LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

When we left off last month, Congress had just adjourned for the August recess without passing the Simpson/Smith immigration bill. The bill continues to sit in committee and no action will occur until Congress resumes work in September. You may recall that the cause of the delay in passing the bill is a provision introduced in the House version by Representative Gallegly regarding the barring of children of illegal immigrants from attending public schools. The one major development to report since our last issue is President Clinton's August 2, 1996 letter to House Speaker Newt Gingrich threatening to veto the bill if even a variation of the Gallegly provision remains in the bill. The following is the text of the letter:

The White House
Washington

August 2, 1996

Dear Mr. Speaker:

Reversing decades of neglect, this Administration has 
dedicated unprecedented resources and enforcement effort to 
curtailing illegal immigration.  Our comprehensive strategy 
to restore the rule of law to illegal immigration 
enforcement has done more in three years than ws done in 
thirty years before.  It includes:
1)  Gaining control of our borders.  This Administration is 
deploying more border patrol agents than any previous 
Administration.  In FY 1996, we will deploy an additional 
1,000 new and reassigned agents.  Overall, the 
Administration has increased the number of Border Patrol 
agents at the southwest border by 40% since 1993.  For 
the first time, Border Patrol agents are being equipped 
with the high technology resources needed to do the job, 
including sensors, night scopes, computers and encrypted 
radios.  Strengthened anti-smuggling efforts have reduced 
the criminal transport and exploitation of smuggled 
aliens.
2)  Safeguarding the interests of legal workers.  This 
Administration is the first to initiate effective 
enforcement of employer sanctions and worksite standards.  
In addition, I issued an Executive Order to keep federal 
contracts from going to businesses that knowingly hire 
illegal workers.  We are also testing a computer work 
authorization verification system and are creating more 
fraud-resistant immigration documents.
3)  Removing criminal and other deportable aliens from the 
country.  In 1995, this Administration removed a record 
number of criminal and other illegal aliens from this 
country - 74% more than in FY 1990.

Most of H.R. 2202, the Immigration in the National Interest 
Act, supports the steps we have taken.  I continue to urge 
Congress to pass these provisions and present me with the 
additional tools I need to continue the progress we have 
made.

However, there is a right way and a wrong way to fight 
illegal immigration.  The Gallegly Amendment and the 
compromise being considered during the conference process 
would result in kicking children out of school and onto the 
streets.  The street is no place for children to learn; 
children should be in school.  This proposal is an 
unacceptable and ineffective way to fight illegal 
immigration.  And the proposed compromise - which will still 
require states to verify the immigration status of all 
children, and permit states to exclude those who cannot 
afford to pay tuition - is as objectionable as the original 
provision.  Congress should reject it.

If the immigration bill contains this provision, I will veto 
it.  We can agree on so much in the legislation that would 
help what we are already doing.  Let us move forward with 
illegal immigration enforcement legislation without this 
misguided measure.

Sincerely, 

Bill Clinton

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