President. there are a number of us who are very exercised about what has happened to a portion of this legislation. and to explain why and then to lay the predicate for a conversation with the managers of the bill relative to a suggested resolution of this matter. I must go into some history. For many years leading up to 1986. there was a national debate over the issue of immigration reform. One of the central issues within that debate was the fact that there was a recognition that there were a number of persons in this country illegally. many of whom had been here for many years. and the question was what would be the national policy relative to those Illegal individuals in this country without authorization. It was also recognized that there would be significant costs to the States and communities in which these individuals resided if they were to become legal. because as legal residents they would have rights for access to health programs. housing programs. and welfare programs. They already had access to the schools for their children. but with legal status if was more likely that more children would come forward and take advantage of both public education at the elementary and secondary level. as well as higher education. Part of the long and tortuous negotiation on this legislation which led up to the Immigration Act of 1986 was an agreement between the Congress and the Nations Governors that there would be a fund created. and that that fund would be used for the cost incident to these newly legalized. previously illegal individuals in the various communities. The funding formula was that there would be $1 billion of funding provided through an entitlement language in 1988. followed by an equal $1 billion in 1989. 1990. and 1991. Those funds were to be available through September 30.
Keywords matched
Immigration immigration