Mr. President. I opposed the amendment from the distinguished Senator from Texas yesterday because I believe there ought to be an opportunity for the immigrant himself or herself to file the petition. The amendment now pending by Senator KENNEDY would leave it optional. leave the alternative: to be filed by the employer or to be filed by the immigrant. The vote yesterday was 50 to 48. and I was tempted to move to reconsiderI would have to change my vote to do thatbut decided in the alternative that we would discuss the subject today with a different amendment. The issue of not having the immigrant subject to the control of the employer is an important one. to see to it that the immigrant is treated fairly. When the Senator from Texas seeks to be sure the immigrant has a job so that the employer has to make the application and the job will not be taken from some other American. I can understand his point. But I think there is a higher value in not having the immigrant subject to the control of the employer. where there may be coercion and pressure as to the amount of compensation or as to working conditions. notwithstanding any other provision of law. There is ample protection that citizenship will not be granted. or the process will not move forward. because the Kennedy amendment simply gives the immigrant the right to file a petition. After the petition and the efforts are made to get into the citizenship line. it will be evaluated by the appropriate authorities. I think the concerns Senator CORNYN has in mind will be met.
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immigrant