Chairman. I rise in opposition to any and all of the weakening amendments to title III of H.R. 1510. The legalization program in the Committee on the Judiciary bill is the best proposal we have before us in terms of future administration. enforcement of our immigration laws. and it is the fairest proposal. All of the weakening amendments before us will make legalization much more difficult and will leave large numbers of people who are here in an underground situation which compounds the problems of law enforcement and the maintenance of fair labor practices. The January 1. 1982. cutoff date for legalization is a reasonable and fair approach. Under this proposal qualified undocumented workers would be able. once they came out in the open. to contribute more fully to our society. Most undocumented workers are dedicated to the work ethic. are productive. and pay taxes. The legalization program contained in H.R. 1510 offers the only possibility before us of bringing this underground and exploitable work force out of the darkness and into the sunshine of our society where they can avail themselves of the protection of our laws. Under this proposal. with the cutoff date of January 1. 1982. the Immigration and Naturalization Service will be able to target its limited enforcement resources on new flows of undocumented workers. I am also very pleased that H.R. 1510 provides an authorization for the appropriation for such sums as may be necessary in fiscal year 1984fiscal year 1987 to reimburse States for 100 percent of the cost of public assistance to those eligible under the legalization program.*
Identified stereotypes
Most undocumented workers are dedicated to the work ethic, are productive, and pay taxes.