Speech #980219192

Mr. Chairman. I would like to suggest that the legalization of the exploited subclass of undocumented workers is terribly important not only to those who would be allowed permanent residence. but for the Nation as a whole. We cannot. practically or morally. embark upon a massive and expensive effort to deport millions of people. We cannot continue to have an underground society whose people are forced to live in the shadow of the law. And we cannot afford to have our society continually polarized into ethnic groups who are continually harassed by ethnic groups who. on the one hand. resent them. and on the other hand exploit their underclass status. Although many Americans are only now becoming aware of the Mexican presence in the United States due to the current controversy over undocumented immigrant workers. Mexicans are no strangers to the history of this country. However. the historical arguments utilized in this debate would lead one to believe that Mexicans. as the largest Hispanic group in the United States. represent very recent arrivals.