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
WashingtonAugust 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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