Immigration Bill

Ben Seeley’s Oct. 30 commentary criticizes me for voting for the newly passed Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996. He believes the bill was not strong enough. Seeley failed to note, or may have been unaware, however, of several amendments I sponsored or opposed to strengthen this immigration law specifically, and our immigration policy generally.

Specifically, I voted for the amendment in the immigration bill requiring employee verification by Social Security number and for employer sanctions for those who hire illegal immigrants. I voted against Rep. Chris Smith’s (R-N.J.) legislation granting automatic asylum for those immigrants fleeing family planning restrictions in their homelands. In fact, in the International Relations Committee, I was able to amend Smith’s language so that it would not do what Seeley opposed: Namely, open up asylum to all objecting to family planning measures in their own country.

In addition, I sponsored an amendment to the 1997 Labor/HHS appropriations bill, which would have denied back pay to illegal immigrants under U.S. labor laws. This would have changed the very odd practice of paying illegal immigrants back pay under our labor laws when they had no right to be here in the first place. Though this amendment was not included in the final conference report, I plan to reintroduce it in the 105th Congress.

REP. TOM CAMPBELL

R-San Jose