Speech #980210327

I think we have a confusion here in the remark that some of our colleagues have made. They are blaming the bill for what is. in fact. the situation that the bill is trying to correct. The resulting situation from the kind of immigration practices we have had is an unpleasant one. It does injustice to many people. including people of different races and different ethnic backgrounds. The bill. in my judgment. as it now stands and as I hope it can be improved. will improve that situation. not as much as I would hope. but it will make a substantial improvement. But Members ought not make the mistake of blaming the attempted solution for the problems that exist and that the solution is aimed at. That Is where I think some of the confusion is. I am convinced that this package of legalization and sanctions will greatly improve the lot of those who we are talking about. the immigrants. and I am surprised that it would be considered controversial that we would make it illegal to hire people who are here illegally. That is what sanctions talk about. We simply say that it would be a crime. Members have said two things about the sanctions: No. 1. that they will not work at all. and No. 2. that they will work so well that they will keep not only illegal aliens from being hired. but will keep legal people from being hired. I can understand both arguments being made. but not by the same people.