Speech #1040008921

The persons for whom this extraordinary legislation was enacted have long since regularized their status in the United States. Yet. the Cuban Adjustment Act remains on the books as an anachronism that is both unfair and unnecessary. While nearly 4 million persons await their immigration visas in our vast immigration backlogs. some for as long as 20 years. any Cuban who gets to the United States. legally or illegally. can get a green card after 1 year. This special treatment is no longer justifiable and is not right. This bill will repeal the Cuban Adjustment Act. It has been the tradition of the United States for more than 100 years that newcomers to this country should be selfsufficient. Our laws have long provided that those persons who are "likely at any time to become a public charge" are inadmissible. and that those immigrants who later do become "public charges" are deportable. These provisions have proven to be unenforced. or unenforceable. This legislation will make clear that an American resident or citizen who sponsors his or her relatives will be financially responsible for them until they become citizens. The bill also makes clear that those immigrants who do become "public charges" become deportable. My bill will not deny legal immigrants access to our public welfare systemthe safety net will be therebut those Immigrants who become dependent upon public assistance will run the risk of deportation. Under this legislation any immigrant who receives public assistance for more than 12 months will be deportable. Illegal immigrants will be denied all public assistance except certain emergency and child health and nutrition benefits. Finally. this bill will impose a border crossing users fee to help offset the cost of maintaining our border controls. This fee will raise moneys that can be used to improve our border crossing facilities and deter the entry of unlawful aliens. There will be other comprehensive legislation introduced in the Senate. And I understand the Clinton administration is working on their own legislative package on Immigration reform. I intend the legislation I introduced today to be the basis for hearings at which we will consider all other responsible proposals. The Commission on Immigration Reform has provided us with serious and thoughtful recommendations. Those that were not already in legislation I introduced in the last Congress. I have included in this legislation. such as a now system to verify eligibility to work in the United States. This bill also follows the Commissions recommendation for an enforceable contract of support. signed by the person In this country who sponsors any immigrant relative for immigration to the United States. This will require such a sponsor to reimburse governments which provide the immigrant with welfare or other assistance. The bill I introduce today focuses on illegal immigration control issues. Our legal immigration program is also in need of thoughtful reform and revision. I am presently drafting the legislation to accomplish these needed reforms. I understand the Commission on Immigration Reform will present us with their recommendations on legal immigration reform in the early spring. I look forward to those. To be sustainable. immigration must always serve the national interest. We must be able to assure the American people that whatever other goals our immigration policy may further. its overriding goal Is to serve the longterm interest of the majority of our citizens. We have much to do on immigration reform. The election last November demonstrated clearly that the American people wish us to "got on with the job." This bill I introduce today is the first step and other serious steps will soon follow.0 By Mr. SMITH (for himself.