Speech #980140198

Mr. Speaker. today I join with other Members in the House to speak out on an issue which is of critical importance to our Nation and its future wellbeing. I am referring to the urgent need to make necessary and substantial changes to the Immigration and Nationality Act so that U.S immigration law can be made enforceable. equitable and flexible. While such a comprehensive overhaul of existing law will be difficult and controversial we. as the lawmaking body of Government. should not shirk from our responsibilities to face the issues of our immigration problems. Failure to reform laws can only result in further illegal immigration. greater public frustration and perpetuation of the negative social and economic effects of permitting a large number of undocumented aliens to exist outside our laws. Despite the pronouncements of the leadership of the House. a number of recent polls. notably the Field Institutes poll in my home State of California. as well as surveys conducted by the Democratic and Republican pollsters. Peter Hart and Lance Terrance. indicate that there is widespread support among all groups regardless of ethnicity for some type of immigration reform. In my own State of California we face tremendous problems with illegal immigration. In Los Angeles County alone. the undocumented population of illegals has been estimated to be over 1 millionperhaps 20 percent of the undocumented population in the whole country. The broad range of issues relating to illegal as well as legal immigration are well illustrated by Californias unique history and direct experience. For example. the poll conducted by the Field Institute in 1982 revealed that a large majority of Californians believe that immigrants produce good U.S. citizens. 60 percent say immigrants make just as good citizens as those who are native born. and another 10 percent maintain they make better citizens. However twothirds of those polled describe the illegal immigration situation in California as a very serious problem. By a 77- to 18percent margin. Californians feel that much more should be done to discourage the entry of illegals. I also might point out that despite the supportive view overall of the general idea of lawful immigration. majorities of Californiansincluding whites. blacks and hispanicsthink the number of immigrants now permitted to enter the United States should be reduced. These attitudes of Californians clearly reflect two of the major issues that must be addressed in any immigration reform bill. First. if we intend to effectively stem the tide of illegal immigration. which is undeniably economically motivated. it is essential that fair and enforceable measures be enacted to deter the hiring of illegals. A second issue of great concern to me is the need to evaluate the current policy of legal immigration to the United States. Legal immigration is a part of our American tradition. Americans are the most generous people in the world when it comes to immigration. As a free and democratic people we should be proud of our heritage and we should continue it. However. given our high level of immigration. we could face severe social and economic problems in the future if we do not exercise greater control on legal entry to this country. I am currently the sponsor of an amendment that seeks to regain control over legal admissions in such a way that is generous. reasonable and fair. My proposed amendment is designed to provide a flexible formula to prevent major increases in legal immigration in the years ahead. The number of immediate relatives entering our country in any 1 year would determine the number of preference visas available the following year. I believe this amendment. which failed along party lines when I offered it in the Judiciary Committee on which I serve. has great merit and certainly deserves the attention of all Members in the House. The 98th Congress has the opportunity to regain control of our borders. Comprehensive immigration reform legislation has been considered by four House committees. two of which I am a member. While I do not agree with a number of provisions contained in the House immigration reform bill. I believe the issues involved are of such paramount importance to our Nations future that we cannot deny ourselves the opportunity to fully air and debate these critical questions on the floor of the House of Representatives. Further.