A Much Better Immigration Law

The landmark immigration reform bill passed by Congress just hours before it adjourned Saturday manages to strike a balance that is firmly on the side of greater openness, equity and sensible economics.

For those reasons, White House officials, who earlier had complained about the number of immigrant visas granted under the measure, now say President Bush is eager to sign it into law.

The bill seeks to preserve the current law’s emphasis on unifying families, while providing easier entry for European and African immigrants, particularly those with special job skills. It will allow 700,000 immigrants to enter the country each year from 1992 to 1994. At present, 500,000 are admitted, 85% of them from Asia and Latin America. After 1994, 675,000 individuals will be taken in each year. During the first three years of the program, 520,000 of the visas will go to family members of U.S. residents; 160,000 will go to immigrants with special job skills or talents.

The special needs of two existing groups of highly productive resident aliens also will be addressed. Citizens of El Salvador, unable to return safely to their war-torn homeland, will be allowed to renew their work documents every six months. The estimated 30,000 Irish citizens now living illegally in this country will be granted permanent resident cards under an amnesty program. Up to 16,000 visas will be granted to Irish applicants in each of the next three years.

Congress also managed to eliminate from the immigration code many of the most distasteful relics of the McCarthy era’s noxious McCarren Walter Act. Immigrants may no longer be excluded on the basis of their political views, associations or sexual preference.

Unfortunately, congressional negotiators were forced to accept a provision that allows the secretary of state to exclude individuals for ideological reasons, if he believes it can be justified by a “compelling” foreign-policy interest. History provides ample evidence that this power inevitably will be abused.

That reservation aside, the immigration bill represents a reasonable and responsible compromise in a complicated area of law.