Speech #970223922

Mr. President. S. 2222. the Immigration Reform and Control Act is an urgently needed measure. The problems of uncontrolled immigration and illegal aliens are of great concern to citizens throughout our Nation. We are not unsympathetic to the plight of people who wish to come to this country and we will continue to be generous under S. 2222. but. we must as a nation secure control of our destiny. The number of illegal immigrants residing in the United States is estimated at 3.5 to 6 million. and some experts have estimated a net growth of 500.000 new illegal immigrants per year. Current law cannot contain this problem because it is legal to employ aliens who are in the United States illegally. The major reason for illegal immigration is the prospect of employment in this country. Merely increasing levels of existing enforcement is unrealistic. The procedure for granting political asylum to refugees reaching our shores is not working. It is increasingly used by immigrants seeking procedural delays to remain and work in the United States. There are currently five levels of appeals on asylum cases. which can take years to complete. In 1979. there were approximately 4.000 asylum cases pending. currently there are over 105.000 backlogged in various states of adjudication. Finally. our programs for the admission of legal immigrants and temporary workers must be refined. S. 2222 makes substantial progress toward resolving these problems. It contains provisions to prohibit the hiring of illegal aliens and imposes sanctions against employers who knowingly employ such persons. It establishes a streamlined system to handle asylum cases and the cases of persons who attempt to enter this country with or without documentation. S. 2222 also sets an annual ceiling on legal admissions to the United States of 425.000 per year. Unfortunately. this ceiling does not include refugees. In this regard. I am cosponsoring an amendment to bring refugees under this ceiling. This amendment is sponsored by the very able Senator from Kentucky who has been a knowledgeable and active student in this field. There may be other amendments to S. 2222 that I will support.