Speech #980210728

Mr. Chairman. the bill reported by the Judiciary Committee is a beginning on controlling immigration. particularly illegal immigration. I rise in support of H.R. 1510. but must oppose the principal actions of the Education and Labor Committee. As one of my colleagues stated recently: The issue of immigration will not go away. If we do not take it up * * * the problems will be harder to resolve next year and the following year. My colleague from Kentucky is to be congratulated for being persistent with this unpopular political issue. He has worked as hard on this issue as any Member of the House has worked on any issue. I support him in his efforts and am a cosponsor of his legislation. No one disputes the fact that U.S. immigration policy is out of control and that the country needs legislation to impose stronger restrictions on the influx of illegal aliens. an influx of increasing millions in recent years. We have no idea how many illegal aliens are in the country. but the Census Bureau estimates there are between 3.5 and 6 million illegal aliens in the United States. with an added half million entering each year. Other sources. such as newspaper reports. have suggested there are over 12 million illegal aliens in this country and that our border enforcement represents a large sieve. Whatever the number. the presence of such a large number of illegal aliens means that unscrupulous employers and their agents can bootleg illegals into jobs that are lower than the minimum wage compensation. the illegal workers are afraid to complain about wages and conditions. and jobs are taken from citizens or aliens with permission to work. This legislation under consideration would remove this incentive to hire illegal aliens and their resulting secondclass status. H.R. 1510 recognizes the illegal population and would offer permanent resident status to any alien who could prove residency before January 1. 1982. and continously since. These people would then be eligible for citizenship in 5 years. under the rules for naturalization. In either recognized "legal" status. these workers would then be able to assert their basic rights. The other body has twice passed a bill with a twotiered legalization system which is more realistic in its dates. Furthermore. enactment of the proposed Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1983 will: First. make it a Federal crime to knowingly hire illegal aliens. Second. establish a national status verification program. Third. stiffen penalties for violations by those using the false documents. Fourth. retain existing law to deny temporary and permanent status to Communists. criminals. dope users. and anyone who would threaten our national security. Fifth. establish universal criteria for the legalization of current illegal aliens. granting a grace period. setting language standards and new naturalization requirements. Sixth. streamline the process for political asylum. and Seventh. continue to keep our doors open to refugees under terms of the 1980 Refugee Act. In enacting stiff fines for employers who hire illegals. the act would reduce unemployment benefit fraud which has become a serious financial drain in a number of States and particularly in my own State of Illinois. Although some studies show that illegal aliens do not drain Federal and State treasuries. former Illinois Attorney General Tyrone Fahner recently estimated an annual loss of $66 million in fraudulent unemployment claims in my home State. Most studies confirm that illegals are costly to local governments. Whether the flow of illegal aliens is costly or not. recent studies all conclude that Americas immigration laws badly need reform. The last three administrations conducted studies. as did the House Select Committee on Population on which I served. This legislation. H.R. 1510. would keep the welcoming torch of liberty burning. while protecting the best interests of our citizens. We are a nation of immigrants. and cannot close the doors to others seeking the opportunity to live in a free society. Although I support the Immigration and Nationality Act amendments in general as reported by the Judiciary Committee. I cannot support certain amendments to the bill reported by the Education and Labor Committee. My opposition is directed to both the H2 provisions proffered by Mr.