Family Ties Help Bind a Nation : Immigration: Restricting entry based on kinship would weaken the social and economic fabric of our country.

Congress is now considering drastic restrictions in family immigration, changes that will destroy much of the 30 years of progress in legal immigration policies. These new restrictions would damage our national interests to preserve families and to revitalize the economic prospects in urban neighborhoods.

The major thrust of the legislation proposed by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.) would slash the current level of legal immigration by one-third. Most alarming are proposals that would also abolish three of the four existing categories of family immigration to effect a reduction from about 500,000 to more than 300,000.

The proposals would eliminate the immigration of all brothers and sisters, married children and children 21 and older of American citizens and U.S. permanent residents.

Many immigrant groups will be negatively affected in the long run. Asian Americans will be hardest hit. Until the mid-1960s, immigration from most Asian and Pacific Island countries was specifically banned or severely restricted. In 1965, the law was changed so that the system was no longer skewed in favor of immigrants from Western Europe, and no country had special treatment. A system based on family reunification and skills was used. For example, the category for siblings of U.S. citizens admits a worldwide total of about 65,000 a year. More than 1 million Asians and Pacific Islanders are currently waiting to reunify with family members who are U.S. citizens or residents. If the proposed legislation is passed, siblings and children 21 and over currently waiting--some for more than 18 years--to reunite with their families would lose their right to immigrate if the supply of visas runs out after a year.

Why are new restrictions being proposed? Racial bias may be the agenda for some. But many people fail to understand that legal immigration, especially family-based immigration, has been a tremendous benefit to the strengthening of our families, our economy and our country.

These new family members are not seeking American charity but the opportunity to contribute to their families and their new country. It is the family that has provided the glue, the support system for many immigrants to succeed.

Immigrants from the family-based system have served our economy. Most studies have shown that non-refugee immigrants pay much more in taxes than they receive in public benefits. Immigrants who arrived based on family ties have also revitalized neighborhoods by the infusion of capital, jobs and services. Linda Wong of RLA (formerly Rebuild L.A.) has commented that the toy industry in Downtown Los Angeles has a foundation of immigrant family-owned businesses that not only serve the local toy market but are major distributors.

Congressional leaders have said that we should emphasize the nuclear family in admitting newcomers. That makes sense. Completely eliminating close extended family members does not. Does it make sense to allow children who are 20, but not 21 to immigrate and join family members? Does it make sense to allow a child of 20 who is not married, but disallow a 20-year-old who has recently married?

Cutting of applicants who have abided by the law and patiently waited their turn also sends the wrong message. Some could have come into the United States and stayed illegally, perhaps qualifying for amnesty in the 1980s. But they chose to follow the rules and wait to reunify with loved ones. Now they may never do so.

Asian Pacific American groups, led by the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium and the Organization of Chinese Americans, have joined with Latino, business and community groups to urge Congress not to cut off the ability of families to reunify.

Despite periods of anti-immigration laws, America has a history of having a unique and humane immigration policy. By reunifying families, we maintain an orderly system of immigration while promoting our national value of strengthening families.