More Time for Amnesty
With less than a month left to file for amnesty under the 1986 immigration law, it is clear that an extension of the May 4 deadline is required to avoid excluding as many as 500,000 people. Fortunately, the House Immigration Committee has approved legislation to extend the deadline to Nov. 30. That should be a top priority when Congress reconvenes April 11 after the Easter recess.
Immigration and Naturalization Service workers have been doing everything in their power to speed the process, including revised administrative procedures that delay until July 5 the filing of completed papers as long as applications are made and fees paid by May 4. Regional INS officials estimate that 600,000 have already applied here, and more than 1 million nationally. That is encouraging. But it is not good enough.
A basic problem that has caused many to delay applying for amnesty, even though they had entered the United States as required by Jan. 1, 1982, is the threat of family divisions. The INS has sought to allay the fears of spouses or children who may not qualify for amnesty by promising to use discretion and not deport family members. That commitment has helped overcome the reluctance of some eligible workers. But spouses without formal amnesty will be unable to obtain work permits.
About 3.5 million undocumented aliens do not qualify for the amnesty program. There are reports that they are the object of intensified exploitation by employers, willing to risk the penalties of the new law for hiring illegal aliens. Many report pay below the minimum wage. Nevertheless, a heavy flow of aliens across the border is reported; and with it there have been numerous arrests, more than 100,000 in February, an increase of 17% over the same month in 1987. Full enforcement against employers hiring undocumented aliens will begin in June.
Clearly, the 1986 legislation has not resolved the crisis in undocumented aliens. That makes no less important, however, action to ensure that the 1986 act does what it was intended to do. That is why the amnesty deadline needs to be extended. That is why families of those who qualify must be reassured that they will not be divided by deportation proceedings.
