Speech #980210480

Mr. Chairman. if the gentleman has just a moment. the charge has been made repeatedly tonight that the Hispanic people are not for some kind of an answer to the problem of illegal immigration. I would just again cite a poll which was done in 1983 by the Gallup organization. which is one of the respected polling groups in the country. in which 75 percent of the Hispanics responding said they favored a law making it against the law to employ a person that is coming to the United States without proper papers. In effect. 75 percent of the Hispanics polled were against illegal entry and were in favor of employer sanctions. The Lance Torrance and Peter Hart research done also in 1983 shows that 66 percent of Hispanics responding favored having penalties and fines for employers who hire illegal aliens. Also. that very same poll suggested that 64 percent of the Hispanic citizens responded that they sought tough restrictions on illegal immigration because illegal immigrants take jobs away from American workers and give employers a way to avoid paying decent wages. While no member of the Hispanic Caucus in this House is for the bill. I am saying across this great Nation many Hispanic citizens are for it and I suggested earlier tonight that in the exit polls done in four States this year in the Presidential primaries. the States of Texas. New York. New Mexico. and California. 23 congressional districts. the results were overwhelmingly. 55 percent to 35 percent. in favor of fines for the hiring of illegal immigrants. So I suggest there is support for this.