Speech #970223923

Mr. President. the challenge presented to our Nation of immigrants as we attempt to assimilate hundreds of thousands of new entrants has caused us to question the vitality of our world reputation as a safe harbor and land of freedom and opportunity for the oppressed and homeless. It is a tribute to our free land and its citizens who extend their blessings to todays immigrants and refugees. that we continue to find strength in our ethnic and racial diversity as the globes melting pot. The economic. religious. and political freedom and opportunity sought by our ancestors is as strong a magnet today as it was in the early 19th century when waves of immigrants began to reach our shores. We must not forget that as we open our gate to the world. we invest in the future of our country. welcoming the many hard working and hopeful newcomers. most of whom develop strong community and patriotic ties and contribute to our Nations strength. The spirit of compassion that has marked our dealings with those who seek new roots here by staking their futures in our land is viewed by some as having been strained by the sheer overwhelming numbers of aliens entering our land for political freedom and family reunification. Senator SIMPSoNs characterization of a growing climate of "compassion fatigue" unfortunately describes the dilemma that this distinguished body faces in maintaining a reasonable level of legal immigration and controlling the mounting numbers of illegal aliens settling in the United States. Many. including the Attorney General. have concluded that we have lost control over our borders. Escaping detection. millions of illegal aliens have settled in communities throughout the land. If the United States is to continue to preserve a stable economic and political sovereignty in the face of the multitudes yearning for freedom and opportunity. we must temper our compassion and generosity for those of other lands with a heartfelt concern for those legally here who must maintain the vitality and strength of our treasured way of life. The immigration laws of our land have developed with a recognition that there must be some reasonable limits to our generous open door policy. limits which can still make us the most welcoming nation in the world. I support the fundamental values and judgments represented by this legislation. While we must keep the eternal flame at our gate held high. we should recognize that the strength and resilience of our way of life. the very things that attract the worlds hopeful. must be weighed as we mold our Nations immigration course for decades to come. Our immigration policy must be flexible and realistic enough to respond to world economic. population and political pressures that have pushed and pulled millions of migrants across the face of our Earth and have created a large subculture of illegal aliens in our Nation who submit to social and economic exploitation. often creating social instability. The Senator from Kansas believes that legalization and sanctions against the hiring of illegal aliens are a realistic and effective means of exercising humanitarian concerns and regaining control over the enforcement of our immigration laws. Many of the millions of cowering illegal aliens. failing to report crime or disease and often subjected to exploitation. have sunk their roots here. and have become contributing community members. If we expect to effectively enforce our immigration laws we must support steppedup enforcement and focus on stemming the daily tide of aliens drawn primarily by jobs. The bills prohibition against knowingly hiring illegal aliens is critical to eliminating the irresistable magnet of economic opportunity that attracts the illegal alien. The fear of apprehension and deportation alone has not deterred enough aliens. S. 2222 represents a compassionate as well as pragmatic approach to a problem that faces every nation fortunate enough to have been blessed with freedom and opportunity. It is the product of a true bipartisan effort with a solid foundation laid by the findings of the Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy. weeks of joint congressional hearings and the efforts of the administrations task force. The carefully considered provisions of this omnibus bill represent a comprehensive and propitious vehicle to guide our immigration policy into the next century in the face of unprecedented world migration. It carefully balances the vital concerns for our Nations economic and political welfare with a long and proud tradition of compassion for those who flee persecution to seek the blessings of our land as did our immigrant ancestors. I urge my colleagues to support Senator SImpsoNs legislation which represents a fundamentally compassionate and pragmatic blueprint for regaining control over immigration problems that must be laid to rest.