WASHINGTON: The US Congress finally heeded to the pressure from Asian groups to allow legal immigration to remain untouched. But the House passed resoundingly, the most Stringent bill to curb illegal immigration.
Anti-immigrant feelings fueled by. Dwindling job markets and declining living standards across America, encouraged several law makers to present bills in the Congress to curtail, both legal and illegal immigration. Proponents of legal immigration fought back. ‘They pointed out that the issue, of legal and illegal immigration is separate and distinct and should be handled in separate bills.
As a result, House’s get tough mood didn’t extend to legal immigrants. By a 238183 margin, the House deleted the provision from Texas Republican Lamar Smith’s bill, 10 reduce legal immigration by 30%. This means U.S. residents can still sponsor their parents, adult children and siblings as legal immigrants. Every year 800,000 foreigners are legal admitted to U.S.
U.S, Senate has also given Luke warm response to reduce legal immigration. It is widely hoped that the bill, to be voted next month, will also follow the same footsteps, it has been pointed that half of all illegal immigrants, entered US, legally by obtaining short term visas. However, they overstay illegally.
Rep. Calvin Dooley, and Gary Condit both Democrats from California played pivotal role in retaining the immigration quota intact. The House bill recommended guest worker program to help farming in US Should be stopped us there was no shortage of farm workers, according to labor and Agriculture Depts. IMMIGRATION OVERHAUL Creates a 3year pilot program that employers in California, New York, New Jersey, Florida and Texas would voluntarily use to verify Social Security numbers of new employees.
Gives states authority to bar children who are illegal immigrants from public schools, potentially restoring a central clement of California’s Proposition 187. There are an estimated 400,000 illegal Immigrant children in California’s schools.
Gives state and local law enforcement officials authority to detain illegal immigrants and hand them over to the Immigration and’ Naturalization Service. + Requires anyone applying for federal grants, contracts, loans or public assistance to present a passport or some other specified identity document. Forbids illegal Immigrants from applying for some forms of welfare on behalf of their US born children.
Increases penalties for Immigrants smuggling and document fraud. * Accelerates procedures for deporting illegal Immigrants convicted of crimes. Authorizes hiring of 5,000 new border patrol agents and 800 more support stall over five years. More than 5,000 border agents now patrol US borders.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 27, 1996
