Speech #1040109929

Our Nation has always been a beacon of hope for people around the world seeking asafe haven from political. ethnic. racial. or religious persecution. But it is important to keep the doctrine of political asylum in perspective. It represents only one element of Americas immigration policies. Last year. for example. our Government allowed more than 800.000 aliens to legally enter the United States. Of that total. only 11.784 were granted political asylum. And until 1980. political asylum was a treasured and sparinglyused provision in our immigration laws. enabling our Nation to fulfill its commitment to protect those fleeing their homelands because of oppression. But changes made in the asylum laws in the 1980s opened up the system to widespread abuse. These wellintended but illconceived reforms included providing an unintended economic incentive for aliens to seek entry into the United States by claiming political asylum. Most importantly. it gave asylum seekers permission to legally work in the United States while their claims were being considered by officials of the Immigration and Naturalization Service [INS]. Although President Clinton recently modified the workpermit provision. the floodgates had already been opened. Asylum seekers have been pouring into the United States in staggering numbers. Prior to 1980. less than 5.000 people a year sought political asylum in the United States. But last year alone. a record number. 150.000 in allfiled claims of political asylum.