We have to have orderly migration to make our system work and not impose too much stress on our basic system and undermine the good economic conditions we have here for our citizens. We are not ignoring the Salvadorans and the Nicaraguans. They have the opportunity to apply for asylum under the Refugee Act. Our Immigration system provides for individual review of every asylum application. It allows the Attorney General to grant asylum status and even to stay the deportation of those who can prove a wellfounded fear of persecution should they be returned to the country of their origin. In addition to that. the Attorney General. as I said earlier. can do a specific country waiver if he wants to. which has occurred on one occasion in the past. Those truly seeking refuge from violence and political persecution have the opportunity to apply and stay in this country. and that indeed is occurring every day through our immigration laws. As we have seen in south Texas and other places along our border. the slightest favorable change in immigration policy encourages further illegal immigration. That is the magnet effect. I debated on the floor of the House hard and long that effect during the debate over the bill where legalization was passed a couple of years back. It is true. it is real. it happens. Every time we pass a law like this that breaks down that border and breaks down that barrier. we are going to encourage more people to come across illegally. Not only would it encourage the illegal entry of other Salvadorans and Nicaraguans located in countries near the United States. it would encourage further mass immigration from El Salvador. Nicaragua. and other Central American countries. What happens if the Mexican economy slides and civil strife occurs?
Keywords matched
asylum application Immigration Refugee asylum status immigration deportation illegal immigration