Washington. D.C. DEAR SENATOR EAST: You will shortly be asked to vote on S. 2222 (the Simpson immigration reform bill). S. 2222 will substantially change our immigration laws in three ways: (1) it will reduce illegal immigration by making it unlawful to knowingly hire Illegal immigrants. (2) it will increase the level of legal immigration by raising the immigration ceiling from 270.000 to 425.000. and (3) it will offer anmeaty and permanent residence in the United States to illegal residents in the United States who arrived before this year. The original impetus for legislative action on immigration was a widespread feeling that immigration. which has such a profound effect on our labor markets and the shape of our society. had gotten out of control. In 1980 legal immigration exceeded 800.000. the highest level since immigration quotas were introduced In 1921. Another 500.000 to 750.000 aliens entered the United States illegally. These huge numbers as. tounded the general public. which could neither comprehend the enormous disparity between these statistics and the legal ceiling of 270.000 immigrants per year nor understand why massive disrespect for our immigration laws was being tolerated. I am impelled to write this letter because I strongly believe that the provisions of S. 2222 that increase the immigration ceiling and grant an indiscriminate amnesty to illegal aliens run completely contrary to the deeply felt concerns about immigration policy which this legislation was supposed to address. Hopefully. amendments will be offered from the floor to eliminate or modify these provisions. In deciding how to vote on any such amendments.
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