I. Detention space AP1-2
II. Deportation reform
A. Must strengthen deportation laws AP3-4
B. Must act to deport criminals AP5-7
III. Chinese immigrant smuggling
A. Must rescind Bush asylum promise to Chinese AP8-10
B. Must crack down on smugglers AP11-16
IV. Reorganization of the INS
A. Strengthen personnel and management AP17-19
B. Must centralize the INS AP20-22, AP118
C. Must split up the INS AP23-25
D. Need citizen advisory panel AP26
V. Should use the military to stop immigration AP27-28
VI. Give citizenship AP29-39
VII. Take citizenship away AP40-52
VIII. Mexican border controls
A. Should build walls AP53-54
B. Border fee AP55-57
C. Mexican version of border patrol AP58-71
D. US Border Patrol reform AP72
IX. Punish employers for hiring illegals AP73-77
X. Must set number limits on immigration AP78-90, AP130-131
XI. Refugee reform
A. Number increasing AP91-92
B. Must change refugee policy AP93-97
C. Changing refugee categories AP98-104
D. New refugee resettlement programs AP105-106
XII. Rape should be accepted as an asylum category AP107-111
XIII. New immigration technology
A. Handscan AP112
B. National ID card AP113-117
XIV. Just enforce the laws we already have AP119-129
XV. Smaller proposals
A. Federal payment for immigrant expenses AP132-133
B. Have immigrants pay to be processed AP134
C. Make student visas permanent AP135
D. Use cross prosecution with Mexico AP136
E. Asylum for homosexuals AP137
F. Accept ex-Soviets AP138
G. Detain immigrants overseas AP139
H. Accept and screen Haitian refugees AP140-142
XVI. General affirmative argumentative tools
A. Non-uniqueness for disadvantages AP143-147
B. Racism answers AP148-153
C. Americans will take bad jobs AP154-156
ASYLUM REFORM CASE
A. Asylum system is broken AP157-165
B. Asylum system allows terrorists to enter the US AP166-172
C. Solvency
1. Pre inspection solves asylum problems AP173-186
2. Punishing airports AP187-189
3. Deny working papers to asylees AP190
4. Charge fee for processing AP191
5. Tighten citizenship document inspection to stop terrorists AP192
6. Limit residence to asylees AP193-194
7. Speed up asylum processing AP195-197
8. Speed up asylum processing to fight terrorism AP198
D. Any asylum reform will fight terrorism AP199-200
E. Clinton's asylum reform
1. What it is AP201-207
2. Is a bad idea AP208
F. Affirmative extensions
1. Americans want immigration asylum reform AP209
2. Reform won't let too many people in AP210
3. Answers to racism AP211-213
4. If we don't reform, backlash will take place AP214-215
5. Disadvantages not unique AP216
6. Without reform smuggling will increase AP217
IMMIGRATION FOR SALE CASE
A. The "guest worker" program solves immigration problems AP218-222
B. Auction off citizenship rights
1. Solves immigration problems AP223-237
2. Has other benefits AP238-241
3. It is fair and non discriminatory AP242-250
4. Auction explained AP251-256
C. Merit entry for national economic benefit
1. Is not occurring now AP254-256
2. Would benefit all and solve immigration problems AP257-265
AP1 / ARTHUR R. HELTON, is a lawyer and director of the Refugee Project of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights. May 3, 1993 HEADLINE: Uncontrolled Right Of Entry Poses a Threat The National Law Journal Pg. 15 / / PKK-VT95
* Detention space must be expanded. Those with credible claims, but for whom approval cannot be automatically granted, should be detained pending a final determination.
AP2 / Rep. John Conyers, (Representative from Michigan. Chair Committee on Government Operations) August 4, 1993 "The Immigration and Naturalization Service: Overwhelmed and unprepared for the future. " House Report 103-216, Second Report by the Committee on Government Operations p. 22 / / MS-VT95
Compounding the problems resulting from deficiencies in the deportation process is the lack of space to detain aliens pending deportation. As GAO testified: INS does not have sufficient resources to detain the millions of aliens who are subject to detention or who have been ordered deported. Consequently, aliens INS apprehends are generally released pending the resolution of their deportation hearing. Our past work indicated that aliens who were released did not appear for their hearings. Since INS did not have sufficient resources to reapprehend them, they remained here illegally.
AP3 / MICHAEL T. LEMPRES, WASHINGTON ATTORNEY, WAS AN OFFICIAL IN THE REAGAN AND BUSH JUSTICE DEPARTMENTS, AND AN EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER OF THE INS, FEBRUARY 21, 1994; NATIONAL REVIEW, "Getting Serious About Illegal Immigration; Dealing With A New Us Demographic Problem; Demystifying Multiculturalism, " Vol. 46 ; No. 3 ; Pg. 52 / AGL-VT95
AP4 / MICHAEL T. LEMPRAS, ATTORNEY AND FORMER EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER OF THE INS, FEBRUARY 21, 1994; NATIONAL REVIEW, "Getting Serious About Illegal Immigration" V. 46 pp. 52-3 / AGL-3-VT95
The deportation process should be streamlined, and the rules should be . clarified to avoid manipulation. There should be only one level of administrative appeal and limited judicial appeal. The standard of review should be limited to asking whether the original adjudicator abused his discretion in finding deportation appropriate. Aliens who wish to pursue other issues should apply for reentry, from outside this country.
AP5 / MICHAEL T. LEMPRES, WASHINGTON ATTORNEY, WAS AN OFFICIAL IN THE REAGAN AND BUSH JUSTICE DEPARTMENTS, AND AN EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER OF THE INS, FEBRUARY 21, 1994; NATIONAL REVIEW, "Getting Serious About Illegal Immigration; Dealing With A New Us Demographic Problem; Demystifying Multiculturalism, " Vol. 46 ; No. 3 ; Pg. 52 / AGL-VT95
Criminal aliens. All aliens who abuse the privilege of presence in this country by committing felonies should be deported. Today, that is neither the law nor the practice: 25 per cent of the federal prison population and over 10 per cent of the state prison populations are aliens. Sentencing for criminal convictions should include an order of deportation to be carried out when the sentence has been served. Plea bargains should include stipulated orders of deportation. Appeals should focus only on the underlying felony conviction, and there should be no discretion to fail to deport an alien felon.
AP6 / RICHARD G. POLANCO (D-LOS ANGELES), ASSISTANT SPEAKER PRO TEM OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY AND CHAIRMAN OF THE LEGISLATURE'S LATINO CAUCUS, AUGUST 13, 1993; LOS ANGELES TIMES, "Cut The Rhetoric And Work On Solutions; Immigration: Tough But Humane Policy Changes Are Possible; The Alternative Will Lead To Social Suicide, " Part B; Page 7 / AGL-VT95
* Extradite illegal immigrants who are convicted of felonies to serve their sentences in prisons of their country of origin. According to Wilson, this would save California $500 million a year, yet when I proposed to do this during our budget negotiations, he vetoed the idea.
AP7 / RICHARD G. POLANCO (D-LOS ANGELES), ASSISTANT SPEAKER PRO TEM OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY AND CHAIRMAN OF THE LEGISLATURE'S LATINO CAUCUS, AUGUST 13, 1993; LOS ANGELES TIMES, "Cut The Rhetoric And Work On Solutions; Immigration: Tough But Humane Policy Changes Are Possible; The Alternative Will Lead To Social Suicide, " Part B; Page 7 / AGL-VT95
* Consolidate the hearing process for federal trials of illegal immigrants accused of crimes, so that both the criminal trial and the deportation hearings are merged in the process.
AP8 / Melinda Liu [Staff Writer] June 21, 1993 "Immigration Crackdown: Anxious Americans Want New Restrictions and Tougher Enforcement. " US News and World Report. p. 35 / / PKK-VT95
Many experts also want the Clinton administration to rescind a Bush-era regulation that allows Chinese to claim asylum on the basis of their government's coercive one-child-per-family policy. Thanks largely to that regulation, which applies to millions of people, 85 percent of Chinese who have asked for asylum in the United States since 1989 have gotten it.
AP9 / Melinda Liu [Staff Writer] August 2, 1993. "How to Play the Asylum Game. " NEWSWEEK. p. 23. / / PKK-VT95
The irony is that this loophole in U. S. immigration law often becomes a trap for smuggled Chinese. Many face ruthless exploitation in restaurants and sweatshops, and those who fail to pay their debts to the smugglers may be kidnapped, tortured or forced into crime or prostitution. Desperate to escape poverty and deprivation in China, they often find misery and servitude in America.
AP10 / Melinda Liu [Staff Writer] August 2, 1993. "How to Play the Asylum Game. " NEWSWEEK. p. 23. / / PKK-VT95
The Bush Administration issued a series of executive orders that give "enhanced consideration" to Chinese who claim they oppose Beijings draconian policies on birth control. With a population now nearing 1. 2 billion, the Chinese government compels most couples to have only one child, and this policy sometimes leads to forced abortion and sterilization with political persecution--which means that any Chinese of childbearing age can reasonably claim to have a "well -founded fear of prosecution. " Even "an unmarried 18-year old who comes out the hold of a boat and says 'Someday I might ant to have more than one kid'" is potentially eligible, says Warren Leiden of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
AP11 / The San Diego Union-Tribune May 14, 1993 HEADLINE: Chinese boat people New immigration trend must be contained p. B-6 / / PKK-VT95
And with aggressive action by the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the U. S. attorney's office and the government of Mexico, the flow of illegal immigrants from China could be contained.
AP12 / The San Diego Union-Tribune May 14, 1993 HEADLINE: Chinese boat people New immigration trend must be contained p. B-6 / / PKK-VT95
By prosecuting and imprisoning immigrant smugglers, detaining illegal immigrants and sending back to China all who don't qualify for political asylum, the United States would send a clear message to smugglers and would-be illegal immigrants in China. Unlike illegal immigrants deported back to Mexico, very few Chinese immigrants would likely make the Pacific voyage twice.
AP13 / The San Diego Union-Tribune May 14, 1993 HEADLINE: Chinese boat people New immigration trend must be contained p. B-6 / / PKK-VT95
The U. S. attorney's office should vigorously prosecute any smugglers and crew members caught aboard these ships. The penalty for transporting aliens is five years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both; technically, a smuggler could be charged for each illegal immigrant.
AP14 / The San Diego Union-Tribune May 14, 1993 HEADLINE: Chinese boat people New immigration trend must be contained p. B-6 / / PKK-VT95
they should be sent back to China by plane. Ships loaded with immigrants should not be turned away, because escorting vessels back to China or Taiwan would be too expensive, and most are barely seaworthy, anyway.
AP15 / PRESIDENT CLINTON, VICE PRESIDENT GORE, ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO REMARKS MADE AT ANNOUNCEMENT OF IMMIGRATION POLICY, WASHINGTON, DC, JULY 27, 1993, DEPARTMENT OF STATE DISPATCH, AUGUST 9, 1993, "Protecting U. S. Borders Against Illegal Immigration, " Vol. 04 No. 32 / AGL-VT95
With respect to the penalties, we want to increase the penalties for those who organize syndicates to smuggle people. We want to provide a full range of criminal investigative tools to do the job; and I think as a step toward addressing this critical problem, we have come a long way. We have much to do, and what it will require of all Americans is that we work together to address this critical problem.
AP16 / RUBEN MARTINEZ, L. A. -BASED EDITOR OF SAN FRANCISCO'S PACIFIC NEWS SERVICE AND CO-HOST OF KCET'S LIFE & TIMES, JANUARY 30, 1994; LOS ANGELES TIMES, "The Shock Of The New; Anti- Immigration Fever Is At A Fever Pitch, But The Real Issue Is This: When Will The Old (Anglo) L. A. Join The New (Latino) L. A. , And Learn To Dance Quebradita?" Page 10 / AGL-VT95
The issue of immigration itself, especially illegal immigration, divides many Latinos. A Los Angeles Times Poll last September showed that 75% of California Latinos view illegal immigration as either a major or moderate problem, and 43% have the same response to legal immigration. Two-thirds said charging a toll at the border to increase surveillance was a good idea. (Whites agreed on all counts, only more so -- 92%, 43% and 75%, respectively. )
AP17 / Rep. John Conyers, (Representative from Michigan. Chair Committee on Government Operations) August 4, 1993 "The Immigration and Naturalization Service: Overwhelmed and unprepared for the future. " House Report 103-21 6, Second Report by the Committee on Government Operations p. 12 / / MS-VT95
At a hearing held by the Subcommittee on Information, Justice, 'Transportation, and Agriculture on March 30, 1993, witnesses testified that INS faces an overwhelming task in seeking to control immigration. However, despite the enormity of the task, they believe administrative improvements would improve the ability of INS to do its job.
AP18 / Rep. John Conyers, (Representative from Michigan. Chair Committee on Government Operations) August 4, 1993 "The Immigration and Naturalization Service: Overwhelmed and unprepared for the future. " House Report 103-21 6, Second Report by the Committee on Government Operations p. 32 / / MS-VT95
Personnel are INS' most important resource" according to the IG. Unfortunately, it is also in the area of personnel that some of the most serious problems exist. Despite staffing increases since fiscal year 1981, 62 INS is fundamentally understaffed for its job. As a result, important programs have suffered. Mr. Wray of the GAO observed ". . . we've effectively lost control of the southwest border, and I think there are tremendous. shortages in staff on the part of the Border Patrol down there. "
AP19 / MICHAEL TACKETT AND NICHOLAS HORROCK, STAFF WRITERS, JULY 13, 1993; CHICAGO TRIBUNE, "Terrorism Prompting Immigration Review, " Pg. 1 / AGL-LN-VT95
Reno said the INS, which is part of her department, needs to be made a better partner with the State Department and foreign intelligence agencies to improve dealing "with the multiplicity of problems involving immigration. " Reno said the U. S. must "upgrade the management abilities of the whole Immigration and Naturalization Service and restore credibility to that agency. " The former Miami prosecutor added, "If I had watched the Dade County(Fla. ) criminal-justice system operate with the management capabilities and current resources of the immigration service, I'm not sure the criminal-justice system could function. "
AP20 / Rep. John Conyers, (Representative from Michigan. Chair Committee on Government Operations) August 4, 1993 "The Immigration and Naturalization Service: Overwhelmed and unprepared for the future. '" House Report 103-21 6, Second Report by the Committee on Government Operations p. 37 / MS-VT95
Serious consideration should be given by Congress to the proposal advanced by the General Accounting Office to combine the border management functions of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Customs Service into a new border management agency. While the committee agrees with concerns that consideration of a reorganization proposal could be distracting to INS'' administrative reform efforts, we also recognize that this is an era of declining government resources.
AP21 / Gene Ruthizer [Pres. American Immigration Lawyers Association] March 30, 1993. Hearing: The Immigration and Naturalization Service: A Mandate for Change. " Subcommittee on Information, Justice, Transportation and Agriculture. House of Representatives. P. 176. / / MS-VT95
As alluded to earlier in this testimony, INS needs to further centralize and standardize its policy making and its priorities. Decentralization is a proven failure, and the organizational power now diffused among regional offices, Regional Service Centers, district offices, and national Headquarters must be coalesced into one definite seat of authority and planning.
AP22 / Rep. John Conyers, (Representative from Michigan. Chair Committee on Government Operations) August 4, 1993, ""The Immigration and Naturalization Service: Overwhelmed and unprepared for the future. " House Report 103-21 6, Second Report by the Committee on Government Operations p . 27 / MS-VT95
Mr. McNary, who believes that INS has been treated for, too long as a step child agency at the Department of Justice, took the position that the INS should report directly to the President, "either at the Cabinet level or as an independent agency, such as EPA. In his opinion, elevation of the status of INS would help insure that the immigration ramifications are taken into account when important policy decisions are made. (For example, he , criticized administration officials for its utilization of INS in developing its response to the Haitian embargo and the North American Free Trade Agreement.
AP23 / Rep. John Conyers, (Representative from Michigan. Chair Committee on Government Operations) August 4, 1993 "The Immigration and Naturalization Service: Overwhelmed and unprepared for the future. "' House Report 103-21 6, Second Report by the Committee on Government Operations p. 26 / MS-VT95
Some of the witnesses have concluded that the enforcement and service functions of the Immigration and Naturalization Service are so incompatible and the management problems so great that serious consideration should be given to its reorganization. As Mr. Wray explained: ". . . the two main units within INS--enforcement and service-have quite different, almost opposite, organizational objectives. One unit is charged with keeping aliens from illegally entering the country the other unit is responsible for facilitating their legal entry. Or, in the words of former Commissioner Castillo, it is "an agency that's torn in several directions. "
AP24 / John Conyers [Rep. Michigan, Chair Committee on Govt. Operations. ] August 4, 1993. House Report 103-216: The Immigration Service: Overwhelmed and Unprepared for the Future. Second Report. p. 27 / / MS-VT95
Mr. Ruthizer, AILA, recommended that serious consideration be given to bifurcating the agency. "[W]e would say that Inspections and Examinations ought to be within one independent agency in Justice, and the Enforcement side ought to be in another.
AP25 / Rep. John Conyers, (Representative from Michigan. Chair Committee on Government Operations) August 4, 1993, "The Immigration and Naturalization Service: Overwhelmed and unprepared for the future. " House Report 103-21 6, Second Report by the Committee on Government Operations p. 27 / / MS-VT95
Munoz of NCLR also recommended consideration of splitting the agency, but cautioned that it would not be a cure all for the agency's ills: "If you simply divided service and enforcement without looking at the resource questions, without looking at accountability, and without making it a priority either in the Department of Justice or someplace else, it doesn't seem to me that you are going to solve all of the problems with the INS.
AP26 / MARK BOUSIAN, (TIMES STAFF WRITER) Los Angeles Times September 30, 1993, A; Page 31; HEADLINE: INS OFFICIAL OPPOSES CREATION OF WATCHDOG PANEL; IMMIGRATION: HOUSE BILL CALLS FOR INDEPENDENT GROUP TO PROBE COMPLAINTS OF CIVIL RIGHTS ABUSES AT THE BORDER. (L / N) / / MS-VT95
She also said the INS plans to create a citizens advisory panel to review civilian complaints of abuse by employees of the INS. Establishment of that panel, which awaits Justice Department approval, would provide a forum for investigating the same kinds of abuses addressed in the House bill, Sale said.
AP27 / H. S. CAMPBELL, STAFF WRITER, JULY 11, 1993; THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE, "Slam Door On Immigration, " Pg. 3 / AGL-LN-VT95
Help! Our federal lawmakers and our president now must take immediate action to slam the door shut tight on all immigration for a period of at least 10 years to recoup our losses. Such action would lessen the burden on our taxpayers, reduce crime by foreign gangs and individuals, reduce unemployment and drug smuggling, improve our public health, etc. To accomplish this, our borders and coastlines must be protected by our military capability. Instead of shrinking our military, it must be reoriented and put to its intended use -- to protect and defend the citizens of the United States.
