Mr. Speaker. in view of the likelihood that H.R. 1510. the SimpsonMazzoli immigration reform bill. will be brought before us for consideration within the next few weeks. I would like to discuss an amendment to H.R. 1510 which was approved by the House Agriculture Committee last year and which I will be offering again during floor debate on this legislation. Mr. Speaker. I think it is clear to most of us that our current immigration laws are not working. In the first 3 months of fiscal 1984 over 350.000 undocumented aliens were apprehended at our borders. and the Commissioner of the INS estimates that 500.000 illegal aliens successfully entered the United States during that same period. Estimates are that this country presently supports some 8 to 10 million undocumented aliens. victims of blatant exploitation from all sides who are bought and sold. have no rights or protections. deprive others of jobs. and live in constant fear of arrest and deportation. That is the situation that exists today. and I do not believe it is tolerable any longer. We must develop an immigration policy which will be workable and effective. and which will impose standards and controls that can be enforced. In order to develop such a comprehensive policy. we must recognize certain realities. One of those realities is the importance of the perishable crop industry to our economy and to the American consumer.
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