Speech #990279001

Mr. Speaker. it is with a great deal of dismay that I rise in opposition to the conference report on S. 1200. the Immigration Reform Act. I was honored to be appointed to the Immigration Conference Committee and envisioned that we would be able to develop a workable compromise on immigration reform. Having said that. I want to say that for all the principal players. the principal participants in crafting this legislation and going through the 6 years that they have engaged in. I have nothing but increased esteem for each of these persons who have worked so hard and labored so long to bring this bill to the floor. I have been a longstanding and strong advocate for immigration reform and firmly believe that we must regain control of our borders. I do know that many of my concerns can be addressed by legislation which it is my understanding will be considered next year on legal immigration. preference limitation and fraudulent documentation. I look forward to working with Chairman MAZZOLIS subcommittee and to contributing to the needed changes in these particular areas. I have had a chance to be involved in immigration for the better part of my adult life as an immigration lawyer and have some particular feelings about the kind of action we are here about ready to take. The final conference agreement contains not only the contentious "blanket amnesty" provisions. but the entire package of special preference for agricultural workersa provision I liken as the "western growers buyout" provision. The general amnesty provisions retained in the final agreement are those which would bestow amnesty on all those illegal aliens who can prove by documentation that their residence existed in the United States since 1982. The Senate receded completely on their more realistic 1980 date and on their provision conditioning the granting of amnesty upon a commission report which confirmed that our borders had been secured. Just as we indicated only 6 days ago that the question of amnesty is a question of fairness and confidence in our immigration laws. just as we consider amnesty to reward lawbreakers and perhaps set the stage for a future amnesty. then I must indicate to my colleagues that these are exactly the considerations that will be sanctioned with passage of this final conference report. Husbands. wives. and unmarried children of immigrants from Mexico have been waiting for over 9 years to come to America. Brothers and sisters of United States citizens who are attempting to immigrate from Hong Kong have been waiting since 1974. over 12 years. to reunite with their families in our country. and with one fell swoop we are about to legalize all those who illegally crossed our borders. who have been here illegally residing and who have preempted the legal immigration of those who are trying to obey our laws. I sincerely believe that this process will cheapen the value of American citizenship. our most precious right. and this is something to which I cannot be a party. As a strong conservative. I seldom if ever attempt to enact openended entitlement programs. however. I feel strongly that the conference did not legitimately outline the costs that will be incurred by the Federal Government upon enactment of the legalization program. an agreement that places a cap of $1 billion per year for each 4 years on the amount that will be reimbursed to the States. The bill does contain strong employer sanctions and retains the Moorhead provisions calling for beefed up border control authorizations. Certainly these provisions. along with other "sweeteners" may entice many to vote for final passage of this conference report. All of the reasoning we have heard in support of the bill. coupled with the growing media sentiment for passage of a reform bill.