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China News Digest - US Regional Services (Bo Xiong) --------------- From: XIAO@scri.fsu.edu Date: Wed, 20 Sep 1995 0:54:31 -0400 (EDT) To: acca-l@superprism.net Message-Id: <950920005431.2ba006a6@scri.fsu.edu> Subject: National Committee on Immigration News Release #9519 Resent-Message-Id: <"q5ZgQ.0.kC7.MwvNm"@dirac> Resent-From: acca-l@superprism.net Precedence: list Resent-Sender: acca-l-request@superprism.net Status: RO **************************************************************************** Association for Chinese Community Affairs (ACCA), formerly CBSIC Public Broadcasting System **************************************************************************** >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> National * Committee * on * Immigration <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< News Release #9519 Tuesday, September 19, 1995 ============================================================================ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= The National Committee on Immigration is a coalition of Chinese Students, Scholars & Professionals who work against the anti-immigration bill HR1915 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= ============================================================================ ============================================================================ 1. Current Development of HR 2202 and An Urgent Call for Action ..........75 2. World Journal covers our petition drive................................37 3. Actions from Chicago and Buffalo.......................................61 4. Sweeping attack to anyone who is a foreign born ......................113 5. "Immigrants with skills", from Washington Post.........................41 ============================================================================ ============================================================================ 1. Current Development of HR 2202 and An Urgent Call for Action...........75 _From: Ray Wang, ACCA Spokesman Dear friends: Recently, as we witnessed, we have scored major victories in our lobbying efforts. However, this uphill battle is far from over. The following is an analysis I summaried from reliable legal sources. Hope we are aware of the gravity of the situation and keep up our efforts. We can make a difference, if we are all concerned and if we all take some action--call your congressmen and urge your friends and relatives to call! Please notice in the last portion of the analysis, there are Chamber activities open to public. We hope those of us in DC area can go there and make a public presence. Lobby in person and tell the congressmen or their aids why it is wrong to cut legal immigratiion! Bring our letter and give it to them!! A brief Summary of recent Development with regard to HR 2202 The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration approved the previous version of the bill by voice vote on July 20, 1995 as Rep. John Bryant, D-Texas, the subcommittee's ranking member, joined five Republicans in support of the measure. Following the vote, Smith acknowledged that he will face a significant challenge when the bill reaches the full Judiciary Committee in early September, shortly after members return from recess. Threatening to sidetrack his bill are Democrats who vigorously oppose Smith's plan to eliminate four categories of legal immigrants that exist under current law. Subcommittee Democrats Howard Berman, D-Calif., and Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., both expressed serious reservations with the plan in the subcommittee markup. They are planning to offer an amendment at the committee stage that would repeal the legal immigration proposals in the bill, a Becerra aide said. Meanwhile, House Majority Leader Richard Armey, R-Texas, has been a vocal opponent of reductions in legal immigration, and if he maintains that position, it could be extremely difficult for Smith to maneuver his bill to the House floor. However, conservative House Republicans are calling for further restrictions on legal immigration, and they may get behind legislation by Rep. Bob Stump, R-Ariz., that would place a moratorium on legal immigration, a Judiciary aide said. The following are some of the current and pending actions: 09/19/95 9:30 am House Committee on the Judiciary 2141 Rayburn House Office Bldg. Mark-Up OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Bills: *H.R.2202 BY SMITH, LAMAR (R-TX)-- Immigration in the National Interest Act of 1995 Subjects: Overhauling the immigration system 09/20/95 9:30 am House Committee on the Judiciary 2141 Rayburn House Office Bldg. Mark-Up OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Bills: *H.R.2202 BY SMITH, LAMAR (R-TX) -- Immigration in the National Interest Act of 1995 Subjects: Immigration in the National Interest Act of 1995 09/21/95 9:30 am House Committee on the Judiciary 2141 Rayburn House Office Bldg. Mark-Up OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Bills: *H.R.2202 BY SMITH, LAMAR (R-TX) -- Immigration in the National Interest Act of 1995 Subjects: Immigration in the National Interest Act of 1995 ============================================================================ 2. World Journal covers our petition drive .............................. 