AP28 / MICHAEL T. LEMPRES, WASHINGTON ATTORNEY, WAS AN OFFICIAL IN THE REAGAN AND BUSH JUSTICE DEPARTMENTS, AND AN EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER OF THE INS. , FEBRUARY 21, 1994; NATIONAL REVIEW, "Getting Serious About Illegal Immigration; Dealing With A New Us Demographic Problem; Demystifying Multiculturalism, " Vol. 46 ; No. 3 ; Pg. 52 / AGL-VT95
ILLEGAL migration can be reduced without using the Army for law-enforcement purposes or amending the Constitution. It merely requires that we clarify and enforce the law. And once illegal immigration has been reduced, the U. S. can hold a meaningful discussion on levels of legal immigration. Mr. Lempres, a Washington attorney, was an official in the Reagan and Bush Justice Departments, and an executive commissioner of the INS.
AP29 / RICHARD G. POLANCO (D-LOS ANGELES), ASSISTANT SPEAKER PRO TEM OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY AND CHAIRMAN OF THE LEGISLATURE'S LATINO CAUCUS, AUGUST 13, 1993; LOS ANGELES TIMES, "Cut The Rhetoric And Work On Solutions; Immigration: Tough But Humane Policy Changes Are Possible; The Alternative Will Lead To Social Suicide, " Part B; Page 7 / AGL-VT95
* The federal government must provide immigrant-heavy states with the $812 million promised but never delivered, and the additional two years needed to complete the amnesty process, under the Immigration Act of 1986. Federal citizenship centers also are needed, to help permanent residents become citizens. There is a bill in the California Legislature that would set up these centers at the state level, using existing programs, such as adult education, community colleges and community-based organizations.
AP30 / Jamin B. Raskin staff writer April 5, 1993 HEADLINE: Time to give aliens the vote again; green-card power; The Nation / / PKK-LN-VT95
Aliens are the only group in the United States to have lost ground in voting rights in the past two centuries. This history, cutting against the grain of expansion of the franchise, reflects the rise of militaristic national lism and xenophobia in the twentieth century. But the cold war is over, and th e world is fast becoming one neighborhood. Let's enrich our democratic dialogue by making all our neighbors visible and audible. Let's end the political exclus ion of aliens. Let's share the vote.
AP31 / Jamin B. Raskin staff writer April 5, 1993 HEADLINE: Time to give aliens the vote again; green-card power; The Nation / / PKK-LN-VT95
The right to participate as a citizen locally ought to travel with the person. This is a logic that superpowers should grasp easily. If the U. S. government can fight for "democracy" in El Salvador by sending weapons to its military, surely our local governments can extend democracy to actual Salvadorans who have fled the violence and are now our neighbors. We must fashion political norms to make the processes of global integration consistent with democratic values.
AP32 / ROBERT PEAR, NEW YORK TIMES STAFF, NOVEMBER 26, 1993; THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE, "U. S. Sets Policy On Naturalization;Plan To Defuse Immigration Tensions, " Pg. 2 / AGL-VT95
The Clinton administration says it will encourage legal immigrants to become U. S. citizens, a new policy intended to counter hostility to immigrants. The effort could enfranchise millions of people who have lived in this country for years without seeking citizenship. When immigrants become citizens, they gain the right to vote, to hold public office and to serve on juries.
AP33 / ROBERT PEAR, NEW YORK TIMES STAFF, NOVEMBER 26, 1993; THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE, "U. S. Sets Policy On Naturalization;Plan To Defuse Immigration Tensions, " Pg. 2 / AGL-VT95
"Naturalization helps counteract anti-immigrant attitudes. When people become citizens, they accept our values, and most Americans are reassured. ''
AP34 / ROBERT PEAR, NEW YORK TIMES STAFF, NOVEMBER 26, 1993; THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE, "U. S. Sets Policy On Naturalization;Plan To Defuse Immigration Tensions, " Pg. 2 / AGL-VT95
Naturalization builds bridges between new immigrant groups and the existing society, much as labor unions, political parties and public schools have done in the past. '' Charles Kamasaki, vice president of the Hispanic advocacy group National Council of La Raza, said it would be ""an enormous change'' if naturalization were promoted.
AP35 / Harry P. Pachon is executive director of the National Assn. of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials and the Kenan Professor of Political Studies at Pitzer College, Claremont. April 26, 1993, HEADLINE: PERSPECTIVE ON CITIZENSHIP; LOS ANGELES: CITY OF A MILLION NON-PARTICIPANTS; DISENFRANCHISEMENT IS A TWO-WAY BURDEN; ALL WOULD BENEFIT IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROMOTED CITIZENSHIP. Los Angeles Times / / PKK-LN-VT95
At the national level, it's another story. The Clinton Administration has a unique opportunity in this regard. With new leadership in the Justice Department and within the Immigration and Naturalization Service, new policy initiatives can be undertaken that would promote and facilitate naturalization -- the process that immigrants must complete to become U. S. citizens.
AP36 / Harry P. Pachon is executive director of the National Assn. of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials and the Kenan Professor of Political Studies at Pitzer College, Claremont. April 26, 1993, HEADLINE: PERSPECTIVE ON CITIZENSHIP; LOS ANGELES: CITY OF A MILLION NON-PARTICIPANTS; DISENFRANCHISEMENT IS A TWO-WAY BURDEN; ALL WOULD BENEFIT IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROMOTED CITIZENSHIP. Los Angeles Times / / PKK-LN-VT95
Non-citizenship has other consequences. Jury rolls in Los Angeles are unrepresentative because jurors must be citizens; most jobs in the federal government (surprisingly, Southern California has thousands of such positions) are open only to citizens. Non-citizens also missed out on the boom in the aerospace job market of the '80s because U. S. citizenship is often required for working in defense-related industries. Non-citizenship excludes many Angelenos from Small Business Administration loan guarantees. Inheritances from spouses are taxable to non-citizens, but are tax free to U. S. citizens. Certain scholarships are open only to U. S. citizens.
AP37 / ROBERT PEAR, NEW YORK TIMES STAFF, NOVEMBER 26, 1993; THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE, "U. S. Sets Policy On Naturalization;Plan To Defuse Immigration Tensions, " Pg. 2 / AGL-VT95
Sam Bernsen, a lawyer who worked at the Immigration and Naturalization Service for more than 35 years, said the policy had profound implications. ""For the first time, the government will affirmatively go out and encourage aliens to become citizens. They would then have a voice in our political system, with voting rights, and could run for public office, '' Bernsen said.
AP38 / Jamin B. Raskin staff writer April 5, 1993 HEADLINE: Time to give aliens the vote again; green-card power; The Nation / / PKK-LN-VT95
Non citizen voting may be an idea whose time has come again, at least at the local level. The 10 million legal aliens in the United States pay taxes to their local communities, their states and the federal government. They serve with distinction in the military and have, more often than not, been drafted along with citizens ever since President Lincoln included enfranchise d aliens in the first conscription act. Moreover, they are governed like the rest of us: oppressed or served by public regulation, dependent on public schools and public services, linked with the American-born in a common destiny.
AP39 / Jamin B. Raskin staff writer April 5, 1993 HEADLINE: Time to give aliens the vote again; green-card power; The Nation / / PKK-LN-VT95
Alien suffrage is perfectly constitutional, as the Supreme Court has repeatedly indicated, so it is up to localities and states to work out the details. Takoma Park, Maryland, a city of 17,000 on the border of Washington, decided after a vigorously debated referendum in 1991 to extend the vote in local elections to aliens. The Maryland legislature then rejected a move by anti- immigration groups to curtail home rule so as to forbid alien suffrage.
AP40 / Gerard M. Pico The San Francisco Chronicle SEPTEMBER 30, 1993, Pg. A29; HEADLINE: An Immigration Solution (L / N) / / MS-VT95
The solution is simple but not easy. Allow immigrants (excluding criminals) to come to this country to work and contribute to society as they have done for over 400 years. However, make them aware upon their arrival that only U. S. citizens are entitled to receive the benefits of government programs.
AP41 / ERIC LICHTBLAU, STAFF WRITER, FEBRUARY 25, 1994; LOS ANGELES TIMES, " Rohrbacher Has New Ploy; Government: Congressman To Step Up Drive Against Illegal Immigration By Asking Congress To Cut Off Certain Types Of Aid To Undocumented Schoolchildren, " Part B; Page 1 / AGL-VT95
Stepping up his attack on illegal immigration, Rep. Dana Rohrbacher (R-Huntington Beach) proposed Thursday that the federal government cut off certain types of financial aid to undocumented children in the schools.
AP42 / JAMES M. ZIMMERMAN is an international trade attorney based in San Diego and a member of the board of directors for the World Trade Association of San Diego. March 22, 1994, HEADLINE: Don't place much faith in a fence at the border The San Diego Union-Tribune / / PKK-LN-VT95
Congress also should amend federal law which provides that illegal immigrants be given free emergency medical services, including maternity care, as part of the Medicaid program. The federal government is a victim of its own largesse -- the bills for which oftentimes are passed on to the state and local government agencies -- and can ease the strain on the taxpayer's pocketbook by simply cutting off the gravy to illegal immigrants.
AP43 / JAMES M. ZIMMERMAN is an international trade attorney based in San Diego and a member of the board of directors for the World Trade Association of San Diego. March 22, 1994, HEADLINE: Don't place much faith in a fence at the border The San Diego Union-Tribune / / PKK-LN-VT95
Congress also can discourage the influx of those illegal immigrants who seek to take advantage of state and federal social benefits, including education, welfare and medical care, by amending federal law to prohibit the offspring of illegal immigrants born in the United States from obtaining citizenship.
AP44 / Rep. Elton Gallegly (R) of California is a member of the House Judiciary Committee and its International Law, Immigration, and Refugee Subcommittee. April 6, 1993, HEADLINE: Illegal Immigration to US: a Crisis That Must Be Handled The Christian Science Monitor / / PKK-LN-VT95
I also have introduced a constitutional amendment to bring our citizenship laws into line with the vast majority of countries around the world by requiring that a mother of children born in this country be a citizen or legal resident for those children to automatically be born US citizens. So many women come to Texas or California just to give birth that we have to take this step. Although I have been attacked as a racist for introducing these bills, almost 60 representatives from 20 states have cosponsored some or all of my bills.
AP45 / James O. Goldsborough The San Diego Union-Tribune September 27, 1993, Pg. B-5 HEADLINE: Rethinking immigration mind-sets (L / N) / / MS-VT95
Intent of 14th Amendment Amendment, one of the so-called "Reconstruction Amendments, " was intended to assure that the children of former slaves, like the slaves themselves, became citizens of the United States. It was not intended to make citizens of the children of non citizens, creating a new breed called "citizen children, " of which California already has about 1 million.
AP46 / James O. Goldsborough The San Diego Union-Tribune September 27, 1993, Pg. B-5 HEADLINE: Rethinking immigration mind-sets (L / N) / / MS-VT95
Citizenship should be based on acculturation. It should not be the result of chance or fate, but of intention and desire.
AP47 / James O. Goldsborough The San Diego Union-Tribune September 27, 1993, Pg. B-5 HEADLINE: Rethinking immigration mind-sets (L / N) / / MS-VT95
But Wilson will prove to be a prophet. Granting citizenship to anyone who happens to be born in America is as ridiculous as the German practice of making citizenship depend on German blood. The citizenship laws of both countries are fossils. For Americans to oppose Wilson's proposals because "that's not the way we do things" ignores the context of our existing law.
AP48 / ASSOCIATED PRESS, DECEMBER 20, 1993, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, "White House Weighs Cuts In Welfare To Immigrants, " Pg. 12 / AGL-VT95
President Clinton's welfare reform task force is considering cutting welfare benefits to immigrants to finance expansions in training, jobs and child care for single mothers on public assistance, according to congressional and administration officials. A senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Sunday that the task force has yet to begin discussions on the specifics of financing its overhaul of the nation's welfare system.
AP49 / WENDY S. TAI, STAFF WRITER, DECEMBER 27, 1993; STAR TRIBUNE, "Some Say New Welfare Policy Asks Too Much Of Refugees; Rules Pushing Them Too Fast, " Pg. 1A / AGL-VT95
In Minnesota, effective in October, illegal immigrants are no longer eligible for state-funded cash and medical assistance programs. Officials in Congress and President Clinton's administration said a few days ago that Clinton's welfare reform task force is considering cutting benefits to even legal immigrants in order to pay for training, jobs and child care for single mothers.
AP50 / DAVID B. RIVKIN, JR. , PRACTICES LAW IN THE WASHINGTON, D. C. OFFICE OF THE LAW FIRM OF HUNTON & WILLIAMS AND IS AN ADJUNCT FELLOW AT THE AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE, FEBRUARY 25, 1994; LEGAL BACKGROUNDER, "Universal Health Care And Illegal Aliens: Can The Former Exclude The Latter?" Vol. 9, No. 5 / AGL-VT95
Not surprisingly, the Clinton Administration has announced that illegal aliens would be left out of its mandatory coverage prescriptions. n2 n1. While the precise details of health care financing remain to be worked out, the key feature of the Clinton health care plan is that indigent persons would receive a substantial subsidy from the federal government and possibly a cross-subsidization by other more affluent members of the health care alliance to which they belong. Since large numbers of illegal aliens are likely to be poor, they are certain to be the disproportionate recipients of whatever health care subsidies are created. n2. In fact, health care aside, various illegal alien-related issues seem to be in vogue these days. For example, during the recent National Governors Association convention, several governors, including California's Pete Wilson, announced their intention to devise plans withdrawing free educational benefits from children of illegal aliens.
AP51 / THE WASHINGTON TIMES, (JOHN L. MARTIN, Research Director ) NOVEMBER 22, 1993, "No Employment Or Social Services For Illegal Immigrants, " Pg. A18 / AGL-VT95
We need to look at the Border Patrol's success at El Paso as one approach to regaining control of our nation's borders, but we must also look beyond to the greater problem of denying the benefit of employment and social services to those not entitled to them.
AP52 / RICHARD SIMON, STAFF WRITER, JANUARY 12, 1994; LOS ANGELES TIMES, "Metropolitan Digest / Los Angeles County News In Brief: Drive Begins For Law Curtailing Services To Illegal Immigrants, "Part B; Page 2 / AGL-VT95
An immigration reform group led by two former top INS officials on Tuesday kicked off a petition drive to place on the November state ballot a measure that would virtually bar illegal immigrants from public hospitals and schools. Sponsors of the "Save Our State (SOS)" initiative began dropping off petitions to citizens' groups advocating immigration changes. They need to gather 384, 974 valid signatures by June 8 to qualify the measure for the ballot.
AP53 / David Clark Scott, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor March 15, 1994, HEADLINE: Mexico Unhappy With US Border Policy / PKK-LN-VT95
Mr. Tello criticized the plans to build more corrugated steel walls, known here as ''Steel Curtains, '' in El Paso and at other border crossing points. Two months ago, the US completed a 14-mile, 10-foot high wall spanning the Tijuana-San Ysidro border crossing in California. ''The walls don't do anything, '' Mr. Tello says. ''Mexicans are specialists in making holes. We have 500 years of practice, look at our silver mines. There's no way a wall of one to two miles will stop a Mexican from entering the US if he wants to. ''
AP54 / LEONEL SANCHEZ Staff Writer May 11, 1994, HEADLINE: Mexico given say on border fences The San Diego Union-Tribune / / PKK-LN-VT95
Hunter, a longtime advocate of the border fence, said the new INS policy threatens to delay if not permanently halt the expansion of a (steel) barrier that has dramatically cut down drug trafficking across the border. "If we wait for consultation with Mexico and local communities, we're never going to finish the fence project, " Hunter said at a press conference at the Brown Field airport yesterday.
AP55 / PETER SKERRY, STAFF WRITER, FEBRUARY 21, 1994; NATIONAL REVIEW, "Beware Of Moderates Bearing Gifts; Proposals To Control Immigration To The United States; Demystifying Multiculturalism; Cover Story, " Vol. 46 ; No. 3 ; Pg. 45 / AGL-VT95
In any event, Americans are now demanding drastic action. In a recent Los Angeles Times poll, 86 per cent of Californians describe illegal immigration as a major or moderate problem; 52 per cent say that even legal immigration should be cut back; and 73 per cent favor sending the National Guard to the border, a proposal that was viewed as extreme until liberal Senator Barbara Boxer came out in support of it last summer. Her fellow California Democrat, Senator Dianne Feinstein, has advocated the somewhat less controversial policy of charging a $ 1 border-crossing fee to beef up the resources of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
AP56 / MARK W. NOWAK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POPULATION-ENVIRONMENT BALANCE TO THE U. S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON INFORMATION, JUSTICE, TRANSPORTATION AND AGRICULTURE, AUGUST 3, 1993; FEDERAL DOCUMENT CLEARING HOUSE CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY, "Testimony August 3, 1993 Mark W. Nowak Executive Director Population-Environment Balance House Government Operations / Information, Justice, Transportation, And Agriculture Border Fees" / AGL-VT95
With 400,000 legal border crossings by land and sea annually, a $1 border crossing fee would raise approximately $400 million dollars a year (more than twice the fiscal 1993 border patrol budget of $150 million), a portion of which could be used to strengthen the border patrol and to reduce illegal immigration.
AP57 / MARK W. NOWAK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POPULATION-ENVIRONMENT BALANCE TO THE U. S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON INFORMATION, JUSTICE, TRANSPORTATION AND AGRICULTURE, AUGUST 3, 1993; FEDERAL DOCUMENT CLEARING HOUSE CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY, "Testimony August 3, 1993 Mark W. Nowak Executive Director Population-Environment Balance House Government Operations / Information, Justice, Transportation, And Agriculture Border Fees" / AGL-VT95
BALANCE encourages the implementation of a border crossing fee. As I indicated, the U. S. population increases by more than three million a year, 50% of which is attributable to immigration, both legal and illegal. This proposal would help reduce a substantial portion of that growth by helping to reduce illegal immigration, and it would pass some of the costs of immigration administration on to those who use the service. , By doing so, we take a step toward reducing both the environmental impact of our rapidly growing numbers and the costs of immigration which are a significant factor in our large budget deficits at all levels of government.
AP58 / GREG LaMOTTE CNN NEWS September 24, 1993 Transcript # 298 - 3 HEADLINE: INS Crackdown on Illegal Mexican Immigration Effective (L / N) / / MS-VT95
GREG LaMOTTE, Correspondent: Dawn along the Texas border with Mexico. For almost a week there has been eerie calm on the U. S. side. That's because more than 400 border patrol agents have continued a blockade of unequaled proportion and so far it is working beyond most people's expectations.
AP59 / GREG LaMOTTE CNN NEWS September 24, 1993 Transcript # 298 - 3 HEADLINE: INS Crackdown on Illegal Mexican Immigration Effective (L / N) / / MS-VT95
LEON HARRIS, Anchor: The flood of Mexicans illegally cross a 20-mile stretch of border into Texas has suddenly slowed down to a trickle. On the U. S. side of the border, an army of determined agents. On the other side, thousands of frustrated, unemployed workers.
