Speech #970214089

Mr. Speaker. it is my strong contention that the elimination of the fifth preference. regardless of intent. will deal a devastating blow against the AsianAmerican community in this country. Although the champions of this action claim that no one particular ethnic group has been targeted. they cannot deny the overwhelming and glaring evidence that over 70 percent of the immigrants currently waiting to be processed under the fifth preference category are of Asian descent. Clearly. no substantial amount of reasoning is needed to deduce that Asian immigrants. the newest wave of nationals to enter our country. would feel the full brunt of this discriminatory move. I am truly disappointed and ashamed that Congress. the institution which exemplifies our democratic ideal. is even capable of considering such an exclusionary move. Moreover. these very some proponents further claim that abolishing the fifth preference is the only viable method to clear the tremendous backlog in this category. This line of deduction Is not only faulty but erroneous as well. Our Nation at the turn of the century encountered a similar situation with Italian immigrants. But rather than resort to an exclusionary alternative. Congress instead implemented remedial legislation that called for the issuing of more visas to accommodate the backlog. There is no doubt in my mind that this solution is infinitely more viable than the elimination of such an important category. Yet. perhaps the most alarming implication in the proposed removal of the fifth preference is that it violates the right of an American to be reunited with his family. Throughout the history of U.S. immigration law. one goal has always been recognized as a major underlying policy: the reunification of families. Even the Quota Act of 1921. which specifically restricted Asian Immigration into this country. contained provisions that gave preference to wives. parents. brothers. sisters. and children of U.S. citizens. In short. it was always stressed that families must be reunited. As Americans we cherish the ideal of a complete family and believe it a necessary cornerstone for the foundation of a functional and responsible society.