37 _From: Staff Reporter Liu Xiaoqing, World Journal, 09/17 B1, New York City (abridged and translated by ACCA National HQ) The anti-immigration bill, "Immigration in the National Interest", a.k.a. H.R 2202, is submitted to House Judiciary Committee for mark up next Tuesday. Since this bill has a tremndous negative impact on the immigrant community, more than 10,000 Chinese students and scholars from mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong and other countries joined the "Signature drive" to endorse ACCA's petition letter to Congress, through Internet. ACCA stands for "Association for Chinese Community Affairs", which is an Internet-based organization. Although it only has two dozen members, it has, according to Mr. Huang, a Ph.D. candidate and recent immigrant from City University of New York, can reach, at least 50,000 people through Internet. According to Huang, the bill, if enacted, will cut off First and Second employment based immigration completedly, which, are the major channels for those Ph.D.'s and M.S.'s to immigrate. Although Third employment based immigration will be retained, according to Huang, the numbers will be greatly reduced. For family based immigration, Huang points out, that if the bill is enacted, all of those adult sons and daughters, siblings will be turned back. Even parents will be turned back completedly three years later. "We want to see our community stands up to protect our interests, and never keep silent again. Recent immigrants are the most vulnerable group who are often scapegoated when the country has a hard time", said Huang. According to Huang, the strategy to block the anti-immigration bills is to slow them down. Through intensive lobbying, we can win valuable time to regroup, and organize ourselves to further delay the procedures of the legislation. This is called "filibuster", he says. ============================================================================ 3. Actions from Chicago and Buffalo.......................................65 _From: It seems 2nd phase of lobbying is going well. here's a few more updates from CHicago area: 1, Late August, CHicago Area CHinese Television hold a sole interview with the General Coordinator of Chicago Chinese Coalition on Immigration, John Lin. Mr. Lin introduced the proceeding and history of HR2202/HR1915 and asked all TV viewers respond to their Illinois Lawmakers at DC. It turned out that more Chinese residents have contacted IL politicians; 2, Also, Chicago CCCI received so far 3 positive letters from IL politicians, among them Senator Braun, Congressman Durbin and Congressman Cardiss express ed strong interest in keeping our views in minds. It seems local lobbying is working someway; 3, Also, Chicago Chinese Service Agency, representing more old-comers, have sent our about 10,000 individual letters to State Politicians including Chairman Hyde of Judiciary Committee. Their impact may be more systematic and routine and it is good for us-CSS. 4, Finally, CHicago CSS is now strengthening its CSS database, hoping in the 3rd phase of lobbying that we can reach mobilize more people as Congress is debating the bill. 5, Keep watching and moving ahead is our experiences from Chicago. But just don't panic when things slow down. Keep solidifying your popular base in local Chinese community. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>*<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< _From: V288WX4E@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu A News Report to the National Committee on Immigration from UBCCI At the Mid-Autumn party held on September 16, 1995 in the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB), the UB Coordination Committee on Immigration (UBCCI) made a successful drive collecting signatures to fight against the anti- immigration bill H.R. 2202. UBCCI members spent much time preparing for the drive. Right before the formal starting of the party, two activitists delivered speeches calling for attention from the audience upon the issue. Hundreds of letters and signing sheets were distributed: one type was the letter from the ACCA to collect the signatures from the attendance of the party to send to the National Committee, the other type was the letter prepared by a local American professor to collect signatures from our American friends to send to the two NY senators and local representatives. The organizer of the party, the Council of UB Chinese Students and Scholars Club, was very supportive and cooperative in the drive. Many students and scholars helped in 'lobbying' and collecting signatures during the party. Lots of people realized