Speech #980210390

Mr. Chairman. I welcome the opportunity to join with a number of my colleagues in speaking in support of H.R. 1510. the "Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1983." We meet at a time of crisis in the enforcement of our immigration laws. The public perception that immigration is out of control is a correct perception. Pressures on our borders from countries in the Carribean Basin experiencing rapid population growth and poverty will only intensify. Many thoughtful people have expressed the fear that if we do not act now to bring order to our immigration procedures. tension and resentment will grow. The New York Times recently observed: "To tolerate a continued illegal tide sorely tries American patience with all foreign migrants." (April 27. 1984. p. A26). A repressive reaction would not distinguish lawful immigrants and refugees from illegal immigrants. At stake is nothing less than our policy of reuniting families and our humanitarian tradition of welcoming those suffering persecution. When I participated in floor debate in the last Congress on an earlier version of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. years of work already had been devoted to fashioning a major immigration bill. Today. that record of thoughtful effort is even longer and more complete. The Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy. during 1979 and 1980. held twelve regional hearings in different parts of the United States. conducted 24 indepth consultations. and authorized extensive social science and legal research. The two fundamental elements that we bring before you again today passed the Commission by overwhelming votes: Employer sanctions by 14 to 2 and legalization by 16 to 0. Early in 1981. when the Commission submitted its report to the Congress and the President. a Cabinetlevel task forcethe first of its kind in this administrationbegan carefully scrutinizing the Select Commissions findings and recommendations. In July 1981. the President announced his commitment to immigration reform. That same month. the Attorney General of the United States testified before a joint meeting of the subcommittees chaired by Senator SIMPsoN and Chairman MAZZOLI. By the fall of 1981. the administration forwarded the Omnibus Immigration Control Act to the Hill. The House and Senate Immigration Subcommittees. during the last two Congresses. listened to hundreds of witnesses from all over the United States. The Senate passed bills in the last Congress and in this Congress by decisive margins. The administration has pursued immigration reform vigorously from the days of the task force to the present moment and has endorsed the Senate version. S. 529. In the House and in the country. there is strong sentiment supporting final passage. H.R. 1510 is the work product of the Judiciary Committee. the committee of lawyers with experts in immigration law. It is the result of months of negotiations with affected interests: agriculture. business. labor groups and civil libertarians. Accommodations have been generous.