Feinstein Support for Immigrant Bill

Ben Seeley of the Border Solution Task Force said that I was opposed to the illegal immigration bill now pending in a House-Senate conference committee (Column Right, Sept. 10). Nothing could be further from the truth.

Not only am I supportive of illegal immigration reform, as a member of the Senate judiciary subcommittee on immigration, I was very involved in drafting the Senate version of this important bill. Seeley may be confusing my opposition to a controversial amendment contained in the House version of the bill, known as the Gallegly amendment. The amendment, which would allow states to keep children of illegal immigrants out of school, has stalled progress on reform for months, and threatens to doom passage of the entire immigration bill.

President Clinton has said unequivocally that he will veto the immigration bill if the Gallegly amendment is included. Additionally, many in Congress feel so strongly about this amendment that there will be significant opposition to the entire measure if it is included.

The real question is: Why is the Republican leadership willing to sacrifice such a critically needed illegal immigration bill for one politically charged amendment?

After more than a year of hard work and extensive bipartisan negotiations, the House and Senate have crafted legislation containing the strongest measures ever passed by Congress to stop illegal immigration. This bill strengthens our border by adding 5,000 new border patrol agents over four years; establishes a pilot program for employers to verify a worker’s legal eligibility to work in this country; increases employer sanctions for hiring illegal workers; prevents document fraud and, most importantly, makes immigrant sponsor contracts legally enforceable so that sponsors--not taxpayers--are required to provide financial support to legal immigrants.

The strong measures contained in this legislation can have an enormous impact on the problem of illegal immigration--without targeting children. But it will be of no value if it does not pass and become law.

SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN

D-Calif.