AP60 / GREG LaMOTTE CNN NEWS September 24, 1993 Transcript # 298 - 3 HEADLINE: INS Crackdown on Illegal Mexican Immigration Effective (L / N) / / MS-VT95
Maybe so, but the border blockade has produced phenomenal results. Illegal crossings have been so heavily impacted, agents are reporting a record breaking decrease in arrests at the El Paso airport. Arrests had averaged between 500 and 1,000 a day at the airport. One day this week, that number was reduced to 3.
AP61 / JOHN DILLIN, STAFF WRITER, DECEMBER 17, 1993; THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, "Surge in Immigration to US Raises Public Anxiety, Spurs A Showdown in Congress, " THE U. S. ; Pg. 1 / AGL-VT95
Illegal border crossings by Mexicans and others plunged by 85 percent. Arrests of illegal aliens trying to leave the El Paso airport fell from 1,000 a day to 8-to-15 per day. Crime rates fell in El Paso by 16 percent, with auto thefts down 50 percent. El Paso belied long-held convictions in Washington that ''you can't do much about'' illegal immigration.
AP62 / MICHAEL T. LEMPRES, WASHINGTON ATTORNEY, WAS AN OFFICIAL IN THE REAGAN AND BUSH JUSTICE DEPARTMENTS, AND AN EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER OF THE INS, FEBRUARY 21, 1994; NATIONAL REVIEW, "Getting Serious About Illegal Immigration; Dealing With A New Us Demographic Problem; Demystifying Multiculturalism, " Vol. 46 ; No. 3 ; Pg. 52 / AGL-VT95
As a first step, however, current law and regulations must be clarified. Employers are caught between competing legal mandates when hiring non-citizens; aliens with only a tenuous claim to presence in the U. S. remain here for years under the color of law; and some government officials do not know whether they are obliged to report information to or withhold it from the INS. Congress and the regulators must simplify legal requirements so that the average person, citizen or alien, can know what the rules are. The Border Patrol recently targeted the border near E1 Paso for a focused interdiction effort. Operation Blockade, as it was called, reduced illegal migration dramatically. Local polls indicate an astonishing 98 per cent approval of the operation. Effective interdiction will deter illegal crossers who seek to stay in the U. S. for a short period, most likely to work for a few days or weeks. Interdiction will not, however, effectively deter those who intend to remain for a longer period of time. This distinction between "sojourners" and "settlers" should become part of the policy response to illegal migration.
AP64 / AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE, FEBRUARY 4, 1994, "Us Announces Crackdown On Illegal Immigration From Mexico" / AGL-VT95
The United States announced Thursday it was tightening its border with Mexico to keep out illegal aliens but will streamline the process for accepting legal immigrants. "This administration is committed to safeguarding America's proud history of openness to newcomers, but we will not permit this cherished tradition to be jeopardized by weakness in enforcing our immigration laws, " said Attorney General Janet Reno. The 540. 5 million dollar crackdown on illegal immigration will add another 1, 010 patrol agents by the end of next year, beefing up the force of some 3, 500 currently posted along the 3, 200-kilometer (2,000 mile) border.
AP65 / THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC, AUGUST 21, 1993, "Immigration Debate; Melting Pot Running Over?" Pg. A20 / AGL-VT95
But Wilson is not the only one calling for tighter controls on immigration, though his proposal to, in effect, repeal the 14th Amendment, probably is the most draconian in concept so far. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein has proposed a $1 border-crossing fee to provide more funds for the Border Patrol. California's other Democratic senator, Barbara Boxer, supports calling out the National Guard to help monitor the Mexican border.
AP66 / PRESIDENT CLINTON, VICE PRESIDENT GORE, ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO REMARKS MADE AT ANNOUNCEMENT OF IMMIGRATION POLICY, WASHINGTON, DC, JULY 27, 1993, DEPARTMENT OF STATE DISPATCH, AUGUST 9, 1993, "Protecting U. S. Borders Against Illegal Immigration, " Vol. 04 No. 32 / AGL-VT95
Finally, as a first step in slowing the flood of illegal immigrants who circumvent our understaffed and under equipped Border Patrol, we will significantly increase personnel, a kind of more-cops-on-the-beat approach. We will also give border agents the best possible equipment and technology. We're providing $ 45. 1 million for training and equipment and up to 600 additional Border Patrol guards. That will improve their ability to interdict and return illegal aliens seeking to cross the border. We will also increase and improve Border Patrol training and review procedures to make sure that people they apprehend are treated in accordance with the law.
AP67 / JIM SIMMON, ROSS RAMSEY, STAFF WRITERS, JANUARY 5, 1994; THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE, "Campaign '94; U. S. Troops Should Patrol Border, Mattox Says, " A; Pg. 13 / AGL-VT95
Jim Mattox said Tuesday he wants U. S. troops deployed to stem illegal immigration and other unlawful border traffic -- an idea that was roundly criticized by his rivals for the Democratic U. S. Senate nomination. ""I want our border areas protected, '' Mattox said. ""I want to stop the flow of illegal activities in both directions. I think in a very small zone along the border areas we need to try to use the troops in an adequate way to stop what is happening. '' Mattox said that while he does not blame illegal immigrants from wanting to cross the border into the United States, most current efforts at enforcing immigration law are not working.
AP68 / William P. Hoar staff writer April 4, 1994 "The Importation of Crime" The New American p. 30 / / PKK-13-VT95
Replicating the El Paso results is one of the goals of legislation being sponsored by Senator Harry Reid (DNV), James writes. Reid's legislation, called the Immigration Stabilization Act, would double the number of Border Patrol officers, allowing other regions to follow the El Paso example that cut illegal entries by 74 percent. Other provisions would cut off the flow of federal aid to illegal aliens (other than for emergency medical services), make it more difficult for those likely to become public charges to enter the country, and require law enforcement agencies to verify the status of those immigrants applying for social services.
AP69 / THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, JANUARY 27, 1994, "Keep The Promise Border Patrol Needs 600 More Agents, " Ed. B-12;Pg. 7, 12, 13 / AGL-VT95
If the San Diego sector had enough properly equipped Border Patrol agents, it could choke off most of the flow of illegal immigrants. That's why it's imperative for the Clinton administration to stick to its original promise to provide 600 new agents for the border, with most of those sent to California. Not only would that go a long way toward controlling the illegal immigration problem, but it also would help quell the immigration backlash that's rising around the country.
AP70 / CHRISTOPHER MITCHELL, Prof. Politics, New York University, 1992; in WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION AND UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY, '"Implications for understanding and for policy choice" p. 298 \\ MS-VT95
Negotiations with a view to reduced flows from sending nations might help to address a second area where greater consistency is needed: border enforcement. Poor frontier administration constitutes policy inconsistency both directly and indirectly. It is viewed as what the editorialist Jack Rosenthal termed a "policy wink" by the U. S. government, opening a back entrance to the U. S. labor market, chiefly for Mexicans. A porous southern border also tends to increase the numbers of Central and South Americans citing political motives, petitioning for remedies that island dwellers (for example) cannot request. Our view should not be interpreted, however, as simply calling for draconian border policing. As we will shortly note, some of the United States' least humane immigration policies have been instituted as under prepared, underfunded border enforcement efforts. "
AP71 / ALAN C. MILLER, RONALD J. OSTROW, and RONALD BROWNSTEIN, STAFF WRITERS, JULY 11, 1993; LOS ANGELES TIMES, "Immigration Policy Failures Invite Overhaul, " Page A1 / AGL-LN-VT95
Most experts agree that a long-overdue first step is upgrading the Border Patrol -- to prevent illegal crossings and to curb abuses and corruption within its ranks. Annual captures of illegal immigrants, which dropped by half, to 800,000 in 1987, the year after the Immigration Reform and Control Act took effect, have been edging upward since, hitting 1. 2 million in 1992.
AP72 / Rep. John Conyers, (Representative from Michigan. Chair Committee on Government Operations) August 4, 1993 "The Immigration and Naturalization Service: Overwhelmed and unprepared for the future. " House Report 103-21 6, Second Report by the Committee on Government Operations p. 21 / MS-VT95
NCLR expressed concerns that while demands on INS enforcement personnel are growing, their capacity to deal with those demands is not growing at the same rate. In fact, Ms. Munoz described what appears to be a counterproductive tactic utilized by the Border Patrol: In the last six months, representatives of the Border Patrol have met with my organization's president, Raul Yzaguirre, and have complained and asked for our support. They say that, in the interest of beefing up their apprehension numbers, they are told not to stand or present themselves in such a way as to provide a deterrent to people on the other side of the border who seek to come in, but rather to wait on this side of the border until they come in and then catch as many of them as possible, because that way they get better apprehension statistics. That demoralizes the Border Patrol personnel. It is a Poor establishment of enforcement resources.
AP73 / ERIC BAILEY, STAFF WRITER, JANUARY 12, 1994; LOS ANGELES TIMES, "Illegal Workers May Cost Business; Immigration: Umberg Bill That Would Allow Local Law Enforcement To Seize Employer's Assets Passes Key Assembly Panel, " Part B; Page 1 / AGL-VT95
Citing a Bush Administration study that found more than 90% of all illegal immigrants are lured to the United States by the hope of jobs, Umberg suggested that enforcement of sanctions against employers would help lessen the incentive to seek work in the United States. But civil libertarians and agriculture industry representatives said the bill could do more harm than good. They said any state law would conflict with existing federal statutes. In addition, they raised the specter of discrimination against workers and suggested that well-meaning employers could be falsely accused if duped by a worker possessing phony documents. "If there's a farmer doing everything he can to take a look at a worker's documents that look legitimate but aren't, that could pose problems, " said Stanley O. Van Vleck, a lobbyist representing dairy and agricultural producers.
AP74 / JAMES M. ZIMMERMAN is an international trade attorney based in San Diego and a member of the board of directors for the World Trade Association of San Diego. March 22, 1994, HEADLINE: Don't place much faith in a fence at the border The San Diego Union-Tribune / / PKK-LN-VT95
Rather than wasting billions of dollars in creating "fortress America, " Congress can slow the tide of illegal immigration by more cost-effective means, such as imposing harsh penalties on those employers who skirt the law by hiring undocumented workers. Indeed, migrants will continue to come as long as the opportunity is here. American employers seek cheap labor and in response they get people willing to accept cheap wages.
AP75 / MONTE B. LAKE, A PARTNER IN THE WASHINGTON, D. C. LAW FIRM OF MCGUINESS & WILLIAMS, HAS PRACTICED EMPLOYMENT AND IMMIGRATION LAW FOR 16 YEARS, REPRESENTING EMPLOYERS' INTERESTS, NOVEMBER 5, 1993; LEGAL BACKGROUNDER, "Addressing IRCA's Failures And Conflicting Requirements For Employers, " Vol. 8, No. 35 / AGL-VT95
Recent polls show that an overwhelming number of Americans demand stronger measures to control illegal immigration in the United States. Murr, A Nasty Turn on Immigrants, NEWSWEEK, Aug. 23, 1993, at 28; Klein, The Times Poll: Majority in State are Fed Up with Illegal Immigration, L. A. Times, Sept. 19, 1993, at A1. The public perception appears to be that many of this country's current economic and social problems stem from the continued flow of illegal immigrants. Such a reaction often occurs during periods of sluggish economic growth, especially when there are high levels of unemployment. prompted Congress to enact the (IRCA), Pub. L. No. 99-603, 100 Stat. 3360 (codified as amended in scattered sections of Title 8 of the United States Code). Recognizing that traditional means of border control had failed, Congress concluded that illegal aliens come to the U. S. for jobs and that if the "job magnet" were removed, the problem would subside. The way to control the job magnet was to penalize employers who knowingly hired undocumented workers. H. R. Rep. No. 628, 99th Congress. 2d Session. , pt. 1, at 53 (1986). Thus, by imposing employer sanctions, IRCA sought to shift protection of U. S. borders from the government to employers.
AP76 / ERIC BAILEY, STAFF WRITER, JANUARY 12, 1994; LOS ANGELES TIMES, "Illegal Workers May Cost Business; Immigration: Umberg Bill That Would Allow Local Law Enforcement To Seize Employer's Assets Passes Key Assembly Panel, " Part B; Page 1 / AGL-VT95
Saying illegal immigrants are lured to the United States by the promise of jobs, an Orange County lawmaker won approval Tuesday from a key Assembly panel for a bill that would allow local law enforcement agencies to seize the assets of California businesses that hire undocumented workers. The Assembly's Public Safety Committee, long a graveyard for legislation deemed to be anti-immigrant, approved the measure authored by Assemblyman Tom Umberg (D-Garden Grove) on a unanimous vote. Under Umberg's proposal, businesses with five or more workers could be fined as much as $2,000 for each illegal immigrant employed, on the first violation. If a business was found guilty in court of a second violation, virtually any of the firm's assets could be seized. Subsequent violations would prompt criminal charges and prison time for business owners of as much as four years.
AP77 / DION NISSENBAUM, STAFF WRITER, AUGUST 30, 1993; PROPRIETARY TO THE UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL, "Asset Forfeiture To Fight Illegal Immigration Proposed" / AGL-VT95
Firing the latest salvo in the war over illegal immigration, Democratic lawmakers unveiled a measure Monday that would empower the state to seize the assets of employers who repeatedly hire undocumented workers. The bill would allow the state to confiscate the property and assets of employers with more than five workers who are cited more than once for hiring illegal aliens. Such businesses could also be fined up to $2,000 per illegal worker the first time they are cited and up to $10,000 for repeat offenders.
AP78 / Vic Stein THE PHOENIX GAZETTE October 19, 1993 Pg. B12 HEADLINE: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION THREATENS THE NATION (L / N) / / MS-VT95
Granted, the "good old days" weren't all that good but one thing we did have: Immigration quotas through which we, the American people, decided who could enter and how many. It was a good idea then and still is. We still need the input of immigrants of whatever nationality and we should be, and are, delighted to invite them. It's the hoard of uninvited that is our problem. We should stem this quiet, constant and uncontested invasion of the United States with positive programs, effectively enforced laws and a sure-fire method to dry up this illegitimate tide.
AP79 / FRANK D. BEAN, ASHBEL SMITH PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, AUGUST 29, 1993; THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE, "Immigration Combatants Overlook The New Reality, " Pg. 1 / AGL-VT95
The United States must recognize that it operates in a new era and under unprecedented conditions. A realistic immigration policy is one that acknowledges both the slowness of global job growth and the unprecedented magnitude of world population. Unless the country soon starts to generate more new and well-paid jobs, it may be wise to devise policies to slow unskilled immigration during periods of stagnant economic growth. The failure to do so may invite extreme solutions to newly emerging global economic and demographic circumstances.
AP80 / MICHAEL D'ANTONIO, NEW YORK JOURNALIST, AUGUST 29, 1993; LOS ANGELES TIMES, "Apocalypse Soon; The Latest Overpopulation Alarm Has A Twist: Not Only Lives But Lifestyles Are At Stake, " Magazine; Page 18 / AGL-VT95
What America can do, he (Kendall) says, is protect itself by imposing a temporary moratorium on immigration and reforming the laws and regulations that determine how and why many newcomers are admitted each year. This is necessary, he says, to preserve a high standard of living and avert the intolerant, even violent backlash against immigrants that can occur "when people feel they are losing control of their future. The pressure forces them into intergroup conflict. It's human nature. "
AP81 / Gretchen Cook, staff writer Agence France Presse March 31, 1994, HEADLINE: Backlash against illegal immigrants tightens US policy / / PKK-LN-VT95
"After a decade of high immigration coupled with a tough recession and high unemployment it is time to take a breather, " said Senator Alan Simpson, who is introducing a bill to reduce the number of immigrants legally allowed to enter the country from 675,000 to 500,000 annually.
AP82 / THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, DECEMBER 7, 1993, "Immigration Expert Worries About U. S. " Pg. A10 / AGL-VT95
Immigration made America. Now, it's making America grow much faster than many people think is healthy. U. S. Census figures and projections by demographer Leon Bouvier show that the U. S. population - now 257 million - will skyrocket to nearly 400 million by the middle of the next century if immigration continues at current rates. Demographers believe the U. S. population would never have exceeded 247 million if net immigration had stopped in 1970. About 974,000 legal immigrants were accepted last year. Immigration officials estimated a year ago that 3. 2 million illegal aliens lived in the United States. Estimates of net immigration each year range from 1. 2 million to 1. 5 million.
AP83 / Daniel A. Stein executive director of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, May 29, 1993, HEADLINE: Drowning in the Labor Pool The New York Times Page 19; / / PKK-VT95
Immigration is not a substitute for training programs. Though selecting immigrants based on their skills is preferable to the current system, we must limit admissions to no more than 300,000 yearly so that immigration does not undermine efforts to train and retrain native workers.
AP84 / Daniel A. Stein executive director of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, May 29, 1993, HEADLINE: Drowning in the Labor Pool The New York Times Page 19; / / PKK-VT95
Family-chain migration must be ended. Because of the way immigration laws are designed, immigrants are entitled to sponsor long chains of extended-family members who do not have to meet labor-certification requirements. Only by limiting immigration privileges to the nuclear family can we establish a selection process that conforms to our labor market needs.
AP85 / Yeh Ling-Ling is California outreach coordinator for Population-Environment Balance, a Washington-based group. April 13, 1994 HEADLINE: PERSPECTIVE ON IMMIGRATION; THE WELCOME MAT IS THREADBARE; WE CAN'T KEEP ABSORBING 1. 3 MILLION NEWCOMERS A YEAR; A CUTBACK TO 200,000 -- REPLACEMENT LEVEL -- IS IN ORDER. Los Angeles Times / / PKK-LN-VT95
Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.. ) has introduced a bill to reduce the legal immigration ceiling to a base figure of 500,000 a year -- a commendable action, but the ceiling should be much lower. Given our finite fiscal and natural resources, we must aim for an all-inclusive ceiling -- legal immigration, amnesty, refugees, etc. -- of 200,000 a year.
AP86 / MICHAEL T. LEMPRES, WASHINGTON ATTORNEY, WAS AN OFFICIAL IN THE REAGAN AND BUSH JUSTICE DEPARTMENTS, AND AN EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER OF THE INS, FEBRUARY 21, 1994; NATIONAL REVIEW, "Getting Serious About Illegal Immigration; Dealing With A New Us Demographic Problem; Demystifying Multiculturalism, " Vol. 46 ; No. 3 ; Pg. 52 / AGL-VT95
Real caps on immigration. Most Americans believe that there should be a limit to the number of migrants, however labeled, that this country accepts each year. The distinction between legal and illegal migration is important, but less so than the impact of the total number. And yet the limit that U. S. law currently puts on immigration applies to only a minority of those who migrate. A separate limit applies to those who migrate as refugees and those who enter the country without intending to remain permanently. No limit applies to the over 100,000 aliens who will seek asylum this year or the backlog of over 300,000 unadjudicated asylum claims. The limit ignores the estimated three million aliens who cross the border illegally each year.
AP87 / RICHARD D. LAMM, former Governor of Colorado, & Gary, 1985; THE Immigration TIME BOMB: THE FRAGMENTING OF AMERICA p192 \\ PK-VT95
The solution, therefore, is to limit admissions while providing for emergencies. Refugee admissions should be included under the single, stable, comprehensive ceiling on immigration, but the number should fluctuate with need rather than be limited to a set percentage of the ceiling. Flexibility for emergency situations can be provided if there is an immediate need for more admissions, but these additional admissions must be immediately subtracted from the other preference categories or the system will be continually abused.
AP88 / RICHARD D. LAMM, former Governor of Colorado, & Gary, 1985; THE IMMIGRATION TIME BOMB: THE FRAGMENTING OF AMERICA p. 19 \\ PK-VT95
Another group, the humanitarian idealists, argues that the United States can help deal with world poverty through high levels of immigration. They, too, are probably sincere but unrealistic. The United States is a small part of the world-only 5 percent of the population of the earth. We can voluntarily share the world's poverty; we cannot make the world rich by sharing our wealth.
AP89 / THE WASHINGTON POST, JANUARY 3, 1994, "Immigration -- Who Will Pay?" PAGE A18 / AGL-VT95
The United States must continue to welcome legal immigrants and provide refuge for the oppressed. But until Congress and the executive branch review the existing, outdated rules that exacerbate the situation some states face, there is little chance that Gov. Chiles and his colleagues will find early relief.
AP90 / RICHARD SIMON, STAFF WRITER, JANUARY 12, 1994; LOS ANGELES TIMES, "Metropolitan Digest / Los Angeles County News In Brief: Drive Begins For Law Curtailing Services To Illegal Immigrants, "Part B; Page 2 / AGL-VT95
"California is in big trouble due to illegal immigration, " said Harold Ezell, Western regional chief of the U. S. Immigration and Naturalization Service from 1983 to 1989 and co-author of the proposal with Alan Nelson, the INS commissioner under President Ronald Reagan. "We can do a lot to make it so uncomfortable that people who want to come here illegally know that they cannot survive. "
AP91 / Donald N. Hammond [Chair Committee on Immigration and Refugee Affairs, InterAction] 1993 Hearing: Refugee Admissions Program for Fiscal Year 1994. Subcommittee on International Law, Immigration and Refugees. House of Representatives, 103rd Congress. Serial No. 16. September 23. , p121 / / SW-VT95
Rather than being based purely on ideological grounds, refugee crises today are more likely to be result of the ethnic, nationalist or religious conflicts that are exploding in places like the former Yugoslavia and the Transcaucasus. Rather than declining, the number and diversity of refugee populations is expanding to close to 18 million world-wide, a two-fold increase since 1980.
AP92 / DAN STEIN, Executive Director Federation for American Immigration Reform, 1992; USA TODAY MAGAZINE, September, "Making sense of America's refugee policy" p. 14 AGL-VT95
If it sometimes seems as though the world is awash in refugees, that is because the number of refugees has been increasing steadily. In 1980, there were 8,000,000 internationally recognized refugees; by 1991, that number had swelled to 16,000,000. Hundreds of millions more live under harsh governments; suffer racial, ethnic, or religious persecution; or face debilitating poverty, disease, and environmental degradation. The worldwide refugee population easily could double again over the next decade.
AP93 / Dan Stein, Executive Director Federation for American Immigration Reform, 1992; USA TODAY MAGAZINE, September, "Making sense of America's refugee policy", p14 / / agl-VT95
US refugee policy is in a state of general disarray. For a variety of reasons, it is failing to live up to stated objectives--helping those in true need. It is being swamped by those seeking relief from poverty or conflict, not political persecution, and undermined by a set of guidelines so vague that they work to the advantage of those with the most political clout, not the greatest need.
AP94 / DAN STEIN, Executive Director Federation for American Immigration Reform, 1992; USA TODAY MAGAZINE, September, "Making sense of America's refugee policy" p. 14 AGL-VT95
As individuals and as a nation, the U. S. has an obligation to help. To do so, however, America must set priorities and standards that will allow us to achieve the greatest possible good for the greatest number of people, Both international and U. S. law define a refugee as someone with a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, or membership in a particular social group or political opinion.
AP95 / STAR TRIBUNE, JUNE 22, 1993, "A Fuzzy, Foolish Court Ruling On Refugees, " Pg. 12A / AGL-LN-VT95
Federal law and international treaty require that people claiming refugee status be provided an orderly legal process to make their case. To earn acceptance as refugees, they must prove they have a well-founded fear of persecution at home. After orderly evaluation, those denied asylum can be repatriated.
AP96 / JOHN SWENSON ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UNITED STATES CATHOLIC CONFERENCE OFFICE OF MIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICES May 17, 1994, CAPITOL HILL HEARING TESTIMONY / / PKK-LN-VT95
Refugee admissions to the United States must continue and must be adequate, for they are an essential tool in the protection of some of the most vulnerable and most threatened of the world's refugee population, many of whom are of special interest to the United States.
AP97 / Donald N. Hammond [Chair-Committee on Immigration and Refugee Affairs, InterAction] 1993 Hearing: Refugee Admissions Program for Fiscal Year 1994. Subcommittee on International Law, Immigration and Refugees. House of Representatives, 103rd Congress. Serial No. 16. September 23. p. 118 / / SW-VT95
Rather than being based on purely ideological grounds, refugee crises today are more likely to be a result of ethnic nationalist or religious conflicts, as we have seen in many places. With the changes that are taking place, it is clear that the refugee policy of the United States will continue to play a vital role in helping to protect and assist refugees around the world.
AP 98 / Donald N. Hammond [Chair Committee on Immigration and Refugee Affairs, InterAction] 1993 Hearing: Refugee Admissions Program for Fiscal Year 1994. Subcommittee on International Law, Immigration and Refugees. House of Representatives, 103rd Congress. Serial No. 16 September 23. p. 125. / / SW-VT95
The current program, with an emphasis on Southeast Asians and primarily Soviet Jews, is in keeping with this tradition. As we look toward the future, new refugee groups also appear on the horizon. In all probability, the mix of refugees requiring resettlement will be made up of a broader spectrum than we are accustomed to. These will include a wide range of African refugees, especially vulnerable groups, and those like the Bosnian Muslims fleeing ethnic cleansing and the annihilation of their home land.
AP99 / PAUL GLASTRIS, STAFF WRITER, JUNE 21, 1993; U. S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, "Immigration Crackdown, " Vol. 114, No. 24; Pg. 34, 38 / AGL-LN-VT95
Here is how U. S. policy could change: Refugees. America's system of accepting political refugees is a relic of the cold war, when people fleeing Communist persecution were considered strategic assets. That open-door policy didn't swamp the system for the simple reason that Communist regimes let few of their citizens emigrate. Today, most of the 130,000 refugees resettled annually in the United States still come from Vietnam and the former Soviet Union. Most experts predict that Washington will eventually lift preferences for those nations and ratchet down the total number of refugees allowed in. What remains to be seen, says Dennis Gallagher of the Refugee Policy Group, a Washington think tank, is how Clinton and Congress will "define who those people are who are still of special interest to the United States. "
AP100 / DAN STEIN, Executive Director Federation for American Immigration Reform, 1992; USA TODAY MAGAZINE, September, "Making sense of America's refugee policy" p. 15 \\ AGL-VT95
In order to manage a very large and growing refugee population properly, policies must draw distinctions among various categories of refugees. The most effective way to aid the, greatest number of people must be determined.
AP101 / DAN STEIN, Executive Director Federation for American Immigration Reform, 1992; USA TODAY MAGAZINE, September, "Making sense of America's refugee policy" p. 15 AGL-VT95
People who need to enter the U. S. should not compete for admission with those who merely want to.
AP102 / DAN STEIN, Executive Director Federation for American Immigration Reform, 1992; USA TODAY MAGAZINE, September, "Making sense of America's refugee policy" p. 15 \\ AGL-VT95
As the number of refugees explodes worldwide, the U. S. will need to develop appropriate strategies. Despite the admirable desire to help all in need, America must have the maturity to recognize its variations. . The number of people able to demonstrate individualized persecution and who have no realistic chance of ever being repatriated is only a very small percentage of those seeking refugee status. These groups should be handled separately from the larger refugee population whose afflictions -- though very real -- may be a temporary phenomenon.
AP103 / DAN STEIN, Executive Director Federation for American Immigration Reform, 1992; USA TODAY MAGAZINE, September, "Making sense of America's refugee Policy" p. 15 AGL-VT95
According to international and U. S. law, a refugee is an individual with a well-founded fear of being singled out for persecution. However much empathy is invoked by the plight of those mired in poverty, caught in a war zone, or living under a repressive government, the U. S. simply can not hold out the promise of resettlement to that many people, Applications must be considered on a case-by-case basis and decisions made on the merits of each individual claim.
AP104 / Ben J. Wattenberg and Karl Zinsmeister, fellows at the American Enterprise Institute, April 1990, "The Case for More Immigration" Commentary in The Reference Shelf: Immigration to the United States, Robert Emmet Long, ed. p. 155 / / PKK-38-VT95
We propose that refugee visas be allotted independently, and adult citizens of the United States be able to bring in any bona fide spouses, minor children, or parents without limit (but not more distant relatives, who would be . judged under meritocratic criteria). These two categories together--refugees and immediate family--would make up a little more than half of the yearly total of immigrants to the United States.
AP105 / Dan Stein, Executive Director Federation for American Immigration Reform, 1992; USA TODAY MAGAZINE, September, "Making sense of America's refugee policy" , p. 14 \\ agl-VT95
The US spends less than four cents a day per capita to assist refugees in temporary camps. The average annual costs of resettling a refugee in the US is about $7000, with an ever-increasing share of the burden being borne by state and local governments. Resettling people in countries with highly developed economies is a costly proposition, which severely limits the number that can be aided.
AP106 / DAN STEIN, Executive Director Federation for American Immigration Reform, 1992; USA TODAY MAGAZINE, September, "Making sense of America's refugee policy" p. 14 \\ AGL-VT95
More than half the American assistance budget is committed to resettling approximately 125,000 men, women, and children -less than one percent of the world's refugee population--in the U. S. Prior to 1989, allocation priorities favored international assistance programs like UNHCR and IRC by a ratio of two-to-one.
AP107 / DEBORAH SONTAG, NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE, JANUARY 23, 1994; CHICAGO TRIBUNE, "Sexual Terrorism; Immigration -Law Attorneys Want Rape Classified As Grounds For Political Asylum, " Pg. 12 / AGL-VT95
In the United States, advocates for immigrants are using scores of test cases, involving rape, domestic violence and defiance of state restrictions on women's activities, to try to expand the grounds for granting asylum. The U. S. Immigration and Naturalization Service is also studying Canada's new policy to see if it will revamp its own handling of such cases, said Gregg A. Beyer, director of asylum. Although some critics of the asylum system worry about opening the door to yet another category of applicants, Beyer said that there would be no blanket admissions policies.
AP108 / ANNE-MARIE O'CONNOR, COX NEWS SERVICE, JANUARY 22, 1994; THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, "Women Fleeing Rape In Homelands Finding Obstacles To Asylum, " Pg. A-20 / AGL-VT95
Rape as a form of political persecution is being taken more seriously since the mass sexual assaults on women in the former Yugoslavia. However, while Canada recognizes gender-based political asylum claims and has even granted asylum to women fleeing Arab countries where defiant women are sometimes stoned to death, the United States has no such legal precedent.
AP109 / DEBORAH SONTAG (News York Times News Service) The San Diego Union-Tribune September 27, 1993, Pg. A-8 HEADLINE: Rape raised as an immigration issue (L / N) / / MS-VT95
Her cousin, a student leader threatened with death, is typical of the thousands of men who seek asylum each year. But W. Louis, as a woman and a rape victim, is presenting a type of claim that until recently was seldom heard. Now 18 and a high school student in Boston, she is one of a growing number of women seeking asylum on the ground that they suffered different forms of political persecution because of their sex.
AP110 / DEBORAH SONTAG, NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE, JANUARY 23, 1994; CHICAGO TRIBUNE, "Sexual Terrorism; Immigration -Law Attorneys Want Rape Classified As Grounds For Political Asylum, " Pg. 12 / AGL-VT95
Still, many lawyers push for a more radical approach by adding persecution because of sex as a sixth ground for asylum. "As it stands now, unless the rapist said to the woman, 'I'm raping you because you spoke out against the government, ' it is unlikely a judge will find that she has been persecuted on account of her political opinion, " said Jobe.
AP111 / ANNE-MARIE O'CONNOR, COX NEWS SERVICE, JANUARY 22, 1994; THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, "Women Fleeing Rape In Homelands Finding Obstacles To Asylum, " Pg. A-20 / AGL-VT95
Rape is commonplace in wars and repressive societies. But it is still viewed as a "private" act by most immigration officials, even when women are raped by troops or authorities, lawyers who have represented women's asylum cases say.
AP112 / Saul Landau The San Francisco Chronicle SEPTEMBER 20, 1993, Pg. B9; HEADLINE: Immigration Hysteria Is Missing the Point (L / N) / / MS-VT95
Like waves of immigrants before them, newly-arrived Asians and Hispanics desperately need work and therefore accept lower wages and live in less wholesome conditions than U. S. workers. Meanwhile, they service the more fortunate. They pick, pack and process food, clean houses, tend gardens and mind children of the middle class.
AP113 / DAVID LAUTER and JOHN BRODER, STAFF WRITERS, AUGUST 13, 1993; LOS ANGELES TIMES, "Clinton Differs With Wilson Ideas On Immigration; Policy: President Says He 'sympathizes' With Governor But That He Favors A 'Different Tack. ' However, He Reveals That Administration Is Looking At The Use Of Id Cards, " Page A1 / AGL-VT95
The federal government must toughen its enforcement of immigration laws, Clinton said, adding that his Administration is examining the feasibility of creating a tamper-proof national identity card which would be aimed, in part, at preventing illegal immigrants from taking advantage of government benefit programs, something Wilson also has advocated.
AP114 / MICHAEL T. LEMPRES, WASHINGTON ATTORNEY, WAS AN OFFICIAL IN THE REAGAN AND BUSH JUSTICE DEPARTMENTS, AND AN EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER OF THE INS, FEBRUARY 21, 1994; NATIONAL REVIEW, "Getting Serious About Illegal Immigration; Dealing With A New Us Demographic Problem; Demystifying Multiculturalism, " Vol. 46 ; No. 3 ; Pg. 52 / AGL-VT95
It seems clear that the best way to prevent illegal aliens from working in this country is to provide some fraud-resistant method of providing work authorization. The best system currently available appears to be a fraud-resistant document. Everyone entitled to work in the U. S. , citizen and alien alike, would have to present the document in order to take up a new job. The technology for a counterfeit-resistant card (no document is counterfeit proof) has been available for years, and the cost is not prohibitive.
AP115 / ARTHUR R. HELTON, is a lawyer and director of the Refugee Project of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights. May 3, 1993 HEADLINE: Uncontrolled Right Of Entry Poses a Threat The National Law Journal Pg. 15 / / PKK-VT95
* Improved international criminal-data tracking and enhanced identification procedures must be installed, using handprint readers and other new techniques. Through better international "handscan" criminal identification, the nation can improve its national-security-risk assessment at American ports of entry.
AP116 / THE WASHINGTON TIMES, (JOHN L. MARTIN, Research Director ) NOVEMBER 22, 1993, "No Employment Or Social Services For Illegal Immigrants, " Pg. A18 / AGL-VT95
A strengthened border-control operation addresses the nation's problem with illegal border-crossers. But the majority of illegal aliens enter the United States legally as non-immigrants or asylum applicants and then violate their status. The best way to discourage this form of entry is by making effective the already existing law that prohibits giving employment to illegal aliens. To be effective, the sanctions law needs a tamper-proof worker-identification system. That could be done through the Social Security card system, the proposed health registration card, through a special worker identification tied to the vehicle-registration system or even by adding it to the motor-voter registration system enacted earlier this year.
AP117 / THE PLAIN DEALER, MARCH 12, 1993, "An Open Door For Jet-Set Terror?" Pg. 44B / AGL-LN-VT95
Enhanced computer technology, linking information gathered by various agencies, may enable the INS to better track the holders of temporary visas without infringing on the rights and freedoms of those who don't intend to outstay their welcome or engage in terrorism. Probably no system will be perfect and Americans cannot expect a risk-free society. But in an age when terrorists have joined the jet set, existing deterrents to those who would abuse U. S. hospitality are inadequate.
AP118 / CHRISTOPHER MITCHELL, Prof. Politics, New York University, 1992; in WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION AND UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY, "Implications for understanding and for policy choice" pp. 299-300 \\ MS-VT95
As in the case of efforts to achieve consistency, we have no easy organizational remedy to offer. First steps might include upgrading the level of immigration-agency representation on interdepartmental work groups in foreign relations and drawing upon those with immigration experience in recruiting senior policy planners in the Departments of State and Justice. A good case might also be made for formalizing what has become a de facto institution in American immigration policy making: the national commission. There have been six such commissions relevant to Western Hemisphere migration issues--with presidential or congressional mandates, or both-since World War II, and the device has both raised the profile of immigration concerns and made some contributions to popular policy consensus as well. A National Immigration Commission might serve functions analogous to those of the U. S. Civil Rights Commission--to insert immigration and its consequences as priorities in national consciousness and policy planning.
AP119 / MICHAEL T. LEMPRES, WASHINGTON ATTORNEY, WAS AN OFFICIAL IN THE REAGAN AND BUSH JUSTICE DEPARTMENTS, AND AN EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER OF THE INS, FEBRUARY 21, 1994; NATIONAL REVIEW, "Getting Serious About Illegal Immigration; Dealing With A New Us Demographic Problem; Demystifying Multiculturalism, " Vol. 46 ; No. 3 ; Pg. 52 / AGL-VT95
While there is no painless magic answer, illegal migration can be significantly reduced with a few effective measures. Some of those measures require money; some require political will; many can be accomplished by the President without new legislation. Adopted as part of a comprehensive approach, these measures will be effective. Adopted selectively, they will fail.
AP120 / THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, JULY 29, 1993, "IMMIGRATION; Clinton plan a solid first step, but only that, " Pg. 28A / AGL-LN-VT95
With undocumented newcomers continuing to crash U. S. borders and fanatical newcomers abusing generous immigration and asylum laws, President Clinton's plan to shore up immigration law enforcement is prudent and welcome. But the president and Congress must also move swiftly to plug the loopholes in existing laws to discourage illegal immigration in the workplace.
AP121 / JOHN SWENSON ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UNITED STATES CATHOLIC CONFERENCE OFFICE OF MIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICES May 17, 1994, CAPITOL HILL HEARING TESTIMONY / / PKK-LN-VT95
new policy is implemented. Poor implementation can turn an important policy step into a sham and a disillusionment. To have credibility, it is essential that the new policy have both adequate resources and adequate safeguards. For example, we feel strongly that both the UNHCR and the non governmental organizations should be involved in this new program from the beginning.
AP122 / Brian Dumaine, REPORTER ASSOCIATE Rahul Jacob April 5, 1993, HEADLINE: ILLEGAL CHILD LABOR COMES BACK Fortune / / PKK-LN-VT95
Smarter enforcement offers a better alternative. Working with the states, Washington could, for instance, create task forces that concentrate on specific areas where abuses are known to be most egregious. One model might be New York State's garment industry task force, whose 24 investigators root out violators in New York City sweatshops. California, with its new TIP program, is taking a cross-agency approach, using state tax filings and business licensing and registration records to pinpoint employers with a history of skirting the rules. These companies, state officials have found, are the most likely child labor lawbreakers.
AP123 / PRESIDENT CLINTON, VICE PRESIDENT GORE, ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO REMARKS MADE AT ANNOUNCEMENT OF IMMIGRATION POLICY, WASHINGTON, DC, JULY 27, 1993, DEPARTMENT OF STATE DISPATCH, AUGUST 9, 1993, "Protecting U. S. Borders Against Illegal Immigration, " Vol. 04 No. 32 / AGL-VT95
The simple fact is that we must not--and we will not--surrender our borders to those who wish to exploit our history of compassion and justice. We cannot tolerate those who traffic in human cargo, nor can we allow our people to be endangered by those who would enter our country to terrorize Americans. But the solution to the problem of illegal immigration is not simply to close our borders. The solution is to welcome legal immigrants and legal, legitimate refugees and to turn away those who do not obey the laws. We must say no to illegal immigration so we can continue to say yes to legal immigration.
AP124 / Gary Stanley Becker Professor at the University of Chicago, Fellow of the Hoover Institute, February 22, 1993 ""Illegal Immigration: How to Turn the Tide. "" Business Week p. 23 / / PKK-13 -VT95
I believe such immigration can be effectively discouraged by sizably increasing the number of legal immigrants and at the same time punishing more severely the illegal entrants.
AP125 / Gary Stanley Becker, Professor at the University of Chicago, Fellow of the Hoover Institute, February 22, 1993 "Illegal Immigration: How to Turn the Tide. " Business Week, p. 23 / / PKK-13
I am not advocating the erection of a wall against immigration. Instead, a more generous immigration policy should go hand in hand with greater punishment of illegal entrants, including fines and possibly jail terms. Greater legal immigration is not only desirable in its own right, but would also reduce the number who seek to enter illegally. Not surprisingly, illegal entry generally expands when a country contracts the number of immigrants accepted.
AP126 / RICHARD D. LAMM, former Governor of Colorado, & Gary, 1985; THE IMMIGRATION TIME BOMB: THE FRAGMENTING OF AMERICA p. 65 \\ PKK-VT95
The only possible way to abolish the abusive, exploitative system of illegal immigration is to enforce the laws against it. The only practical way to reduce the crimes committed against illegals -because of illegals' status outside our system of laws-is to reduce the number of illegals within our society and to reduce the entry of illegals into this country. "
AP127 / RICHARD D. LAMM, former Governor of Colorado, & Gary, 1985; THE IMMIGRATION TIME BOMB: THE FRAGMENTING OF AMERICA p. 128 \\ PKK-VT95
Continuously rising unemployment will create ever-increasing pressures to emigrate--if the United States does not close the loopholes in legal migration laws and enforce those laws more efficiently.
AP128 / RICHARD D. LAMM, former Governor of Colorado, & Gary, 1985; THE IMMIGRATION TIME BOMB: THE FRAGMENTING OF AMERICA p44 \\ pkk \\ VT95
But I believe that those who truly want to abolish this exploitation must strongly support enforcement of the laws against illegal immigration. The difference between the advocates of illegal immigration and its opponents is not that its advocates are more revolted by unfairness and exploitation, but that they also advocate an unrealistic and unworkable solution (and therefore no solution at all) to the problems of unfairness and exploitation.
AP129 / RICHARD D. LAMM, former Governor of Colorado, & Gary, 1985; THE IMMIGRATION TIME BOMB: THE FRAGMENTING OF AMERICA p. 43 \\ pkk \\ VT95
The same is true of illegal immigration. There is no moderate cure for the abuse of illegal immigrants. There is only a radical cure: the abolition of the system of illegal immigration.
AP130 / Daniel A. Stein executive director of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, May 29, 1993, HEADLINE: Drowning in the Labor Pool The New York Times Page 19; / / PKK-VT95
A moratorium would enable us to reform the way immigrants are selected and break our habit of relying on imported labor instead of properly training our own workforce.
AP131 / Daniel A. Stein executive director of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, May 29, 1993, HEADLINE: Drowning in the Labor Pool The New York Times Page 19; / / PKK-VT95
Given America's economic situation, the only sensible course is a moratorium on immigration. In much the same way a plumber shuts a valve and drains a pipe before making repairs, the U. S. must halt new immigration applications and deal with a backlog larger than the population of Chicago. Only then will we be able to bring immigration policy into line with economic reality.
AP132 / CHICAGO TRIBUNE, JUNE 21, 1993, "Cities And Immigration: A New Reality, " Pg. 14 / AGL-LN-VT95
What's needed, according to recent studies both by the RAND Corp. and the National Conference of State Legislatures, is for Washington to pick up a much larger share of the cost of immigration. Targeted federal funds should be provided to defray costs incurred by local institutions - Cook County Hospital, for instance - where the rising immigrant caseload does, indeed, resemble the overloaded lifeboat.
AP133 / RICHARD G. POLANCO (D-LOS ANGELES), ASSISTANT SPEAKER PRO TEM OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY AND CHAIRMAN OF THE LEGISLATURE'S LATINO CAUCUS, AUGUST 13, 1993; LOS ANGELES TIMES, "Cut The Rhetoric And Work On Solutions; Immigration: Tough But Humane Policy Changes Are Possible; The Alternative Will Lead To Social Suicide, " Part B; Page 7 / AGL-VT95
* Congress must rework the taxation / usage equation to better fit the realities of expenditures. A report commissioned by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors found that in 1991, the county spent $940 million on immigrants. The immigrants, on the other hand, paid $4. 3 billion in taxes to all levels of government -- $2. 6 billion (60%) to the federal government, $1. 2 billion (29%) to state government; $350 million (8%) to local entities, and $139 million (3%) to the county.
AP134 / David Kaut, States News Service, April 28, 1994 HEADLINE: ROHRBACHER SAYS CONGRESS ALMOST SPARKED NEW TIDAL WAVE OF ILLEGALS HEAD IMMIGRATION: SCOTCHED PROPOSAL WOULD HAVE EASED PERMANENT RESIDENCY STEP FOR QUALIFIED FOREIGNERS States News Service / PKK-LN-VT95
Under the plan, offered by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass. ), illegal aliens at the head of legal- immigration waiting lists could have paid a $600 fee to be processed in the United States by the Immigration and Naturalization Service instead of overseas by the State Department, which sought the change. Kennedy said that because of looming budget cuts the State Department needed to reduce its caseload overseas, where staffing is expensive.
AP135 / Julian L. Simon, Teacher of Business Administration, Winter 1991 "The Case for Greatly Increased Immigration" The Public Interest. in The Reference Shelf: Immigration to the United States, Robert Emmet Long, ed. p. 172 / / PKK-54 -VT95
Another policy that the U. S. might employ is simply to give permanent-resident visas to foreigners studying in the U. S. Many foreign students already find ways to remain under the present rules--about half of them students of engineering and science. And even more foreign graduates would remain if they could, which would push up our rate of progress even more.
AP136 / NEIL MORGAN, STAFF WRITER, DECEMBER 28, 1993; THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, "Mexico Boosts Role In Fighting Border Crime, " Pg. A-2 / AGL-VT95
Already, under a pilot program, U. S. Customs agents seize drugs and pick up the smuggler's green card that allows entry into the United States, a more effective deterrent than jail. Bersin seeks to amplify this for low-end cases with a two-phase program: confiscating drugs, car and card, and persuading Mexican authorities to take over evidence and prosecute under Article IV of the Mexican Constitution, which holds a crime by a Mexican national on foreign soil to be a crime against Mexican law. He even talks of cross-prosecutors to work with Mexican prosecutors on crimes committed in the U. S.
AP137 / DAVID TULLER, STAFF WRITER, JULY 29, 1993; THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, "Gay Brazilian Claims Persecution -- Wins U. S. Asylum, " Pg. A13 / AGL-LN-VT95
In a decision believed to be the first of its kind, an immigration judge in San Francisco has granted asylum to a gay man from Brazil on the grounds that he faces persecution back home. Judge Philip Leadbetter, ruling this week in the case of Marcelo Tenorio, cited evidence that ''anti-gay groups appear to be prevalent in Brazilian society and continue to commit violence against homosexuals, with little official investigation and few criminal charges being brought against the perpetrators. ''
AP138 / Ben J. Wattenberg and Karl Zinsmeister, fellows at the American Enterprise Institute, April 1990, "The Case for More Immigration" Commentary in The Reference Shelf: Immigration to the United States, Robert Emmet Long, ed. p. 157 \\ PKK-38-VT95
This is an especially appropriate moment to increase sharply our acceptance of East European and Soviet immigrants. By adding a new program of Liberty Visas we could provide 150,000[5' / legal slots annually to people who for decades have been doubly impeded by Communist governments that would not let them out and now by an America that does not let them in because they have no family connections.
AP139 / Brian Duffy, staff writer June 21, 1993 "Coming to America" US News and World Report, p. 28 / / PKK-9
INS officials in Washington say they have no authority to detain people overseas.
AP140 / JOHN SWENSON ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UNITED STATES CATHOLIC CONFERENCE OFFICE OF MIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICES May 17, 1994, CAPITOL HILL HEARING TESTIMONY / / PKK-LN-VT95
The President was at pains to caution against a flood of departures as a result of the announcement of the new policy, but it is very likely that the initial reaction will be increased numbers leaving Haiti. In time, this should abate but prudence would suggest initially planning for larger numbers. Thus, we urge the Administration to pursue vigorously its announced intention to seek a land based site for a screening / holding center where screening could be conducted in a more orderly fashion.
AP141 / JOHN SWENSON ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UNITED STATES CATHOLIC CONFERENCE OFFICE OF MIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICES May 17, 1994, CAPITOL HILL HEARING TESTIMONY / / PKK-LN-VT95
There are a couple of other refugee issues on which I would like to touch, Mr. Chairman. One is to express our encouragement at the President's new policy of providing an opportunity for Haitian boat people to present their claims to status as political refugees before being returned forcibly to Haiti. Properly implemented, this change can have a significant beneficial effect on refugee protection worldwide.
AP142 / Linda Reyna Yanez, (Directing Attorney, Immigration Clinic, Harvard Law School) March 30, 1993, '"The Immigration and Naturalization Service: a Mandate for Change" Hearing before the Information, Justice, Transportation, and agriculture Subcommittee of the Committee on Government Operations, House of Representatives. p. 23 / / MS-VT95
Internationally, our credibility has been severely damaged by the forcible repatriation of Haitian refugees. As attacks on immigrants and ethnic minorities increase around the world, the United States must reassert its moral force at home and abroad. Providing protection to individuals fleeing from overseas and ensuring fair procedures and nondiscrimination at home is not a threat to our national sovereignty. It is a reaffirmation of our origins and of our richly diverse American democracy.
AP143 / JOHN DILLIN, STAFF WRITER, FEBRUARY 11, 1994; THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, "Washington Moves to Curb Illegal Immigrants, "THE U. S. Pg. 1 / AGL-VT95
RESPONDING to public outcries, Washington is moving urgently on several fronts to secure America's borders against illegal immigration and other crimes. On Capitol Hill, House Republicans yesterday rolled out a tough, 70-page bill designed to crack down on immigrant smuggling, criminal aliens, fraudulent documents, and other border problems. Twenty-four hours earlier, Justice Department officials unveiled their own program to discourage the filing of thousands of bogus applications for political asylum The twin efforts reflect a growing consensus here that illegal immigration and its heavy costs, including billions of dollars for welfare and free medical care, have grown into a national crisis.
AP144 / Michael C. LeMay [Prof. Political Science, Frostburg State] 1989 The GATEKEEPERS, p. 2 / SW-VT95
One might well ask, "Is the United States entering a new phase or era in immigration policy?" An historical view of that policy suggests that the times and conditions are, indeed, ripe for such a new era. Such an historical review highlights several commonalties evident in each previous period marked by a major shift. All such elements are evident again today.
AP145 / PAUL GLASTRIS, STAFF WRITER, JUNE 21, 1993; U. S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, "Immigration Crackdown, " Vol. 114, No. 24; Pg. 34, 38 / AGL-LN-VT95
There is little doubt that the nation soon will witness serious attempts to restrict immigration. They might be debated under the stewardship of Doris Meissner, a well-respected official from previous administrations, who is being recommended by Attorney General Janet Reno to take over the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Attention will first focus on fixing the deportation, refugee and asylum systems and on keeping illegal aliens out of the country and the work force. And next year, the nation's generous immigration policies will be debated when a special congressional commission renders its assessment of how the 1990 law is working.
AP146 / PAUL GLASTRIS, STAFF WRITER, JUNE 21, 1993; U. S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, "Immigration Crackdown, " Vol. 114, No. 24; Pg. 34, 38 / AGL-LN-VT95
The spectacle of hordes of illegal immigrants washing up on American beaches --and a federal government seemingly powerless to stop them -- provides groups like the Federation for American Immigration Reform with a chance to advance their larger goal: an immediate moratorium on all legal immigration. Proponents of immigration, too, are taking a get-tough attitude toward illegal immigration, knowing that Americans will be magnanimous to foreigners only if they feel the illegal-alien problem is under control. Consequently, momentum is building on Capitol Hill to beef up the Border Patrol and improve sanctions against employers who hire undocumented workers, a system almost everyone admits doesn't work. One idea: tamper-proof worker ID cards. Civil liberties groups have successfully opposed this idea on privacy grounds. But Hillary Rodham Clinton's health care task force is considering a national health insurance card that could pave the way.
AP147 / WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, STAFF WRITER, JULY 24, 1993; THE NATIONAL JOURNAL, "Americans Turn Against Immigration, " Vol. 25, No. 30; Pg. 1900 / AGL-LN-VT95
Two-thirds of the public reject the view that there isn't much more the federal government can do to reduce illegal immigration. There is no shortage of proposals for dealing with the problem. Some are straightforward: The House approved an additional $ 60 million to hire 600 new Border Patrol agents. Some are fantastic: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.... , wants a border toll for everyone entering the United States. Some are extreme: Rep. Romano L. Mazzoli, D-Ky... , has suggested amending the Constitution to revoke the citizenship of anyone born on American soil whose parents are here illegally. Clinton has pledged to crack down on the smuggling of illegal aliens. He has requested more money for border control. He wants to reform the process of applying for asylum. He says that illegal immigrants will not be covered in his health care plan.
AP148 / JAMES P. GANNON, THE DETROIT NEWS, FEBRUARY 27, 1994; "Rising Illegal Immigration Increasing Social Costs" / AGL-VT95
Clinton needs to take a tougher stance against illegal immigration, or risk seeing the issue turn into an ugly anti-immigrant crusade.
AP149 / WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, STAFF WRITER, JULY 24, 1993; THE NATIONAL JOURNAL, "Americans Turn Against Immigration, " Vol. 25, No. 30; Pg. 1900 / AGL-LN-VT95
Political leaders -- including President Clinton -- are starting to realize that they'd better get out in front on the immigration issue. If the issue can't be dealt with respectably, then it will fall into the hands of unrespectable politicians on the extreme Right. That's what happened to the racial backlash issue in the 1960s, when Establishment politicians refused to touch it. And it's exactly what's happening with the immigration issue right now in Europe.
AP150 / Schumer, (Rep. from New York) April 27, 1993 "Asylum and Inspection Reform" Hearing: Subcommittee on International Law, Immigration, and Refugees of the Committee on the Judiciary, House Of Representatives / / VT-95
Fortunately, there is a happy middle ground. You can do a great deal to tighten up the laws before you really begin violating the rights of people who need help in any real or material way.
AP151 / WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, STAFF WRITER, JULY 24, 1993; THE NATIONAL JOURNAL, "Americans Turn Against Immigration, " Vol. 25, No. 30; Pg. 1900 / AGL-LN-VT95
Politicians must be very careful about how they approach immigration. They can't appear to be pandering to prejudice. But they can't afford to ignore the problem.
AP152 / THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC, AUGUST 21, 1993, "Immigration Debate; Melting Pot Running Over?" Pg. A20 / AGL-VT95
What should not be lost in the debate is the fact that America is a nation of immigrants and has prospered immensely from the contributions of the many diverse cultures and talents of its people. The challenge for America's policy-makers is to continue that tradition by welcoming legitimate newcomers and deterring those who would abuse our nation's hospitality.
AP153 / THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, JULY 29, 1993, "IMMIGRATION; Clinton plan a solid first step, but only that, " Pg. 28A / AGL-LN-VT95
In the rush to confront a deadly triad comprised of terrorists, ocean-bound alien smugglers called "snakeheads' and border smugglers called "coyotes, 'Americans should also be concerned about the danger of a reaction against immigrants themselves. Mr. Clinton struck just the right note when he noted that "We must say no to illegal immigration so we can continue to say yes to legal immigration. '
AP154 / RICHARD D. LAMM, former Governor of Colorado, & Gary, 1985; THE IMMIGRATION TIME BOMB: THE FRAGMENTING OF AMERICA p. 152 \\ PK-VT95
As former undersecretary of labor Malcolm LoveIl has pointed out, "In 1981, close to 30 percent of all workers employed in this country--some 29 million people--were holding down the kinds of low skilled industrial, service, and agricultural jobs in which illegal aliens typically find employment. In addition, it cannot be claimed that Americans will not take low-wage jobs. In 1981, an estimated 10. 5 million workers were employed at or below the minimum wage ($3. 35 an hour). An estimated 10 million more workers were employed in jobs earning within 30-40 cents per . -hour of the minimum wage.
AP155 / RICHARD D. LAMM, former Governor of Colorado, & Gary, 1985; THE IMMIGRATION TIME BOMB: THE FRAGMENTING OF AMERICA p. 151 PK-VT95
Let me . get back to that question of "dirty work. " Americans will do dirty work. Americans are good, enthusiastic, hard workers who will do low-paid, unskilled work if it is made available to them. Every empirical study that has been done proves it. In early 1980, Ohio University did a study for the Department of Labor on much-maligned young workers. It reported that a majority of young people and teenagers would be willing to take low-paying jobs in exactly the areas in which illegals are concentrated: fast-food restaurants, cleaning establishments, supermarkets, dish washing. A substantial number of teenagers were willing to work below the minimum wage. The younger the worker, the lower the wage and level of job he or she would be willing to accept. And young workers who are members of minority groups would take lower level work than young white workers.
AP156 / RICHARD D. LAMM, former Governor of Colorado, & Gary, 1985; THE IMMIGRATION TIME BOMB: THE FRAGMENTING OF AMERICA p. 107 PK-VT95
The bottom line is not whether people are willing to collect garbage; it's whether we are willing to pay fair wages for useful work. Many low-wage workers in this country do very useful work, whether it be picking vegetables or picking up garbage. Their work is indispensable, and the tragedy is that they're paid so little. And the main reason they're paid so little is that there are so many workers available to do jobs in these low-wage labor markets. Their work is needed, and their jobs cannot be moved to other countries.
AP157 / MARCUS STERN, COPLEY NEWS SERVICE STAFF, JUNE 12, 1993; THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, "Crackdown On Migration New Plan Would Recruit Military, " Pg. A-1 / AGL-LN-VT95
Under current law, almost any immigrant who requests political asylum is entitled to a judicial hearing. But because of a backlog of almost 300,000 cases, it usually takes years to adjudicate such requests. Most immigrants, having been released on bond, never show up.
AP158 / Rep. Bill McCollum (R-Fla., ranking member of the House Judiciary subcommittee on international law, immigration, and refugees. ) Roll Call SEPTEMBER 27, 1993 HEADLINE: Immigration Reform Can't Wait for NAFTA McCollum: We Must Change Our Laws Now (L / N) / / MS-VT95
- Thousands of aliens a year enter our airports with fraudulent or no documentation. They then inform the immigration authorities that they are seeking political asylum. While authorities would prefer to hold the aliens pending a hearing, the system is so overwhelmed that they are often released pending a hearing on their asylum claim. Most are never heard from again.
AP159 / GAYLORD SHAW, WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF, MARCH 6, 1993; NEWSDAY, "Anti-Terrorism Plan Backed; Bombing Won't Change Government's Strategy, " Pg. 77 / AGL-LN-VT95
"U. S. airports have become virtual open borders as undocumented aliens are allowed to enter the country unimpeded, " Schumer said in a letter to congressmen seeking support for his bill to tighten immigration procedures.
AP160 / DEBRA J. SAUNDERS, COLUMNIST FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, MARCH 30, 1993; THE ATLANTA JOURNAL AND CONSTITUTION, "Fraud Pays Under American Immigration Law, " Page A12 / AGL-LN-VT95
Last year 117,000 aliens sought political asylum, but only 11,000 cases are adjudicated each year, according to the Federation for American Immigration Reform.
AP161 / Melinda Liu staff writer August 2, 1993 "How to Play the Asylum Game" NEWSWEEK, p. 23 / / PKK-4
Under U. S. law, claiming asylum prevents the INS from deporting you right away. The reason is that everyone on U. S. soil--even foreign citizens--has the legal right to full due process under the Constitution.
AP162 / Melinda Liu staff writer August 2, 1993 " How to Play the Asylum Game" NEWSWEEK, p. 23 / / PKK / / VT-95
Typically, asylum claimants are not detained while the INS reviews their claims--there are just too many of them, and the appeals process can take years. Meanwhile, asylum applicants have the same constitutional right as U. S. citizens, so the government is obliged to give them temporary work permits.
AP163 Melinda Liu staff writer June 21, 1993 "Immigration Crackdown" Anxious Americans Want New Restrictions and Tougher Enforcement. " U. S. News and World Report. p35 / / pkk / VT-95
INS, plagued by a shortage of both asylum officers and detention space, now releases asylum seekers into the country until their cases are called, often months later. Many don't bother to show up.
AP164 / PHIL REEVES; staff writer THE INDEPENDENT May 26, 1993, HEADLINE: Chinese immigrant smuggling on rise, U. S. officials say, The Ottawa Citizen Pg. A8 / / PKK-VT95
But, even if caught, the arrivals know that they stand a good chance of staying. The U. S. has taken a sympathetic view of applications for political asylum, especially since the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Last year only 89 of the 3, 440 Chinese who applied for asylum were denied. Many cases do not reach court. The authorities, faced with crowded detention centres and costly overheads, frequently agree to release refugees, only to find that they do not reappear for future asylum hearings.
AP165 / THE WASHINGTON POST, JANUARY 3, 1994, "Immigration -- Who Will Pay?" PAGE A18 / AGL-VT95
Washington should provide more help to the impacted states, particularly for education, where the need to deal with many languages and cultures makes special help both imperative and expensive. But simple law enforcement -- especially in the case of Florida, where Caribbean and Central American aliens predominate -- won't solve the problem. The patchwork of laws on the books makes it nearly impossible to deport many of the immigrants. Cubans, for example, are automatically granted political asylum. Salvadorans are the beneficiaries of one act of Congress and two successive presidential orders that spare them deportation, at least temporarily. Nicaraguans are protected by a still-standing order of former attorney general Edwin Meese. Others who make it to Miami can immediately ask for asylum and walk out the door. Failure to turn up for a hearing carries no sanction.
AP166 / LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST, ANTHONY BROOKS, REPORTER, WILLIAM SESSIONS, FBI DIRECTOR, JAMES FOX, FBI, REP. CHARLES SCHUMER (D-NY), REP. CRAIG WASHINGTON (D-TX), MARCH 9, 1993; ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, "William Sessions Discusses Terrorism on Capitol Hill, " NPR / AGL-LN-VT95
Rep. CHARLES SCHUMER (D-NY): The question is not whether America is vulnerable to domestic terrorism - the World Trade Center bombing clearly shows that we are- but rather what are we prepared to do about it. We must regard the terrorism at the World Trade Center as a wake up call, as a shot across the bow.
AP167 / James Popkin and Dorian Friedman staff writers June 21, 1993 "Return to Sender - Please: Illegal Aliens Easily Scam the Nation's Lame Deportation System" U. S. News and World Report. p. 32 / / PKK-VT95
Some of the nation's most notorious recent crimes, from the bombing of the World Trade Center to last week's bungled attempt to smuggle nearly 300 Chinese into New York, have involved aliens in the midst of deportation proceedings.
AP168 / THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS October 10, 1993, Pg. 2J HEADLINE: IMMIGRATION; Congress must confort criminal impact (L / N) / / MS-VT95
As Oliver Buck" Revell, the senior agent in charge of the Dallas office of the FBI, has noted: We have more than enough home-grown terrorists and criminals, so we really don't have to import any more. " In a similar spirit of common sense, the U. S. government should send out this message: While the United States may be a nation of immigrants, it is first and foremost a nation of laws.
AP169 / Kimberly C. Moore, (Staff writer States News Service) States News Service October 12, 1993, HEADLINE: REID BLAMES NATION'S ILLS ON IMMIGRATION EXPLOSION (L / N) / / MS-VT95
The Nevada Democrat blames lax immigration policies for the murders and for the bombing of the World Trade Center in New York, in addition to the explosion of the U. S. population.
AP170 / Roberto Suro, Washington Post Staff Writer April 14, 1994, HEADLINE: U. S. Halts Immigrant Fingerprint Checks The Washington Post / / PKK-LN-VT95
In the wake of the shooting outside the CIA headquarters in Langley, the World Trade Center bombing in New York and other recent violent incidents, there has been growing public concern that terrorists and other malefactors are too readily entering the United States as immigrants. The costs of incarcerating immigrants who commit crimes once they are in this country has been a further cause of concern, lawmakers say.
AP171 / Robert W. Lee staff writer April 19, 1993 "Terror at the Towers: America's Internal Security is Eroding Before our Eyes" The New American p. 5 / / PKK-4-VT95
Last year, 103,000 claimed political asylum in the United States. Good guys, bad guys, terrorists bent on destruction, humanitarians here to help family -who (on our side) knows?
AP172 / Robert W. Lee staff writer April 19, 1993 "Terror at the Towers: America's Internal Security is Eroding Before our Eyes'" The New American p. 5 / / PKK-4-VT95
During 1992, around 15,000 persons arrived at JFK Airport with either fraudulent documents or none at all. Another INS overseas official quoted by the Times lamented that the "chances of stopping any terrorist from entering the U. S. right now are nearly zero.
AP173 / Laurie Ekstrand [Associate Director Administration of Justice Issues GAO 1993 Hearing: Alien Smuggling. Subcommittee on International Law, Immigration, and Refugees. House of Representatives, 103rd Congress. Serial No. 9. June, 30. pp. 38-9 / / SW-VT95
The program would have to be operated In airports in a large geographic area s6 that aliens could not easily select a non-preinspection airport. Also, INS has to consider the cost to staff the program at foreign airports and to obtain the cooperation of the foreign governments.
AP174 / Laurie Ekstrand [Associate Director Administration of Justice Issues GAO 1993 Hearing: Alien Smuggling. Subcommittee on International Law, Immigration, and Refugees. House of Representatives, 103rd Congress. Serial No. 9. June, 30, p. 43 / / SW-VT95
An expanded preflight inspection program may hold promise to reduce illegal entry at our airports. The preflight inspection program is presently in place at relatively few international airports, consequently, there are numerous routes open to aliens to come to this country without preinspection.
AP175 / Laurie Ekstrand [Associate Director Administration of Justice Issues GAO 1993 Hearing: Alien Smuggling. Subcommittee on International Law, Immigration, and Refugees. House of Representatives, 103rd Congress. Serial No. 9. June, 30. p. 38 / / SW-VT95
An INS New York district report, dated May 23, 1991, estimated that by expanding the preflight inspection program to Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Paris, and Rome, INS would eliminate almost one-half of the inspections of foreign arrivals and approximately 25 percent of exclusion cases at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
AP176 / Laurie Ekstrand [Associate Director Administration of Justice Issues GAO 1993 Hearing: Alien Smuggling. Subcommittee on International Law, Immigration, and Refugees. House of Representatives, 103rd Congress. Serial No. 9. June, 30 p. 30 . / / SW-VT95
Preflight inspection is currently in place at airports in a handful of foreign countries and primarily intended to reduce delays in processing of incoming passengers at some of our busiest international airports. We believe that preflight inspection may hold promise to . reduce illegal entry at our airports in addition to reducing airport congestion. In our opinion, expansion of this program deserves serious consideration . and evaluation.
AP177 / Laurie Ekstrand [Associate Director Administration of Justice Issues GAO 1993 Hearing: Alien Smuggling. Subcommittee on International Law, Immigration, and Refugees. House of Representatives, 103rd Congress. Serial No. 9. June, 30 p. 38 / / SW-VT95
This measure could reduce the number of potentially excludable aliens entering the country at U. S. airports and thus reduce the number of illegal aliens who are subject to detention.
AP178 / Laurie Ekstrand [Associate Director Administration of Justice Issues GAO 1993 Hearing: Alien Smuggling. Subcommittee on International Law, Immigration, and Refugees. House of Representatives, 103rd Congress. Serial No. 9. June, 30 pp. 29-30 / / SW-VT95
The lack of detention space speaks to the need to seriously consider options for dealing with illegal immigration that prevent illegal aliens from entering the country. One such potential option is preflight inspection. Under this program, INS inspects passengers and their, documents at foreign airports and identifies those who are inadmissible to enter the country. INS does not permit these passengers to board airplanes bound for the United States.
AP179 / Michael G. Lempres, (Former Executive Associate Commissioner for Operations, INS) April 27, 1993 "Asylum and Inspection Reform" Hearing: Subcommittee on International Law, immigration and refugees of the committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives p. 337 / / MS-VT95
The initial screening of the asylum claim by an immigration officer is crucial. The immigration officer will determine whether the would be asylum applicant is more likely than not telling the truth and whether there is a significant possibility that the alien could be persecuted it returned. This standard is lower than the standard the alien would have to establish to merit a grant of asylum and, if properly applied, would insure that aliens with substantial claims would be provided the opportunity to pursue those claims through the asylum system.
AP180 / Leonel J. Castillo, (Former Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service) March 30, 1993, "The Immigration and Naturalization Service: a Mandate for Change"" Hearing before the Information, Justice, Transportation, and agriculture Subcommittee of the Committee on Government Operations, House of Representatives p. 110 / / MS-VT95
In order to inspect the millions of persons who will be entering the U. S. throughout this decade we will have to spend millions of dollars on airport reconstruction amid on personnel. other than do this, I suggest that we make a concerted effort to greatly expand our pre-inspection program, which calls for inspection of passengers at the point of embarkation, rather than disembarkation.
AP181 / Leonel J. Castillo, (Former Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service) March 30, 1993, "The Immigration and Naturalization Service: a Mandate for Change" Hearing before the Information, Justice, Transportation, and agriculture Subcommittee of the Committee on Government Operations, House of Representatives p. 100 / / MS-VT95
I'm another one of those advocates for pre clearance or preinspection. I believe that, unless we do things of that sort, we'll never hire enough people an{ and we'll never build enough airports and we'll never be able to handle things like NAFTA.
AP182 / Linda Reyna Yanez, (Directing Attorney, Immigration Clinic, Harvard Law School) March 30, 1993, "'The Immigration and Naturalization Service: a Mandate for Change"" Hearing before the Information, Justice, Transportation, and agriculture Subcommittee of the Committee on Government Operations, House of Representatives. p. 256 / / MS-VT95
Other legislation introduced in the last Congress proposed inspecting international travelers at major airports abroad and barring those persons who appear to be excludable from boarding their flights. The purpose of this legislation was to combat visa fraud and alleviate lengthy processing delays for international travelers in U. S. airports.
AP183 / Schumer, (Rep from New York)April 27, 1993 "Asylum and Inspection Reform" Hearing: Subcommittee on International Law, immigration and refugees of the committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives p. 49 / MS-VT95
That is what I am worried about: maintaining the integrity of the immigration laws. I have been an advocate of increased legal immigration. I think it is good for America, and good for my city, as well. To protect the genuine refugees, who rely on public support for asylum, Congress must act. One important step is preinspection; stationing INS officials at foreign airports so that people without the proper documents can be screened out.
AP184 / ARTHUR R. HELTON, is a lawyer and director of the Refugee Project of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights. May 3, 1993 HEADLINE: Uncontrolled Right Of Entry Poses a Threat The National Law Journal Pg. 15 / / PKK-VT95
* There should be summary denial for claims that are facially not credible, or in which the alien has acted inconsistently with an asylum claim by forum or nation shopping, passing through several safe countries, destroying documents without good cause or failing to make an asylum claim on a timely basis (within 15 days). There should also be international applications tracking, so a claim denied in, say, Switzerland also operates as a denial in the United States.
AP185 / LOU WATERS, ANCHOR, REP. DANA ROHRBACHER, (R) CALIFORNIA, ARTHUR HELTON, LAWYER'S COMMITTEE. FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, MARCH 25, 1993; CNN, "The Issue Is - U. S. Immigration Policy, " Transcript # 364 - 4 / AGL-LN-VT95
ARTHUR HELTON, Lawyer's Cmte.. for Human Rights: Well, I think many would agree that there should be more discipline in our immigration process, and indeed, our asylum process. I don't think many would dispute the fact that persons who pose a danger to the community, or who are serious criminals, might be subject to special-enforcement procedures. But, many of the proposals and measures that have been advanced in this recent period could threaten genuine refugees in terms of depriving them of protection. WATERS: Let me ask you the question that if you think there may, or may not, be a racial element to this renewed call in the Congress and elsewhere for tighter immigration policies. Whoever wants to take that one. Mr. HELTON: Well, let me- let me offer a thought. It's a difficult situation because there have been some tragic terrorist incidents, and I think, apart from race, it's far more likely that the concern that politicians are trying to deal with, and respond to, in terms of these recent, notorious incidents, are at risk of inspiring bad policy. What we need is a full review, in terms of enforcement and refugee and asylum matters. We need to insure that there are sufficient resources invested so that claims of asylum seekers are handled fairly and expeditiously, so that they do not- so that the procedures do not attract spurious claimants, and instead, reward worthy claimants. We certainly don't need to bring everyone from China who is a refugee to the United States. But, we certainly shouldn't be in the business of returning those who are genuine refugees to the places of their persecution.
AP186 / V. H. KRULAK, RETIRED MARINE CORPS GENERAL WHO WRITES ABOUT MILITARY, COPLEY NEWS SERVICE KRULAK, JULY 13, 1993; THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, "Time To Get Tough On Terrorists, " Pg. B-6 / AGL-LN-VT95
World terrorism is being financed and sponsored by seven countries: Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Syria, North Korea and Cuba. In the case of the New York Eight, Iran and Sudan are prime suspects. Knowing all of these things, it seems plain that our self-defense demands a much higher level of vigilance on our part, and it must begin with the criteria under which we permit foreigners to enter the country. Tourist visas, student visas, business visas, generously administered, are a mechanism by which potential terrorists find their way easily into our midst, where they disappear until something like the current crisis causes them to surface. What is needed is a far more severe form of U. S. screening at the point of origin before the visitor is ever permitted to enter the United States.
AP187 / James O. Goldsborough staff writer April 5, 1993 HEADLINE: TARGETING IMMIGRATION Cultural identity concerns fuel anti-immigrant ire worldwide THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE / / PKK-LN-VT95
In Britain, immigrant is a code word for "black, " said Zig Layton-Henry, a leading British immigration scholar. "The political elite has understood that the people don't want more blacks. " Layton-Henry said that Britain discourages would-be refugees through laws penalizing airlines that carry them to Britain and through sanctions imposed on nations sending them to Britain. "If the United States did the same at New York's JFK airport, " he added, "I suspect the number of asylum-seekers would be reduced. " Washington should take Layton-Henry's hint. Slipping through the net at JFK is a well-documented cinch.
AP188 / THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS October 24, 1993, EDITORIALS; Pg. 2J HEADLINE: IMMIGRATION; Asylum and refugee policies are a shambles (L / N) / / MS-VT95
If Congress is to remedy current policy and balance the best interests of the American people and asylum seekers, it should do the following: . Expand the number of federal immigration agents available at major foreign airports in order to advise air carriers about documentary requirements for U. S. -bound passengers.
AP189 / Robert W. Lee staff writer April 19, 1993 "Terror at the Towers: America's Internal Security is Eroding Before our Eyes" The New American p. 8 / / PKK-4-VT95
Joseph Occhipinti explains that under U. S. immigration law, "we inspect every passenger, every alien, every person coming into the United States . . . . In the case of an alien, he has to prepare an immigration form 1-94, which is an arrival and departure form. " The form "is sent into a computer bank, " and when ready to leave the country, the alien "surrenders his 1-94 to any airline employee. So, if you're John Doe, and you're a terrorist, or you want to stay in the United States . . ? you drop off the I 94 out at the airport and someone else takes your place, an impostor. " Airline employees routinely accept the I-94s. "Some impostors have admitted doing the trip 50, 60 times, " Occhipinti re calls. "The airlines don't look. . . anymore, they just sign the receipts.
AP190 / PATRICK J. McDONNELL, STAFF WRITER, JULY 30, 1993; LOS ANGELES TIMES, "Revamping Of Political Asylum Process Outlined; Immigration: Ins Officials Say The Planned Revisions Would Create A 'Fair And Timely' System. But Critics Contend The Proposals Would Hamper Legitimate Refugees, " Page A28 / AGL-LN-VT95
Among the most controversial proposals under consideration: denying working papers to asylum-seekers until their cases are resolved favorably, imposing an application time limit on claimants after arrival in the United States, and returning applicants to so-called safe countries that they passed through enroute to the United States.
AP191 / THE RECORD, FEBRUARY 22, 1994; "Give Me Your Poor For A $ 130 Fee, " Pg. C10 / AGL-VT95
THE GUARDIANS of America's borders are buried under a backlog of 364,000 applications for political asylum, a load that is growing by 10,000 per month. To cope, the Immigration and Naturalization Service seeks to discourage the poorest of the refugees from coming here for safe haven. The agency wants to charge applicants a $ 130 fee, and bar them from working in America for five months. Current law bars work for only two months. Most of those requesting political asylum come from poor countries such as Guatemala, Haiti, and El Salvador, where the fee is the equivalent of several months wages. Depriving the immigrants of work would add an even steeper burden.
AP192 / ARTHUR R. HELTON, is a lawyer and director of the Refugee Project of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights. May 3, 1993 HEADLINE: Uncontrolled Right Of Entry Poses a Threat The National Law Journal Pg. 15 / / PKK-VT95
* Federal citizenship or immigration documents must be improved and a national birth-death registry established. This would prevent asylum applicants from purchasing assault weapons and incendiary devices, or using phony asylum claims to gain access to public medical assistance for pre-existing conditions.
AP193 / ARTHUR R. HELTON, is a lawyer and director of the Refugee Project of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights. May 3, 1993 HEADLINE: Uncontrolled Right Of Entry Poses a Threat The National Law Journal Pg. 15 / / PKK-VT95
* If asylum-seekers are ultimately granted permanent residence, this should be limited to situations in which there is no foreseeable prospect for individuals to return to their native country. Those ultimately given permanent residence should be deducted from annual immigration caps for that alien's nationality. This would ensure that there is discipline in the system and would encourage the immigration bar to keep a tight rein on the breadth of the legal interpretation of political asylum.
AP194 / ARTHUR R. HELTON, is a lawyer and director of the Refugee Project of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights. May 3, 1993 HEADLINE: Uncontrolled Right Of Entry Poses a Threat The National Law Journal Pg. 15 / / PKK-VT95
* Asylum should be granted on a temporary and conditional basis. The purpose of asylum should be to provide temporary protection for those working for positive political change back home. It is not intended as a back-door immigration program for those lucky (or wealthy) enough to make their way here. Aliens granted temporary asylum should be given it temporarily, on an individual basis, based on some identifiable pattern of conduct, or political belief, or less frequently, because of race or religion.
AP195 / Robert Rubin, (Assistant Director, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area) April 27, 1993 "Asylum and Inspection Reform" Hearing: Subcommittee on International Law, immigration and refugees of the committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives p. 164 / / MS-VT95
A recent empirical study revealed that bureaucratic inefficiencies were the principal cause for delay in adjudicating asylum claims. (Anker, Determining Asylum Claims in the United States, " 2 International Journal of Refugee Law 252 (1990). The study concluded that "It]he longest cause for delay in the entire process was the EOIR's difficulty in readily producing transcripts for appeals; the unavailability of these transcripts caused average delays of twenty-two months after the immigration Judge had rendered a decision. '" Id. at 259. With regard to delay caused the asylum applicant, the study showed that "[]n less than one per cent oft he continued cases were those continuances attributable to the lawyer's or the applicant's failure to appear. "
AP196 / ALAN C. MILLER, RONALD J. OSTROW, and RONALD BROWNSTEIN, STAFF WRITERS, JULY 11, 1993; LOS ANGELES TIMES, "Immigration Policy Failures Invite Overhaul, " Page A1 / AGL-LN-VT95
There is also agreement that the asylum process for political refugees needs to be speeded up -- whether through more personnel, changes in the law or both. Another newfound priority is curtailing human smuggling through such steps as increasing penalties and expanding Coast Guard authority and overseas intelligence gathering.
AP197 / PATRICK J. McDONNELL, STAFF WRITER, JULY 30, 1993; LOS ANGELES TIMES, "Revamping Of Political Asylum Process Outlined; Immigration: Ins Officials Say The Planned Revisions Would Create A 'Fair And Timely' System. But Critics Contend The Proposals Would Hamper Legitimate Refugees, " Page A28 / AGL-LN-VT95
While President Clinton focused on the highly publicized problem of bogus asylum seekers who arrive at airports and other ports of entry, the potential modifications released Thursday concentrate on a much broader dilemma: how to reduce the bulging rolls of asylum applicants already residing here and simultaneously streamline the process so that claims are dealt with rapidly and effectively. The goal, authorities said, is to reduce asylum processing time to less than 90 days. Currently, applications may drag on for years.
AP198 / Rep. John Conyers, (Representative from Michigan. Chair Committee on Government Operations) August 4, 1993 "The Immigration and Naturalization Service: Overwhelmed and unprepared for the future. " House Report 103-21 6, Second Report by the Committee on Government Operations p. 12 / / MS-VT95
Mr. Richard Wilson. representing the American Bar Association, testified that abuses in asylum adjudication (which allowed the accused CIA killer to stay in the United States) are the direct result of a backlog due to inadequate staffing: The most appropriate solution for deterring frivolous cases is to allocate sufficient funding and personnel to ensure prompt asylum adjudication followed by institution of deportation proceedings for ineligible applicants. If applicants were to receive fair decisions within 90 days of application, as intended . . . the volume of asylum applications would, no doubt, decrease.
AP199 / LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST, DANIEL SCHORR, SENIOR NEWS ANALYST, MARCH 8, 1993; ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, "INS Counter-Terrorism Efforts Faulted, " NPR / AGL-LN-VT95
DANIEL SCHORR, Senior News Analyst: President Clinton says that when he knows what's behind the World Trade Center explosion, he'll design what is the appropriate cost for United States. What he needs to know, among other things, is whether the most destructive terrorist act on American soil in history was inspired from across the ocean in the Middle East or from across the river in New Jersey or some combination of the two. But he already knows enough to ask whether the Immigration and Naturalization Service is out of touch with the menace of alien fanatics seeking to assault American, 'The Great Satan, ' on American soil. While the INS hunts for illegal baby-sitters from Latin America, refuses asylum to Haitians fleeing persecution and now proposed to build a steel wall along the Mexican border, it's record on dealing with terrorists from abroad is awful.
AP200 / THE ATLANTA JOURNAL AND CONSTITUTION, MARCH 30, 1993, "Being Choosy About U. S. Visitors, " Page A12 / AGL-LN-VT95
Weeding out undesirables who might do this country harm may seem like fairly elemental policy. Yet as Americans are finding to their dismay, the two major political crimes committed in this country this year appear to have been the work of disgruntled recent arrivals, several of whom should have been deported or maybe even barred at the front gate.
AP201 / RONALD BROWNSTEIN and RICHARD SIMON, TIMES STAFF WRITERS, NOVEMBER 14, 1993; LOS ANGELES TIMES, "HOSPITALITY TURNS INTO HOSTILITY; CALIFORNIA HAS A LONG HISTORY OF WELCOMING NEWCOMERS FOR THEIR CHEAP LABOR -- UNTIL TIMES TURN ROUGH. THE CURRENT BACKLASH IS ALSO FUELED BY THE SCOPE AND NATURE OF THE IMMIGRATION, " Part A; Page 1; Column 1 / AGL-VT95
The Clinton Administration has proposed to stiffen procedures for reviewing refugee and asylum claims -- and others in Washington are discussing a rollback of the 40% increase in legal immigration that Congress approved with relatively little rancor three years ago.
AP202 / BOB DART, COX NEWS SERVICE, AUGUST 20, 1993; THE PHOENIX GAZETTE, "Illegal Immigration Described As Wedge Issue Of The Decade, " Pg. B12 / AGL-VT95
President Clinton has proposed spending $172. 5 million to reinforce the Border Patrol and to better screen out those fraudulently seeking asylum.
AP203 / BILL FRELICK is senior policy analyst for the U. S. Committee, March 31, 1994, HEADLINE: Why asylum in the U. S. carries a price tag now The San Diego Union-Tribune / / PKK-LN-VT95
The new regulations also give the Immigration and Naturalization Service discretion not to give an asylum applicant an interview with an asylum officer. If, on the basis of the form that the applicant fills out and mails in, the INS determines that the claim is "manifestly unfounded, " the applicant will be placed directly into deportation proceedings.
AP204 / PRESIDENT CLINTON, VICE PRESIDENT GORE, ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO REMARKS MADE AT ANNOUNCEMENT OF IMMIGRATION POLICY, WASHINGTON, DC, JULY 27, 1993, DEPARTMENT OF STATE DISPATCH, AUGUST 9, 1993, "Protecting U. S. Borders Against Illegal Immigration, " Vol. 04 No. 32 / AGL-VT95
The President's immigration initiatives require a change in the FY 1994 budget. The total program represents a $ 172. 5-million increase from the President's April budget request to Congress.
AP205 / MELITA MARIE GARZA, STAFF WRITER, JULY 30, 1993; CHICAGO TRIBUNE, "Immigrant Rights Center Faces Tough U. S. Hurdles, " Pg. 1 / AGL-LN-VT95
The Clinton administration proposal, announced earlier this week, would install special immigration officials at airports to give on-the-spot interviews to asylum seekers, especially those who, unlike Prisacaru, have entered the country without the required legal documents.
AP206 / PATRICK J. McDONNELL, STAFF WRITER, JULY 30, 1993; LOS ANGELES TIMES, "Revamping Of Political Asylum Process Outlined; Immigration: Ins Officials Say The Planned Revisions Would Create A 'Fair And Timely' System. But Critics Contend The Proposals Would Hamper Legitimate Refugees, " Page A28 / AGL-LN-VT95
U. S. immigration authorities Thursday outlined a series of changes that are being contemplated as part of a White House-directed comprehensive reform of the process for granting political asylum to foreign nationals who say they are fleeing persecution. The prospective measures were detailed two days after President Clinton called for an overhaul of the beleaguered political asylum process, which authorities say has been abused by job-seekers, suspected terrorists and others. Officials are seeking to have the revamped asylum program in place by October.
DP207 / SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER, JULY 26, 1993, THE PLAIN DEALER, "Congress May Limit Political Asylum, " Pg. 7A / AGL-LN-VT95
INS asylum director Gregg Beyer said he was confident the new 150-member asylum corps - which is supposed to be neutral and more professional - will be fair if it receives sole responsibility to screen applicants at airports. "I have no problem thinking it can be done, " he said. "We'll give (asylum seekers) the benefit of the doubt. "
209 / THE REUTER LIBRARY REPORT, NOVEMBER 5, 1993, "Most Americans Said To Want Cutback In Immigration" / AGL-VT95
A large majority of Americans favour new laws to cut back on the flow of immigrants and asylum seekers to the United States, according to a nationwide poll released Friday. The Time magazine / CNN poll of 1, 108 adult Americans showed that 60 percent would favour changes in federal law to reduce the number of illegal immigrants, and 85 percent would like to see changes for those who enter illegally.
AP210 / DEBORAH SONTAG (News York Times News Service)The San Diego Union-Tribune September 27, 1993, Pg. A-8 HEADLINE: Rape raised as an immigration issue (L / N) / / MS-VT95
The Immigration and Naturalization Service is also studying Canada's new policy to see if it will revamp its own handling of such cases, said Gregg A. Beyer, director of asylum. Although some critics of the asylum system worry about opening the door to yet another category of applicants, Beyer said that there would be no blanket admissions policies. "There's always a fear that anything, even a new nationality or a new category like women or gay people, will open up the floodgates, " he said. "There's a perception that if a woman from a Muslim country got asylum, many might come thinking they're now all eligible. But they wouldn't be. It's case by case, individual by individual. "
AP211 / THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS October 10, 1993, Pg. 2J HEADLINE: IMMIGRATION; Congress must confort criminal impact (L / N) / / MS-VT95
Strangely, the argument is often made that because the United States already has so many home-grown criminals, singling out foreign-born lawbreakers is either unrealistic or prejudiced. Such notions are dangerously misguided. Can the critics really mean that because x" number of native-born criminals are loose on the streets, that we should be indifferent to y" number of foreign-born troublemakers? Especially when the government can set legal immigration policies and challenge illegal immigration? Does the fact that the U. S. government cannot stop all foreign-born terrorists and criminals from entering the country mean that we should not keep out as many as possible?
AP212 / Robert Rubin, (Assistant Director, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area) April 27, 1993 "Asylum and, Inspection Reform"' Hearing: Subcommittee on International Law, , immigration and refugees of the committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives p. 156 / / MS-VT95
One is, that we can end indiscriminate detention policies that result in detaining every asylum-seeker without regard to the merits of their asylum claim. The APSO program, the prescreening program, is a good step in the right direction. Again, it is woefully underfunded, and really only handles a matter of a few hundred cases.
AP213 / ARTHUR R. HELTON, is a lawyer and director of the Refugee Project of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights. May 3, 1993 HEADLINE: Uncontrolled Right Of Entry Poses a Threat The National Law Journal Pg. 15 / / PKK-VT95
* First, an alien should not be accorded preferential treatment simply because he or she entered this country illegally first. Asylum and refugee claims should be treated identically: one brief interview at the port of entry, followed by approval or denial.
AP214 / Charles Canady [Rep. Florida] 1993 Hearing: Alien Smuggling. Subcommittee on International Law, Immigration, and Refugees. House of Representatives, 103rd Congress. Serial No. 9. June, 30. p. 9 / / SW-VT95
---It' is important that we in America provide asylum to individuals around the world who are persecuted. But I believe that the system we have now is C? obviously not working and, if we do not reform it in a major way, we are going to see the end of asylum.
AP215 / THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS October 24, 1993, EDITORIALS; Pg. 2J HEADLINE: IMMIGRATION; Asylum and refugee policies are a shambles (L / N) / / MS-VT95
Regardless of whether the number of qualifying groups is expanded, instability around the world will only make it more necessary to adhere to whatever legal definition is finally agreed upon.
AP216 / SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER, JULY 26, 1993, THE PLAIN DEALER, "Congress May Limit Political Asylum, " Pg. 7A / AGL-LN-VT95
One of the more sweeping proposals to revamp the asylum system would give a special corps of Immigration and Naturalization Service officers power to conduct interviews at airports or other ports of entry and immediately to reject would-be asylum seekers who do not have legitimate travel documents. No judicial review would be allowed before deportation.
AP217 / Pamela Burdman, Chronicle Staff Writer APRIL 30, 1993 HEADLINE: Business of Human Smuggling Tests U. S. Immigration Policies The San Francisco Chronicle / / PKK-LN-VT95
But without new asylum policies, higher penalties and more money, INS officials say they will have little hope of containing the smuggling syndicates. ''It's going to reach the point where we may appear impotent, '' said Shaw. ''If it becomes clear to the smugglers that there's a limited response, I suspect it will spur them on. ''
AP218 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Let Some 'Illegals' Come 'Temporarily to the U. S. " Christian Science Monitor August 22, 1985 Population Matters: People. Resources, Environment, and . Immigration p. 298 / / PKK-16-VT95
An orderly legal guest-worker program not only gets rid of lawlessness, but it is fair to all comers and does not benefit those who take the law into their own hands. Administering a legal program is cheaper and more humane than having the border patrol chase illegals.
AP219 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Let Some 'Illegals' Come Temporarily to the U. S. " Christian Science Monitor August 22, 1985 Population matters: People, Resources, Environment, and Immigration, p. 297 / / PKK-16-VT95
A legal guest-worker program is a better way of achieving the same' goals. It is a more humane approach than focusing on employers and foreign-looking applicants. It fits better with the spirit of the United States. And it would be more effective.
AP220 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Let Some 'Illegals' Come Temporarily to the U. S. " Christian Science Monitor August 22, 1985 Population Matters: People. Resources. Environment. and Immigration, p. 298 / PKK-16-VT95
An instant way to get rid of illegal entry is to make the same act legal, at least for some entrants. By far the largest portion of the illegals are temporary, especially the Mexicans who are the cause of so much concern; a program that would legalize their temporary entry could eliminate illegal immigration by filling the available jobs with legal workers.
AP221 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Let Some 'Illegals' Come Temporarily to the U. S. " Christian Science Monitor August 22, 1985 Population Matters: People, Resources, Environment, and Immigration p. 298 / / PKK-16-VT95
There are objections to a guest-worker program, but the difficulties can be surmounted. If we worry that the illegals will not go home--an unnecessary worry in most cases--we can require that a portion of their pay be deducted and held in escrow, as with income taxes, to be returned to them when they leave.
AP222 / JULIAN L. SIMON [Fellow--Cato Institute] THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF IMMIGRATION 1989 p. 333 \\ SW-VT95
But a guest worker program in tandem with an admission-by-fee plan would be a businesslike overall policy, and would avoid the lawlessness problem almost completely. Such a policy would, however, require greater sanctions against any illegals that did come anyway perhaps most of them high-skill persons because allowing them to remain illegally would be quite unfair to those who pay high admission fees, and also would spoil the market. If immigration policy were to be put on such a businesslike basis, it would then be less painful than at present to enforce such laws on the books as those that require deportation if the immigrant becomes a welfare burden.
AP223 / JULIAN L. SIMON [Fellow--CATO Institute] THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF IMMIGRATION 1989 p. 335 \\ SW-VT95
The key to the efficiency of an auction system is that individuals are likely to assess their own economic capacities better than can an arbitrary point system; the latter process does not take into account many of the most important characteristics because they are not identifiable with demographic criteria. Those persons who will stake their own money upon correct identification of such capacities are ipso facto the best possible bets to be high economic producers in the US.
AP224 / JULIAN L. SIMON [Fellow--CATO Institute] THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF IMMIGRATION 1989 p. 330 \\ SW-VT95
To such a person, a large payment to purchase a ticket of immigration would simply represent an investment, which would often be accompanied by further investment in business assets. This further investment would overall be an additional benefit to natives.
AP225 / JULIAN L. SIMON [Fellow--CATO Institute] THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF IMMIGRATION 1989 p. 330 \\ SW-VT95
Persons who are willing to pay a lot to enter the country must believe that the opportunity to do so will be valuable to them. For a few, this may just be an opportunity to live a pleasant and free life. But for the many it would represent an opportunity to make a lot of money in the large and rich market that is the US. And an immigrant who makes a lot of money for herself or himself will accordingly be a large benefactor of the community by providing jobs and contributing taxes (putting aside unusual cases such as Mafiosi).
AP226 / JULIAN L. SIMON [Fellow--CATO Institute] THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF IMMIGRATION 1989 p. 331 \\ SW-VT95
Furthermore, by benefiting natives an auction plan should make additional immigration more popular among natives. It might even increase the number of unwealthy immigrants, too, by improving public attitudes toward immigration and thereby leading to larger total quotas.
AP227 / JULIAN L. SIMON [Fellow--CATO Institute] THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF IMMIGRATION 1989 p. 330 \\ SW-VT95
Charging a fee for admission would also accentuate the tendency for immigrants to move when they arc young and strong, because admission has higher (discounted) future lifetime value for young persons than for older persons, ceteris paribus.
AP228 / JULIAN L. SIMON [Fellow--CATO Institute] THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF IMMIGRATION 1989 p. 330 \\ SW-VT95
An auction policy would have a better effect upon the incomes of US natives than does any other policy because it will efficiently identify those potential immigrants who have an especially large capacity to produce goods of high economic value while working in the US.
AP229 / JULIAN L. SIMON [Fellow--CATO Institute] THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF IMMIGRATION 1989 p. 331 \\ SW-VT95
Another virtue of an auction plan: selling admission avoids "chain" migration whereby an entrant later obtains admission for relatives through the preference system. If it were known in advance that relatives would only be allowed if the admission fee were paid for them, too, then a potential immigrant could take that possibility into account when deciding whether to immigrate, and there would no longer be "humanitarian" grounds for a preference system except for spouse and children, neither of which have the same degree of uncertainty and multiplicability as other relatives.
AP230 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Auction the Right to be an Immigrant" New York Times; January 28, 1986 Population Matters: People, Resources, Environment, and Immigration p. 270 / / pkk 1 6-VT95
It is ambitious persons, for whom the United States represents rich market in which to immigrate. To such persons, a large payment to purchase a ticket of immigration would represent an investment, which would often be accompanied by further investment in business assets. This additional investment would be an added benefit to natives. And an immigrant who makes of money for herself or himself will benefit the community by providing . jobs and contributing taxes.
AP231 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Auction the Right to be an Immigrant" New York Times January 28, 1986 Population Matters: People, Resources, Environment. and Immigration p. 290 / / PKK-1 VT95
The plan's advantage to U. S. natives derives from the auction's ability to identify the persons who have an especially large capacity to produce goods of high economic value while working in the United States. Charging a fee for admission would also accentuate the propensity or immigrants to move when they are young and strong, because admission has higher (discounted) future lifetime value for young persons than for older persons, other things equal.
AP232 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Auction the Right to be an Immigrant" New York Times January 28, 1986 . Population Matters: People, Resources, Environment, and Immigration p. 242 -VT95
Clearly the residents of those countries who will submit winning bids and emigrate are made better off if they earn more in the United States than at home. But others might be injured--by the loss the services of physicians, for example.
AP233 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Auction the Right to be an Immigrant" New York Times January 28, 1986 Population Matters: People. Resources. Environment, and Immigration p. 292 / / PKK-16-VT95
We can make our immigration policy more equitable, more productive economically for U. S. citizens, and more beneficial to people in the poorer countries, if we will accept a market solution to this social issue. Under the present practice, admission depends mostly upon family connections, a rotten system for all--natives and foreigners-except those who have the proper relatives. In contrast, selling immigration rights would allocate the visas impartially, and could funnel more economic welfare to the poor abroad than happens now.
AP234 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Auction the Right to be an Immigrant: New York Times January 28, 1986 Population Matters: People, Resources, Environment and Immigration p. 292 / / PKK-16-VT95
Because an admission-fee plan would result in high-skill people immigrating legally, the United States would become even more inviting than at present for low-skilled persons to enter illegally, with the attendant problems of "lawlessness.
AP235 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Auction the Right to be an Immigrant" New York Times, January 28, 1986 Population Matters: People, Resources, Environment, and Immigration p. 293 / / pkk 1 6 VT95
Ask: Who are the most desirable immigrants for us to admit? Obviously, those who will be the most productive economically. Ask next: How can we identify such people? The clear-cut answer is that those persons who, by moving to the United States, will produce the largest economic profit for themselves--and inevitably for natives as well--will pay the most for the right to immigrate. That is, those persons who will offer the highest bid in an auction for immigration visas will be those who have the most to gain economically by receiving the visa. The genius of the auction system is that it automatically selects those who have most to gain by winning bids. And those auction winners are the people who have the most to contribute economically to the rest of us.
AP236 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Auction the Right to be an Immigrant" New York Times; January 28, 1986 Population Matters: People, Resources, Environment, and Immigration p. 292 / / PKK-16-VT95
In brief, the key to the efficiency of an auction system is that individuals are able to assess their own economic capacities better than can any other system. Those persons who will stake their own money that they are right about their productive capacities are ipso facto the best possible bets to be economic stars in the United States.
AP237 / JULIAN L. SIMON [Fellow--CATO Institute] THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF IMMIGRATION 1989 p. 332 \\ SW-VT95
So in brief, an auction scheme is not less fair than the present scheme. Reluctance to ration admission to the US by ability and willingness to pay for it would seem to stem from the same psychological root as does our reluctance to use the market to ration such other "merit goods" as food and gasoline in times of shortage, in contrast to our everyday policy of allocating according to readiness to pay. But in these latter cases the aim of an equal-ration policy is to ensure that everyone in a well-defined population gets the same amount so that none suffers injury to health. The auction plan is closer to rationing health care on the battlefield, where the aim is to try to provide care to those who need it most. But to apply any sort of merit-good principle to immigration is to intermix two objectives at the expense of both (though perhaps with the very purpose of confusing the, issue so as to make it easier to attain a hidden objective -fewer immigrants of any kind).
AP238 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Auction the Right to be an Immigrant" New York Times January 28, 1986 Population Matters: People, Resources, Environment, and Immigration p. 292 / / PKK-1 8-VT95
If the United States is concerned with not inflicting such losses upon the sending countries, it can easily compensate the sending countries for the harm with only a small portion of the fees collected in the auction, because it is most unlikely that the damages to the countries of origin are anywhere near the size of the fees that would be paid by the successful bidders.
AP239 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Auction the Right to be an Immigrant" New York Times January 28, 1986 Population Matters: People, Resources, Environment, and Immigration p. 293 / / pkk16-VT95
A point system based on education and occupation would also discriminate among potential immigrants by their economic worth to natives. But a system of rationing by auction has all the best features of a point system and more, because it self-selects persons who have the best chance to make an economic success. High bidders can and will take into account not only their occupations and the demand for them, but also their personal talents in their occupations and their willingness to work hard for success, characteristics that cannot be easily established objectively for a point system. "
AP240 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Let Some 'Illegals' Come Temporarily to the U. S. " Christian Science Monitor August 22, 1985 Population Matters: People. Resources. Environment, and Immigration p. 298 / / PKK-16-VT95
Guaranteeing decent working conditions is not more difficult in principle than it is for native workers, as long as the immigrants are legal.
AP241 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "'Auction the Right to be an Immigrant" New York Times January 28, 1986 Population Matters: People, Resources. Environment. and Immigration p. 293 / / PKK-1-VT95
But this should be agreed on: Once a person purchases admission, no relatives could be brought in without them paying the auction price, too; the bidder would therefore take this eventually into account when submitting a bid. Only thus can the system remain free of the family connections chain migration that dominates immigration at present. Most persons who are willing to pay a lot to enter the country will do so because they believe that the opportunity to do so will be profitable to them.
AP242 / JULIAN L. SIMON [Fellow--CATO Institute] THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF IMMIGRATION 1989 p. 333 \\ SW-VT95
One may also wonder whether such a policy would result in only the very rich being admitted. This need not be so, for three reasons. First, very rich persons may prefer to remain in their home countries because of lack of felt need for economic advance. The absence of revelations of bribes to obtain visas may indicate that this is indeed so. Second, the auction plan could enable persons without liquid assets to gradually repay their admission fee, adjusted for carrying costs, out of future yearly income; it would be collectible along with their income tax, in which case the immigrants need not be rich at the time of the auction. Third, the fee could be set quite low and still yield a profit on each entrant (in fact, a negative fee would break even, given the estimates made earlier in the book).
AP243 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Auction the Right to be an Immigrant" New York Times; January 28, 1986 Population Matters: People, Resources, Environment, and Immigration p. 289 / / PKK-16-VT95
Selling the right to immigrate to the United States would be fairer, as well as more beneficial economically to citizens of the United States and the poorer countries, than the present system. Admission presently depends mostly upon having the proper relatives. In contrast, selling admission would allocate the visas impartially. Those persons who have the most to gain economically will offer the highest prices. And, inevitably, these are the people who have the most to contribute economically to the rest of us.
AP244 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Auction the Right to be an Immigrant" New York Times January 28, 1986 Population Matters: People, Resources, Environment, and Immigration p. 290 / / PKK-16 -VT95
Would an auction system mean that only the wealthiest persons abroad could get in? One way to prevent this is to allow "buyers" to pay from income later, as with the income tax. To enforce payment, the United States would have the strong sanction of deportation. Furthermore, there is little reason to believe that the very wealthy would desire to move here. Tax havens such as the Caribbean countries and Monaco are financially more attractive for those with large assets. And wealthy persons can always come to the United States as tourists if they simply like life here.
AP245 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Auction the Right to be an Immigrant" New York Times January 28, 1986 Population Matters: People, Resources, Environment, and Immigration p. 291 / / PKK-16 -VT95
Some will worry about the effect on people too poor to pay for admission who are now admitted. But it should be remembered that for each person the United States now admits by means of our complex system of family ties plus allocation by length of time in the queue, another person is implicitly denied admission. If we are especially concerned about the least favored persons, we could simply provide direct support to them abroad out of admission-fee proceeds, with a consequent increase in total "fairness" and benevolence, no matter how one would wish to define those terms.
AP246 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Auction the Right to be an Immigrant" New York Times; January 28, 1986 Population Matters: People, Resources, Environment, and Immigration p. 291 / / PKK-16-VT95
Instead of discriminating by connections, an auction discriminates according to the standard of a market-oriented society--ability and willingness to pay. An auction would be fair in the sense that it would allow any person in any part of the world to have the same opportunity to purchase a visa. Hence the auction scheme could be seen as a gain in fairness.
AP247 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Auction the Right to be an Immigrant" New York Times; January 28, 1986 Population Matters: People. Resources, Environment, and Immigration p. 291 / / PKK-16-VT95
Because of the greater productivity in the United States of those who are willing to pay more for the opportunity to immigrate than for those who will not bid as high, the United States could surely improve the lot of a larger number of poor persons in the countries of origin than at present by treating the fees as a charity fund for those poor persons, even if only part were sent back.
AP248 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Auction the Right to be an Immigrant'" New York Times; January 28, 1986 Population Matters: People, Resources, Environment, and Immigration , p. 290 / / pkk 1 8-VT95
The present policy is discriminatory because it does not offer all potential immigrants the same opportunity to be admitted to the United States. Present practice is not even fair in the sense of giving the same opportunity to all persons with the same qualifications. Persons in some countries (say, Canada or Great Britain) have a much better chance of admission than do similar persons in other countries (say, Malaysia or India).
AP249 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Auction the Right to be an Immigrant" New York Times January 28, 1986 Population Matters: People, Resources, Environment, and Immigration p. 292 / / PKK-16-VT95
The fees from the auction would put additional purchasing power into the hands of natives, and provide a kitty for such foreign aid or scholarships in the United States for deserving foreign students. And an auction is less arbitrary, and thus fairer, than the existing policy as well as most alternative policies.
AP250 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Auction the Right to be an Immigrant" New York Times; January 28, 1986 Population Matters: People, Resources, Environment, and Immigration p. 291 / / PKK-16-VT95
But the most serious departure from fairness is that the relatives of' persons in the United States have a vastly greater chance of being admitted than do similar persons without relatives; this is allocation by "connections" on the grandest scale imaginable, and the lack of fairness is not mitigated by the social reasons for such a policy.
AP251 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Auction the Right to be an Immigrant" . New York Times January 28, 1986 Population Matters: People. Resources. Environment, and Immigration p. 290 / / PKK-16-VT95
The most straightforward method would be as follows: (1) Ask 'for written bids from all comers, anyplace in the world, perhaps twice a year. (2) Rank the bids from high to low. (3) Notify enough high bidders to fill the quota, plus enough more to make up the shortfall due to some high bidders changing their minds, just the way a college notifies students of acceptance.
AP252 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Auction the Right to be an Immigrant" New York Times, January 28, 1986 Population Matters: People. Resources, Environment. and Immigration p. 290 / / PKK-1 6-VT95
An auction system would begin with a worldwide quota for the number of persons admitted to the United States in a given year. For political convenience, the quota might at first be the same size as at present. The United States would benefit from admitting many more immigrants than it does at present, and far more than are conceivable under present political arrangements. However, we start with a quota in order to focus on the auction system rather than on arguments about a more open policy.
AP253 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990" "Auction the Right to be an Immigrant" New York Times, January 28, 1986 Population Matters: People, Resources, Environment, and Immigration p. 291 / / pkk1-VT95
A specific plan to combine selling admission with aid to poor people in poor countries: Use some (or even all) of the sales proceeds to finance scholarships for poor and talented children and young adults to study in schools and colleges in the United States. Such a plan has multiple benefits. It provides magnificent opportunities for deserving poor young people. Those young people will learn skills that can contribute greatly to the development of their countries. They will also learn for themselves the goods and bads of the American system, society, and values; if we believe that our society is a better one to live in than others, we should believe that to experience it is to appreciate it and then proselytize for it. And the beneficiaries of these scholarships can be chosen on the "fair" basis of their talent rather than on the arbitrary basis of their family connections in the United States. Some of these people will remain in the United States as permanent immigrants. This will bestow additional benefits of various kinds upon the United States and upon the countries of origin as well.
AP254 / Julian Simon Professor of Business, University of Maryland 1990 "Immigrants Are Paying Customers" Scripps-Howard, June 28, 1968 Population Matters: People, Resources, Environment, and Immigration p. 268 \\ PKK-16-VT95
As matters now stand, the United States admits only about 50,000 people -about 10 percent of total admittance -on the basis of their possessing job skills in short supply here. Many more highly talented people seek to come.
AP255 / Ben J. Wattenberg and Karl Zinsmeister, fellows at the American Enterprise Institute, April 1990, "The Case for More Immigration" Commentary in The Reference' Shelf: Immigration to the United States, Robert Emmet Long, ed. p. 154 / / PKK-38 -VT95
The nepotism standard has left little room for immigrants 5 valued on other grounds. Today, only about 5 percent of immigrant visas go to persons qualifying specifically on occupational merit.
AP256 / Ben J. Wattenberg and Karl Zinsmeister, fellows at the American Enterprise Institute, April 1990, "The Case for More Immigration" Commentary in The Reference Shelf: Immigration to the United States, Robert Emmet Long, ed. / p. 154 / PKK-38-VT95
In perhaps overly romantic homage to our notion of America as an open sanctuary for the world's huddled masses, we have been strangely reluctant to design immigration policy in order to maximize the contribution it might make to our economy and society. There is no basis for such reluctance, especially in light of the fact that over the years we have consistently taken in more refugees and immigrants than all other nations combined.
AP257 / Gary Stanely Becker Professor at the University of Chicago, Fellow of the Hoover Institute, February 22, 1993 "Illegal Immigration: How to Turn the Tide. " Business Week, p. 23 / / PKK-VT95
I suggested in an earlier column that the most rational approach would be to sell the right to immigrate, but a less radical method of improving present policy and combating illigal immigration would be to allow a larger number of skilled and young people to enter legally.
AP258 / Ben J. Wattenberg and Karl Zinsmeister, fellows at the American Enterprise Institute, April 1990, "The Case for More Immigration" Commentary in The Reference Shelf: Immigration to the United States, Robert Emmet Long, ed. p. 156 / PKK-38-VT95
Large benefits would also accrue every time we attracted an immigrant with proven financial skills and capital. The payoff is double: we gain the nest egg and, even more important in the long run, the talent. America does not nationalize investments, but investors frequently nationalize themselves (as it were). This tendency might be encouraged. In Canada a program to bring in venture capitalists has been in place for ten years, providing Business Immigrant visas to individuals willing to sink at least the equivalent of about a quarter of a million U. S. dollars in a new enterprise. In 1988, according to Canada's Employment and Immigration Office, 3, 258 foreign-born entrepreneurs pumped nearly $2 billion into such new enterprises, creating an estimated 15,000 jobs.
AP259 / Ben J. Wattenberg and Karl Zinsmeister, fellows at the American Enterprise Institute, April 1990, "The Case for More Immigration" Commentary in The Reference Shelf: Immigration to the United States, Robert Emmet Long, ed. p. 155-6 / / PKK-38-VT95
Moving to a more merit-based system would quickly increase the average qualifications of new arrivals to the U. S. That in turn would produce favorable ripples throughout our labor force, within our universities and laboratories, and all across American society. One example: the educational profile of current U S immigrants is exaggerated at both the top and the bottom--the fraction of recent immigrants who have a college degree is significantly higher than among the U. S. population as a whole, but so is the proportion with grade-school-only education's. A point system would enlarge the number of highly educated immigrants even further, and somewhat reduce the number of lightly educated ones.
AP260 / Ben J. Wattenberg and Karl Zinsmeister, fellows at the American Enterprise Institute, April 1990, "The Case for More Immigration" Commentary in The Reference Shelf: Immigration to the United States, Robert Emmet Long, ed. p. 155 / / PKK-38-VT95
At the end of each year's scoring process, the available entrance slots would be filled simply by accepting, in order, the top scorers on the list. This is similar to the way Canada, Australia, and New Zealand already select most of their immigrants, with a great deal of success. It is a fair, rational alternative to the unjust, helter-skelter preferences now in place, and it would open up immigration channels to a much wider' range of applicants across a broader spectrum of countries.
AP261 / Ben J. Wattenberg and Karl Zinsmeister, fellows at the American Enterprise Institute, April 1990, "The Case for More Immigration" Commentary in The Reference Shelf: Immigration to the United States, Robert Emmet Long, ed. p. 155 / / PKK-38-VT95
All other entrants would be selected through a skill-based system, with points awarded for years of school completed, apprenticeship or vocational training, knowledge of English, high professional status or special educational achievements, and some carefully drawn blueprint of occupational demand in the U. S.
AP262 / ROBERT S. GOLDFARB, Prof. Economics, George Washington Univ. , 1992; in IMMIGRATION, LANGUAGE, AND ETHNICITY, "Commentary" p. 168 \\ MS-VT95
One possibility would be that immigration policy focus on explicit economic goals, and these goals could be captured in the form of an optimal population target. That is, given a country's natural endowments of land and raw materials and its stock of manmade capital equipment, there exists a population level that will result in the most favorable level of economic welfare for the nation.
AP263 / Myron Weiner, (Ford International Professor of Political Science at MIT) 1993 International Migration and Security (edited by Myron Weiner) p. 26 / / MS-VT95
Advanced industrial countries that admit immigrants prefer an immigration policy that creates the fewest domestic or international political problems. One policy option is to admit those who best satisfy the requirements of the receiving country: those who have skills needed in the labor market, or capital to create new businesses, or relatives who would facilitate' their integration into the society (Wattenberg and Zinsmeister 1990:19-35; Simon 1989).
AP264 / Julian L. Simon, Teacher of Business Administration, Winter 1991 "The Case for Greatly Increased Immigration" The Public Interest. in The Reference Shelf: Immigration to the United States, Robert Emmet Long, ed. p. 160 / / PKK-54-VT95
All the US needs do to achieve these benefits is further to relax its barriers against skilled immigrants. Talented and energetic people want to come here. Yet we do not greatly avail our-selves of this golden opportunity, barring the door to many of the most economically productive workers in the world.