Speech #970223894

Senator DECONCINI. and Senator GRAssLEY. They have all contributed a great deal to this process and they too deserve our thanks. As a nonmember of the Immigration Subcommittee. I may be one of the few Senators who can fully understand and appreciate all the frustrations and obstacles they have had to overcome to produce this immigration bill. Since 1975 I have actively fought for meaningful Immigration reform without the benefit of any direct committee connection. During that period of time there were a number of successes that chipped away at some of the problems. These have included: In 1975. an amendment to require greater planning and direction in the refugee assistance program. in 1978. a bill I introduced with Senator DECONCINI to permit the INS to confiscate vehicles used in smuggling illegal aliens. in 1980. several amendments to strengthen the Refugee Reform Act. and later. an amendment that put the Senate on record supporting the concept of an immigration ceiling. Nonetheless. we still have a great deal more to accomplish in the area of immigration control. and S. 2222 takes us much closer to that goal. The need for this kind of legislation should be clear to all by now. In 1980 we admitted more people to the United States than in any other year in the history of this country. More than 800.000 people were admitted legally. and at least that number came illegally. Close to 1 million illegal immigrants were apprehended and another 900.000 ineligible aliens were turned away at ports of entry. Estimates of the illegal immigrant population in the United States have risen from 3.5 to 6 million 5 years ago to perhaps 8 or 10 million today. How did we get to this state of affairs? For 15 years. from 1965 to 1980. Congress refused to face the problems of immigration. For 15 years we chose to ignore the problems that were thought to be too far in our future. However. while a few concerned individuals struggled to make us aware of the worsening situation. both legal and illegal immigration continued to mount. Then in 1979 we woke up to find what has turned into a ceaseless flow of "boat people." We resettled hundreds of thousands. far more than the rest of the world combined. And we are continuing to accept thousands of refugees each month. not just from Southeast Asia but from all around the world. In the process we have spent billions of dollars in this seemingly endless effort. To help these refugees. Congress passed the first major change in our immigration laws since 1965. the Refugee Act of 1980. But even this major loosening of our immiegration laws was not enough to meet the unending demand. The number of refugees has risen to 16 million worldwide and all our efforts. and those of the U.N. High Commission for Refugees. seem unable to reduce the number. Americans are the most generous people in this planet in admitting immigrants and refugees. In fact. the United States admits more immigrants and refugees for permanent resettlement than the rest of the world combined. But as Americans continue their historical generosity in the face of unending pleas for entry. t hey have become increasingly concerned that the lack of control in immigration. as Senator SIMPSON has referred to it "compassion fatigue." has set in. Resentment has turned to violence between Americans and new immigrants in Colorado and Texas. In Florida. researchers found that at least part of the cause for the 1980 riot in Miami was resentment about the large numbers of new Cuban entrants forcing blacks out of the growing economy. Twothirds of Americans wanted complete suspension of immigration until unemployment fell below 5 percent. according to a November 1980 GallupNewsweek poll. Think of the resentiment that must exist now that unemployment is well over 10 million Americans and approaching 10 percent. Some people blame the Cuban exodus of last year for the "great awakening" of the American people. However. I think that they have been concerned over uncontrolled immigration for much longer. A 1977 Roper poll found that 91 percent of those polled wanted "an allout effort" to stop illegal immigration. and 75 percent wanted legal immigration reduced below 400.000 per year. In 1980. that poll was repeated. again 91 percent wanted allout action on illegal immigration. and the number calling for decreased legal admissions rose to 80 percent. In such a climate. comprehensive immigration reform is difficult. We must regain control over immigration before we can hope to completely reform it. Fortunately. we are finally moving in that direction. S. 2222 addresses the more serious issues facing us on immigrationemployment of illegal aliens. amnesty for illegal aliens. and an immigration ceiling. It also deals with many of the lesser problems. However. as I said when S. 2222 was introduced. it is a good beginning but it can be improved.