Speech #1040192541

Mr. Chairman. I rise In strong opposition to H.R. 2202. the Immigration In the National Interest Act. Let me state from the beginning that I strongly object to this legislations failure to distinguish between legal and Illegal Immigration. Exploiting concerns about Illegal Immigration. H.R. 2202 unreasonably limits the number of Immigrants who can be legally admitted to the United States. This restriction clearly violates the basic tenets of fairness and justice upon which our Nation. a nation of immigrants. was founded. I believe that America must honor its pledge of being a nation that will reunite families. provide asylum to a reasonable number of refugees. and protect the legitimate rights of both American workers and legal immigrants. The Immigration in the National Interest Act would cut the number of immigrants who can be legally admitted to the United States annually by more than 200.000 persons. This draconian attack on Americas Immigrant population would be accomplished by dramatically limiting the number of family immigration visas. and by cutting in half the number of people granted asylum. Slashing legal immigration by 30 percent and refugee admission by 50 percent is unconscionable. Mr. Speaker. it Is also important to emphasize that most of the legal immigrants entering the United States are allowed for the purpose of family reunification. Our current policy requires that they are coming to this country to join an immediate relative who has been granted permanent residency status. It is incomprehensible that provisions In H.R. 2202 would attack our national policy of family reunification. This bills drastic reductions In the number of legal family reunification through numerical caps and earnings tests will have only one result. families will be divided. In addition to hurting American families. H.R. 2202 recklessly cuts the U.S. participation In humanitarian efforts by limiting the number of refugees who can enter the United States by 50 percent. This heartless exclusion of persons fleeing oppression and war is not only contrary to the interest of refugees. it also damages Americas role as a world power. It would be an abdication of the U.S. humanitarian leadership worldwide to support this provision of H.R. 2202. Another harmful element of this legislation is its requirement that both the sponsoring Individual or family and the immigrant have an income of 200 percent of the poverty level. These unreasonably high familysponsor caps will ultimately result in the disproportionate exclusion of the families of poor and minority imE 6005 migrants. Such unreasonable and blatant discriminatory immigration policies should be actively resisted. There are numerous other harmful provisions in this measureincluding making Illegal immigrants ineligible for most Federal benefits and establishing a telephone verification of citizenship policythat compel me to oppose it. The unjustified hostility to legal immigration this bill fosters is simply unAmerican. It Is important to recognize that the history of the United States is largely one of Immigration. and that this nation Is rich because of its blend of cultures and ethnic backgrounds. America Is a nation of immigrants thatwithout their creativity. Intelligence. and vitalitywould not have achieved the greatness with which it is recognized. This shortsighted legislation will impose an unbalanced and unfair set of priorities that will hurt America much more than it would help. Mr. Speaker. the truth about H.R. 2202 is that it fails to not only distinguish between legal and illegal Immigration. but that it reflects some of my colleagues desires to sacrifice the Interests and obligations of the American people in exchange for isolationism. I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill.