Speech #980197375

Messinger and WilliamsWhereas. The U.S. Senate passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1982 (the "SimpsonMazzoli Bill"). and it is now again before the U.S. Congress. and Whereas. The SimpsonMazzoli Bill has enormous implications for millions of people living in New York and the rest of the United States. both citizens and noncitizens. and would drastically alter this countrys historic mission of opening its doors to foreigners seeking to start a new life: and Whereas. The SimpsonMazzoli Bill would reduce or eliminate many of the present provisions of the law by which refugees fleeing from brutal persecution and oppression in their homelands can seek asylum in the United States. and would allow for the summary exclusion without a hearing of undocumented aliens who may have a valid claim to political asylum. and Whereas. The SimpsonMazzoli Bill would require all citizens and noncitizens to carry a nationally controlled identification work permit when applying for a job. and would penalize employers who hire undocumented workers. thereby causing discrimination against minorities whose appearance or accents would make employers avoid hiring them for fear of sanctions: and Whereas. The SimpsonMazzoli Bill drastically reduces the rights and avenues by which persons who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents can unify their families by having immediate relatives. including the married children of permanent restdents and the brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens. immigrate here. and Whereas. The SimpsonMazzoli Bill extends to local police and other authorities the power to detain and turn over to the Immigration and Naturalization Service all persons suspected of being here without documents and visas. and also severely limits court appeals and other constitutional rights of persons detained on the job. in the streets or in their homes. and Whereas. The SimpsonMazzoli Bill provides a very limited amnesty for undocumented immigrants. preserves the status quo for an estimated million or more people and establishes a threetiered system for conferring resident status that is irrational. unfair and unworkable. and Whereas. This legislation is arbitrary. capricious and discriminatory. undermining the American ideals of freedom. human rights and humanitarianism symbolized by the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. now. therefore. be it Resolved. That the Council of the City of New York urges the United States Congress to defeat the SimpsonMazzoli Bill in its present form and urges the Congress to develop and enact legislation which would reform the United States Immigration Law while at the same time preserving the civil rights of all individuals. Resolved. That the Clerk of the Council send copies of this resolution to the Speaker.