Lawmakers January 5, 1984 - Most material from previous report on immigration reform. See also master 11224 for original material aired Nov 3, 1983
Paul Duke introduces report on immigration reform.
Representative Dan Lungren (R - California) Mr. Speaker, the stench from the rotting carcass of arrogant political partisanship lies heavily on the air of this chamber today. Mr. Speaker, your announced refusal to allow consideration of the immigration bill does a disservice to my constituents, to my part of the country, and to the entire nation.
Representative Dan Lungren (R - California) in office says We are the state that is affected more than any other by a lack of immigration policy. The border with Mexico just south of San Diego known as the Chula Vista sector in the Immigration Naturalization Service, is the world s most heavily traveled immigration border
People crossing border between Mexico and the US. Passports are checked. US Border inspection station on the US Mexico border. INS agents scanning the night with binoculars, searching a car trunk. Shot of group of people crossing a river.
Busy city street with lots of pedestrians.
INS agents pulling a Hispanic man out of bushes, an overloaded boat pulling up to shore with people climbing off, Mexican immigrants showing an agent their green cards. Immigration
CU of House immigration reform bill (Simpson-Mazzoli Bill, Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986) Graphic shows provisions of immigration reform: Amnesty for current illegal immigrants, more border patrols, and employee sanctions for employing workers without identity papers. Hispanic groups fear that this will lead to anti-Hispanic discrimination, even for legal immigrants and U.S. citizens.
Arnoldo Torres, Hispanic activist with LULAC, says Regardless of all the hoopla that is made by its proponents that everyone will have to carry an id card, the perception is that the problem is Hispanic. The perception is that people like myself, maybe a little shorter, maybe a little darker, with a moustache and dark hair - are the problem in this country of undocumented workers. Why are they going to ask somebody who doesn t look like us? Simply because the law says you have to do it? Ridiculous! These people are not functioning in the real world when they are trying to pass a law.
Tip O Neill (D - Massachusetts) entering House chamber, taking place on rostrum.
Representative Hamilton Fish IV (R - New York) in debate, The reason given for blocking consideration is literally unbelievable. We are all used to politics in the Congress, but never in my 15 years here have I heard a less credible explanation. To think the President would veto immigration reform in order to curry favor with Hispanic voters accepts fantasy over fact, selfish political gain over the national interest. I prefer not to believe it.
Representative Bill Richardson (D - New Mexico) Speaker O Neill, I wish to express my strong support for you announcement yesterday and my thanks that the Simpson-Mazzoli Bill will not come to the floor for a vote this year due to strong opposition from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, of which I am a member. And as a result of mixed signals from the President, who one minute says he supports the bill and next minutes says he s not sure. President Reagan has been wooing Hispanic voters for months and I want to commend the Speaker for not allowing him to use this important issue as a political tool.
Paul Duke, Cokie Roberts, and Norman Ornstein in studio discuss immigration reform. Tip O'Neill likely not to be so intransigent in the next session, Congressional Hispanic Caucus trying to form a compromise bill, but employer sanctions and amnesty in reform bill are major sticking points.