Speech #990080196

Madam President. the provisions of S. 1200 are similar to provisions in the bills passed by the Senate In the last two Congresses. I want to inform my colleagues about the provisions of the prior bills which have not been included at this time. First. the bill does not amend the preference categories for allocating numerically limited alien visas. nor does it change the numerical limits applicable to such categories. with a minor exception for colonies. which I will explain very briefly. Second. the bill does not modify exclusion. deportation. or asylum adjudication procedures. Finally. the bill does not contain provisions pertaining specifically to foreign students. I would now like to describe what it does contain. As I have stated. the major purpose of the bill Is to increase control over illegal immigration. The primary incentive for illegal immigration is the availability of U.S. employment. In order to reduce that incentive. the bill makes unlawful the knowing employment. or the recruitment. or referral for a fee. of Illegal aliens. provides for an optional system to verify work eligibility. and establishes appropriate penalties for violation. These penalties will be substantial enough not to be Just a cost of doing business. They will be civil penalties. there is a second pattern and practice of violation. At that time there. a criminal penalty will be available. In addition. the bill establishes new crimes for certain activities involving fraudulent documents. for bringing aliens to the United States. without prior authorization and for smuggling. It provides increased resources for conventional enforcement and immigration services. It allows the imposition of discretionary fees for immigration services and for the use of INS border and other facilities. and it prohibits adjustments of status by visa abusers. S. 1200 also makes several changes in the system of legal immigration. Those are minor. Special immigration benefits are provided for certain G4 visa holders who have resided in the United States for many years. and those are certain employees of international organizations and their family members. In addition. the colonial quota is increased from 600 to 3.000 visas per year. The bill also amends certain provisions of the law relating to nonimmigrants. The H2 temporary worker program is revised in order to assist agricultural employers in adjusting to the reduced availability of illegal foreign workers. In addition. the bill establishes a 3year transition program for employers of agricultural labor. and it creates a commission to further study agricultural labor issues. a very critical thing in America. especially to the perishable food industry. those in agriculture who have become dependent on illegal undocumented workers. We also provide for a pilot visa waiver program. That is authorized for eight countries with low rates of visa denial. exclusion. and visa abuse. We think that can be useful to conserve consular office resources. The bill further provides for a legalization program. Under certain circumstances. illegal aliens who entered the United States prior to January 1. 1980. may obtain temporary legal resident status. Such aliens would then have an opportunity to adjust to permanent status after 3 years if they satisfied certain conditions. including the presentation of evidence that they have some knowledge of U.S. history. its Government. and the English language. or have enrolled in a program to acquire such knowledge. The legalization program will begin 3 years after enactment unless at an earlier time a Presidentially appointed commission. whose members must support the concept of legalization in the bill. find that Federal programs to enforce the immigration laws are in place. have adequate resources. and are effective enough to prevent legalization from encouraging more illegal immigration. The risk that legalization migh have this effect was discussed by the Select Commission. If such finding is made within 3 years after enactment. legalization will begin at the earlier time.