreseeable future. to continue to admit legal immigrants at approximately todays overall levels. We must. however. show enough foresight to fashion an immigration policy for this decade that takes into account projected increases in close family admissions. The setting of a clear limit todayin anticipation of the futureis far better than allowing the expansion to go unchecked and then responding with severe cutbacks. This bill represents a fair and balanced approach to our major immigration problems. I urge my colleagues to give It their stronf. support.*