Mr. President. yesterday. the Imnigratton and Naturalization Service tINS] officially released Its legal Immigration numbers for 1998. Attached please find an analysis by the staff of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee that helps place these numbers into context. The analysis finds: First. the 1WO Increase in immigration is not part of a longterm rise in legal immigration but rather a ternporary increase. Second. many additional people being counted as Immigrants in 1998 and 1997 were not new entrants but were already physically in the country as the spouses of those who received amnesty under the law signed by President Reagan in 198. Thrd. the increase Is due largely to INS processing delays that caused many people who would have been counted as Immigrants in 1995 to be counted In 1996. Fourth. after a 20percent decline between 1993 and 1995. this shortterm increase in legal Immigration numbers is expected to be followed by another deline to previous levels within 2 to 3 years. And finally. in historical terms.. legal immigration is moderate when measured as a percentage of the US. popuiation--3 prcenttho most accurate measurement of immigrants economic and demographic Impact. Numerically legal immigration in 199 was below the level recorded on 10 other occasions since 1901. As chairman of the Senate Immigation Subcommittee. I hope this analysis sheds light on the legal immigration numbu s released yesterday by INS. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Immigration Subcommittees analysis of the 1996 INS legal immigration numbers be Included in the REcoaD. Mr. President.
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Immigration immigration immigrants Naturalization Immigrants