Speech #970274907

Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. In this time of recession and high unemployment in our Nation it is especially important to reexamine our laws regarding both legal and illegal immigration. I strongly support the bills employer sanction provisions. Far too many Americans who could and should be working are not because some unscrupulous employers find that illegal aliens come more cheaply. Persons in this country illegally are unlikely to demand the minimum wage or report poor working conditions for fear of being reported to immigration authorities. The bill does not place an unreasonable burden on employers to determine the status of potential workers. Its focus is to hold accountable those employers who know they are hiring illegal aliens. and are thereby knowingly displacing qualified lawabiding persons from the work force. I would also support an amendment to place a comprehensive. flexible ceiling on legal immigration in order to achieve better control over the large numbers of persons coming over our borders to reside permanently. The original version of this bill contained such a cap. but it was removed by the Committee on Judiciary. The amendment would not apply to refugees who. as always. would be provided access to our shores without regard to numbers. The bill we are today considering represents the most thorough revision of our Nations immigration laws in 30 years. It is designed to restore needed control over our borders while preserving Americas tradition of accepting foreigners within realistic limits. I urge adoption of a ceiling in this latter regard and I urge a "yes" vote on final passage.*