U.S. debate begins on immigration

Press, 13 June 1984, Page 11

U.S. debate begins on immigration

NZPA-Reuter Washington The House of Representatives voted yesterday to start debate on one of the most explosive issues of the election year: how to deal with a growing influx of illegal aliens. Even the issue of opening debate roused controversy, but the House voted 291-1 il to take up the Immigration Reform Bill and start an estimated two weeks of debate.

A vote against bringing up the bill for consideration was considered tantamount to defeating the entire bill. The measure would grant amnesty to an estimated two to six million illegal aliens by Census Bureau counts, or up to 10 million by non-official guesses, from Mexico and elsewhere. But the thorniest section of the bill appeared to be

employer sanctions — civil and criminal penalties on employers, many of them farmers, who hire illegal aliens.

Opponents dislike the employer sanctions which would require would-be employees to prove they are in the United States legally. Hispanic groups said this provision would dissuade many employers from hiring brown-skinned people or anyone they believe may be an illegal immigrant and say it represents a form of discrimination. However. President Reagan and organised labour want the sanctions in the bill as a stick to go along with the "carrot" of amnesty for illegal immigrants who have been in the country since before January 1. 1982 and meet other qualifications.