Immigration Bill Survives Latino Attack

A landmark immigration bill was thrown into jeopardy Friday night by a surprise attack in the House, as Latino lawmakers and their allies protested that the measure contained an unacceptable provision that could lead to the creation of a national identity card.

But hours later, the author of the provision, Sen. Alan K. Simpson (R-Wyo.), said that he would drop it. The House, which had voted, 235 to 186, to block consideration of the measure, was expected to take it up again today and pass it without the offending provision.

President Bush is expected to sign the measure, which calls for a major restructuring of the nation’s legal immigration policies, opening the door wider to Europeans for the first time in decades.

The bill would increase the number of people allowed to immigrate here to 700,000 from the current 500,000 in 1992, 1993 and 1994. Then the number would drop to 675,000. None of the figures include refugees.

Rep. Edward R. Roybal (D-Los Angeles), a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, led the fight against the Simpson provision, which would have required a pilot project to develop a counterfeit-proof driver’s license.

Roybal complained that the provision would be a precursor to a national identity card. But Simpson said that his aim was to test a work authorization card in three states.

Critics of such a card have equated it to similar requirements imposed in Nazi Germany and have expressed fear that the police could use it to harass citizens.

Before Simpson agreed to drop the provisions, Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City), a sponsor of the legislation, expressed fear that the bill was dead.

“I don’t know when we’ll ever get a bill this good for the Hispanic and Asian communities,” Berman said, noting that the measure would provide 55,000 “family fairness” visas a year for spouses and children of recently legalized aliens to prevent them from being deported.

Partly because of this provision, the measure is supported by the National Council of La Raza and other Latino groups.

Although Latino legislators sparked the emotional debate against the bill, they were supported by many Republicans who opposed increasing immigration quotas and by members of the Congressional Black Caucus, who also planned to vote against a huge deficit-reduction package in frustration over Bush’s veto of a civil rights bill.

The Senate approved the immigration bill by an 89-9 vote earlier Friday. If the Senate adopted a resolution saying that it would drop the driver’s license provision, the matter will be resolved, Roybal said in an interview.

Of the 700,000 visas available during each of the first three years under the bill, about 520,000 would be used by families to bring in relatives. In addition, about 140,000 visas would have been available to people seeking to come to the nation with special job skills or education needed by, but not available to, U.S. employers. Another 20,000 would be used for people with special skills and talents.

Staff writers Marlene Cimons, Sam Fulwood III and William J. Eaton contributed to this story.