Speech #980210352

Mr. Speaker. H.R. 1510 is before us today not on its merits. but because of what many in this body see as an imperative to do something. anything. on the difficult questions of immigration and refugee policy. H.R. 1510. as brought before this body. will not give us control over our borders. although it may enhance the Reagan administrations rhetoric and imagery as it relates to this issue. Provisions in H.R. 1510 are offensive to key constituencies of our country and of the Democratic Party. We have another option and it is the Roybal alternative. We should postpone consideration of H.R. 1510 until the merits of H.R. 4909 can be assessed in the normal processes. This alternative. of which I am a cosponor. would protect civil liberties. while increasing the enforcement and service capability of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). It would require human relations training of INS personnel. and authorize additional material resources to increase the efficiency of INS. This alternative reflects a commitment to civil rights by substituting the employer sanction provisions of SimpsonMazzoli with Department of Labor enforcement of existing fair labor laws. It would maintain the jurisdiction and oversight of Federal district courts in asylum cases. and provide for a fair and workable program of legalization. H.R. 4909. incorporates H.R. 4853CubanHaitian Adjustment Act of 1984which treats Cuban and Haitian refugees equally for purposes of granting permanent residence status. This bill was introduced by my colleague. Representatives PETER W. RODINO. chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary. Additionally. the Roybal alternative focuses attention on our foreign policies as they affect refugee and immigration patterns. Such an examination is crucial if we are to be serious and effective in gaining control over our borders. We cannot gain control over our borders if the only hope for people whose nations have close relations with us is to migrate to the United States of America. Finally. the Roybal alternative does not contain any provisions for an unnecessary expansion of the guest worker program. I am concerned that H.R. 1510 and the pending Panetta amendment. would bring to our country a labor force that is docile. captive. and unable to be organized or protected under fair labor standard laws. I wish to emphasize to my colleagues my concern that the debate -on this matter be free of scapegoating and acrimony that somehow links the crisis confronting our economy with the phenomena of immigration and refugee policy. I am quite aware that there are some pressures on the labor market resulting from the presence of undocumented entrants. I am also acutely aware of the fact that these entrants are easily exploited and victimized. Needless to say. however. our economic crisis will not be solved in a significant way by the resolution of the issues before this body. This is not a jobs bill. Our economic problems are profound. involving issues basic to the competitiveness of our economic system. and the solution to the problem of unemployment requires fiscal and monetary policies that affect the labor market and work to revitalize our industrial base. Recognizing immigration reform as a civil rights issue. the National Black Leadership Roundtable and the Black Coalition for 1984. representing more than 150 national black organizations. stated in the peoples platform that: As immigration issues involve matters of foreign and domestic policy. the immigration and refugee legislation that is fashioned must be consistent with an enlightened foreign policy. and with basic civil rights standards and equal protection under the law for all groups. particularly those acutely affected. such as Hispanic and Caribbean nationals. The position of black leadership is in agreement with others such as the American Jewish Committee. the National Education Association. and the city of New York. which have called for hearings on the Roybal alternative. I urge my colleagues to defeat the rule and delay consideration until we can have full consideration of H.R. 4909. the Roybal construction alternative.9