Speech #990082706

I heard the distinguished manager of this measure. its sponsor. the Senator from Wyoming. again make the point he has made on many occasions. that in response to conversations with American officials. he said. "We wish to bring your citizens to our country. but legally. not illegally." The retson he feels keenly about this. I know. is in no small part prompted by a concern which I share. by knowledge I share with him. that those who come illegally are vulnerable. They are prey to coyotes. the smugglers. who. having extracted extortionate sums as their fee for smuggling these people into the United States. threaten to disclose their whereabouts to la migra. to the Immigration authorities from whom these poor. workseeking emigrants flee. with the terror of those who know they are about to lose their livelihood and be deported not to a country they do not wish to return to but at a time they do not wish to return. So this cap is offered. yes. to secure a program that will provide assistance which is desperately needed to assure the survival of an industry. but also to give the kind of assurance that men and women who are willing to work. and work hard. in the sun and in the weather. will at least have the peace of mind to know that their hard work will not be interrupted by a raid. that there will be no swooping down upon them in the fields. that they will not be compelled to live in holes. like animals. fleeing from other animals hunting. This is a situation we should not tolerate in the United States. For that reason. as well as the reasons that relate to the employment of the tens of thousands of people not included in the definition of a seasonal worker but whose livelihood is derived from the harvestthose in the packing sheds. those in the trucking yards. and those in the wholesale and retail marketsI will ask tomorrow. and I ask now. the very earnest consideration which calls out for the enactment of this amendment as part of any humane immigration reform act. Mr. President.