Patsy T. Mink: “the immigration bill, H.R. 2202, that we are debating this week in the U.S. House of Representatives exploits the deep…”

“the immigration bill, H.R. 2202, that we are debating this week in the U.S. House of Representatives exploits the deep hostilities felt across this land, that the problem of illegal immigrants has grown out of control needing drastic measures to curb, and seizes upon this issue to justify other changes in current law which drastically change the family reunification principle which has governed how we decide to grant visas for new entrants. This merger of the issue of illegal immigration with changes in the family preference categories currently allowed is unwarranted. These two matters should be separated. H.R. 220 should be confined to a debate on how to deal effectively with the problems of illegal immigration. There is no disagreement that this is a matter of concern which must be dealt with on the national level. But to be asked to vote for changes in family preference categories because you support proposals to curb illegal immigration is unfair to families who have waited for years for their numbers to be called up so that they could call for their adult children to join them in America. H.R. 2202 repeals family preferences which currently allow reunification of family members including adult children, and siblings. For a Nation concerned about family, it is unjustifiably cruel to cut off this long-awaited hope that the family could be reunited. Legal immigrants deserve to be treated better.”