Alien Bill Links Amnesty to Cut in Illegal Crossings

Senate Majority Whip Alan K. Simpson today unveiled a new immigration bill that would block amnesty for undocumented aliens until employer penalties reduce the massive numbers of illegal border crossings.

The bill represents a major change from the measure sponsored last year by the Wyoming Republican, who along with Rep. Romano L. Mazzoli (D-Ky.) led the fight for immigration reform. Their bill died in the closing days of the session.

Last year’s measure would have simultaneously coupled an amnesty program with penalties for employers found guilty of hiring illegal aliens. Simpson decided against automatic amnesty this year because public opinion polls show most Americans oppose it, aides to the senator said.

Tied to Immigration Cut

Under the new proposal, any amnesty program would be delayed until a presidential commission determined that employer sanctions already in place had substantially reduced illegal immigration.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service has told Congress that more than 1.2 million illegal immigrants were caught in the last fiscal year. For all those captured, several times that number successfully entered the country.

The Simpson aides said they expect Reagan Administration support for the bill, as well as strong opposition from Latino lawmakers.

The proposal is also likely to bring howls of protests from states. It would cap federal reimbursements for the cost of local and state public assistance that would result from any legalization program.

Reimbursement Lowered

The maximum for all states combined would be $600 million a year for a maximum of three years, compared to the $1 billion a year, four-year program Simpson offered last year. The states said last year’s figure was not enough.

Under the bill, temporary legal status could eventually be granted, provided the illegal aliens have continuously resided in the United States since before Jan. 1, 1980.

Three years after the temporary status, permanent residency status could be gained by meeting requirements for minimum English language competence and minimum knowledge of U.S. history and government.