Speech #970273265

Mr. Chairman. no one can deny that our immigration policy is in need of reform. Our countrys immigrant flows have increased dramatically in recent years. and the American people have every reason to be alarmed especially at the level of illegal immigration we face. We are of course a nation of immigrantsbut today uncontrolled immigration strains our economic and governmental resources. and must be addressed. H.R. 7357 is the product of a long and arduous effort directed at comprehensive immigration reform. and its sponsors deserve our gratitude for focusing attention on this issue. But while this legislation would make sweeping changes in our immigration laws. it contains a number of very significaxt problems. and threatens the civil rights and liberties of Americans in the attempt. H.R. 7357 requires employers to examine identification documents of prospective employees to determine if the individual is a U.S. citizen. or a legal or ellegal alien. Employers who hire illegal aliens would be subject to graduated civil penalties that increase with repeat violations. These employer sanctions are likely to result in discrimination against Hispanics and other minorities. and should not be enacted. Employers intent on excluding minority applicants can conceal their discriminatory practices under the pretext of complying with the prohibition on the hiring of illegal aliens. On the other hand. wellmeaning employers might avoid hiring minorities or "foreignlooking" applicants for fear of being subject to employer sanctions. Either way. minority applicants would likely be asked to provide more complete documentation than other applicants. H.R. 7357 provides no expedited administrative or judicial recourse for applicants who are unfairly denied a job by a prospective employer. The extent to which the rights of "foreignlooking" people can be abused was demonstrated by "Operation Jobs." a misnamed crackdown on illegal aliens conducted nationwide by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service in April 1982. INS agents concentrated their efforts on Hispanic neighborhoods and gathering places. detaining many actual citizens who could not produce proof of their citizenship. In Boulder County and in Denver.