Mr. Chairman. H.R. 4300 places most of the second preferencespouses and children of permanent resident aliensinto the numerically unlimited immediate relative category. and places a 115.000 visa cap on these numbers. This change will increase overall immigration numbers. Contributing to the increase in the unlimited category will be the numbers of aliens who have or will re.eve permanent resident status under the IRCA amnesty and SAW programs. and who may then bring in their families. The number of persons receiving permanent residence through amnesty could reach 3 million. and the number of persons that amnesty might want to petition for under the second preference is not clear. We need to be able to numerically control this new flow. if the amnesty class petitions are at rates at all similar to traditional legal immigrants. While this bill limits to 115.000 the additional visas for the second preference. once this change is made. it will be easy to remove the socalled cap and make this category unlimited. With so many amnestied immigrants in the pipeline to bring in their families. this change could bring millions more into the country. The multiplier effect could be staggering. Mr.
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