Speech #980219338

But the gentleman from New York reminds us that we really are one country. one family. that we do have a stake in each others welfare. and certainly the gentleman has raised the consciousness of this body as probably few have done to the recongnition that the people who have come to this country. including those from Europe. and Asia. and Africa. or Latin America and the Caribbean are as good Americans as there are. and that they have contributed greatly to the wealth and potential of this Nation and I just want to say to him how much I appreciate his efforts and his consideration and his eloquence on what it means to be an American. We must be sensitive to the issues he has raised and to share his concerns and plan to vote against the bill There are some components of this legislation that I support. I support the legalization of those undocumented workers who have been in this country since 1982 and who are making an attempt to lead their lives as Americans. making significant contributions to our Nation and enriching our national culture and heritage in so many ways. I particularly support the inclusion of Cuban and Haitian refugees in this provision. refugees who fled to our shores seeking shelter from repression and misery and who now. under the legalization measures adopted in this bill. will become permanent resident aliens in the United states. But the notion of sanctioning employers who have hired aliens is one that I find very troubling. not only because of its imposition of wideranging enforcement responsibilities on every employer in this countrythe overwhelming majority of whom are not breaking any law. but more importantly because it assumes the mentality that one persons prosperity. in this case the illegal immigrants. is only won at the expense of another. This myth is a dangerous one. not only as it relates to the issue of immigration reform. but in its effect on the wider questions of global poverty and prosperity. Immigrants dont take jobs and wealth away from Americans. Immigrants create jobs and wealth. as consumers of American goods and services and entrepreneurs beginning small businesses. which are the major source of new jobs for all Americans. Immigration is not a zerosum proposition. Studies show that immigrants to this country. whether they are legal or illegal. are educated and selfreliant people who are far from a drain on our economy or our social services. The illegal immigrant rarely takes advantage of any social service because of the fear of detection. although they pay Federal income taxes and Social Security taxes. Legal immigrant families. far from being welfare burdens. out earn native families within 5 years. The notion that illegal aliens are a drain on the American economy ignores the very reason why they are immigrants. These people have fled their homes. leaving behind their own cherished families and communities. because the policies of the nations of their birth have not been directed toward growth. job creation and prosperity. People do not flee prosperity and freedom. they flee poverty. oppression and tyranny. The single greatest effort which the United States can make to curb illegal immigration is to export the American idea of individual initiative and economic prosperity. If the economy of Mexico had been growing over the past 2 years at the same rate as our own there would be little movement across the border. If instead of following the austerity programs of the IMF to actually shrink the Mexican economy by 3.5 percent the Government had encouraged investment and the free flow of capital. Mexico would be retaining its own people as well as absorbing some of those from elsewhere in Central America. The same argument holds throughout this hemisphere and throughout the world. Many people in this body and around the country feel an overwhelming need to do something about immigration. I agree in part that our current immigration law needs reform. It is complicated. and has not been amended since the major problems began. It was designed for simpler days with the compassion and freedom in mind that underlies American values.