Speech #970224402

Mr. President. I want to say in the beginning that no Member of the Senate has taken more interest in immigration matters and sounder positions than the able Senator from Kentucky. I have to disagree with him on this particular matter. Mr. President. it is with some reluctance that I intend to vote against the Huddleston amendment because I am sympathetic with its purpose. As I understand the amendment. it would include annual refugee admissions within an overall ceiling on immigration and refugee admissions for each year. If the number of refugees exceeds the number provided for. it would be charged against other admission classifications. Mr. President. I share the goals of the Senator from Kentucky to limit the number of immigrants and refugees coming into the United States. We cannot take them all. Senator HUDDLESTON has been in the forefront on immigration and refugee matters for years and I respect and support his efforts to bring our immigration and refugee policy under control. I am afraid. however. that I cannot support him on this particular amendment. Mr. President. the Committee on the Judiciary has wrestled with this question on refugee policy and the relationship between the executive and legislative branch authority to control it. Two years ago. the Congress passed the Refugee Act of 1980. which provided for an annual ceiling of 50.000 refugee admissions and required consultation between the President and the Congress before any refugee admissions beyond that level could be authorized. The track record of that law is fairly good. In 1980. refugee admissions reached a high of 232.000. far in excess of the 50.000 emergency level in the Refugee Act. In 1981. refugee admissions dropped further. and in 1982. the Congress. pursuant to consultation with the President. authorized a ceiling of 140.000 refugee admissions. To date. only 100.000 refugees have been admitted during fiscal year 1982. Although these levels are not as low as I would like. the process is working. Mr. President. we will also have an opportunity in the committee to study and review the proposal of the Senator from Kentucky when we take up those immigration and refugee reforms not contained in S. 2222. For example. emergency powers of the President in dealing with refugee matters will be the subject of consideration by the committee early next year. I can assure the Senator from Kentucky that his proposal to review the level of refugee admissions and the role of the Congress in that process will be given careful consideration. Mr. President. this amendment is well intended. but it goes against the reforms we are trying to achieve in this bill. which is to focus on legal and illegal immigration. Refugee policy is important. but should be addressed separately. For these reasons. I will vote against the amendment.