Speech #970273208

So. it is a good compromise. The background and preparation for todays debate has been monumental. Starting in 1970. four successive administrations have studied the immigration issue and recommended changes in our immigration laws which are incorporated in this bill. In 1978. Congress appointed a 16member Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy which conducted the most exhaustive study in 70 years of immigration policy. Beginning in the spring of 1981. my subcommittee and the Senate Immigration Subcommittee held the first of what ultimately turned out to be 6 full days of Joint hearings on immigration reform. I should note that this was the first time in 30 years that such joint hearings have been held. My subcommittee went on to hold 8 additional days of its own hearings. In all. we held over 100 hours of hearings with more than 300 witnesses appearing. My subcommittee and I also traveled to California and Florida for extensive investigative trips. and I traveled on my own to Texas and California for further meetings on immigration with concerned groups. And. needless to say. there were literally dozens of private meetings and briefings. My subcommittee and I ventured to Mexico City to talk with Mexican Goveminent officials about immigration. The gentleman from New Jersey and the gentleman from New York traveled to Haiti to get firsthand observations of the situation there. My subcommittee and I also visited refugee camps throughout Southeast Asia and met with refugee officials in Europe. all to get a better purchase on the subject. In short. I believe that although the study of such a complex subject is never complete. all the study that could be done has been done in preparation for todays debate. The need for the legislation is clear and the time could never be better nor more clement. Our immigration policy is in chaos. Hundreds of thousands of aliens enter our country each year either illegally or initially legally only to overstay their visas and become part of the large mass collectively known as undocumented aliens. Many of these undocumented aliens. though working and contributing to our economy and society. live in a netherworld because of their lack of legal status. The process for determining political asylum for those who claim they have been persecuted or will be persecuted if returned to their home countries has become gridlocked. so that over 125.000 asylum applications are pending. And the system for allowing a limited number of temporary foreign workers into our country to take Jobs Americans do not want is so cumbersome that employers hire undocumented aliens rather than use the legal system. It is essential the House act promptly on this legislation. For one thing. the illegal immigration problem continues to grow just as we sit here. Apprehensions along this Nations southern border have increased dramatically this year over last year. just as they have increased steadily over the last 15 years. And just as they will grow again next year. unless something is done. Part of the reason the apprehensions have increased is because my subcommittee has strengthened the Immigration and Naturalization Service. particularly the Border Patrol. with increased personnel and funding. That battle is far from over. though. and we will continue to fight for additional funding. But. the major reason for the increased apprehensions is the increased flow of undocumented aliens. The pull factor. the availability of Jobs in this country. is very effective. As long as this magnet exists. as Attorney General William French Smith pointed out in hearings before my subcommittee. even an army along our border will not stop the flow of undocumented aliens. The immigration reform bill will end the Job lure. turn off the job magnet. by making it illegal for employers knowingly to hire undocumented aliens. That brings me to the second important reason to act now on this bill. We are all exceptionally concerned about the high levels of unemployment in our country.