that it was an issue of his own. Thanks to the massive support, 204 signatures have been collected so far. Some signing sheets with approximately a couple more dozens of signatures are being turned in. UBCCI is happy to see the outcome of this drive. Thank you all. UB Coordination Committee on Immigration. ============================================================================ 4. Sweeping attack to anyone who is a foreign born ......................113 September 18, 1995 TO: The Chinese and Asian Pacific American Community _FROM: Vicki Shu, Immigration Project Coordinator OCA National Headquarters RE: URGENT IMMIGRATION ISSUES Time to call your representative in Congress! Otherwise, students with permanent residency status may be denied access to financial aid. Immigration is at the top of the Congressional agenda, and none it is good. Pending legal immigration legislation would eliminate most of the family reunification categories. Pending welfare reform legislation would deny eligibility of numerous federal needs-based programs to non-U.S. citizens, as well as to naturalized U.S. citizens. Below is a summary of these pieces of legislation. Welfare Reform As of this printing, the Senate is scheduled to vote on its final welfare reform package on Tuesday, September 19. The House passed its package back in March. Under both legislation, non-U.S. citizens will denied eligibility to most federal needs-based programs. In addition to an outright ban to the main welfare programs, such as Supplemental Security Income, food stamps, etc, the bills would "deem" all federal needs-based programs, including educational student loans and graduate research funding. "Deeming" is when the income of the immigrant and his/her sponsor are taken into account when determining need; if the combined income is higher than a pre-determined amount (which is around $37,000), the immigrant would not be eligible. Considering that the sponsor's first responsibility is his/her family, eeming his/her income would place additional financial burden. Also, when the incomes are combined, there are very few instances where it will be under the pre-determined amount. More horrifying, the deeming provision may be used even when an immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen. This is because of another pending piece of legislation that would extend the deeming period up to 10 years. So, if an immigrant becomes a citizen after 5 years, he/she still will not be eligible for most government programs for another 5 years, even though s/he is a U.S. citizen! Legal Immigration Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX) introduced HR 2202, the Immigration in the National Interest Act, in July. This bill, if passed, would drastically reduce the present level of legal immigration of 830,000 to 330,000 mainly by eliminating most of the family preference categories. The categories targeted for elimination are: the 1st (unmarried adult children of US citizens), 2nd-B (unmarried adult children of legal permanent residents), 3rd (married children of US citizens) and 4th (siblings of US citizens). These eliminations will have a severe impact on the APA community, as nearly 60% of Asian immigration comes under theses targeted categories. Currently, there are over 1.5 million Asians waiting in the backlogs to immigrate to the United States. In the 4th preference category, alone, over one million Asians are waiting in the backlogs. In eliminating the categories, HR 2202 will not take into consideration, the backlogs. That means some Asians who have been patiently waiting for 10-15 years to immigrate to the U.S. will suddenly be cut off. In addition, HR 2202 will reduce, in priority, the parents of U.S. citizens and will place severe restrictions on the ability of parents of U.S. citizens to immigrate. For example, HR 2202 will require sponsors to purchase private health insurance for their parents comparable to the comprehensive coverage available under Medicare and the long term coverage under Medicaid. It is of extreme urgency that the Chinese and Asian Pacific American communities contact their members of Congress to protest the above pieces of legislation. For too long, the APA community has been silent on numerous issues that affect them. If the APA community is silent on welfare and immigration policy, it will mean the return to the Chinese and Asian exclusionary period that ended only in 1943. When making the calls, clearly state your concerns with HR 2202, perhaps by telling your personal immigration story. Give the staffer your name, address and telephone number and request that the Congressmen send you a letter that spells out his/her position on HR 2202 and Welfare Reform. Some talking points include: prohibited from immigrating to the U.S. under the Chinese Exclusion Act. APAs only have been able to come to the United States in significant numbers since 1965. Since then, APAs have made significant contributions to the U.S. Passage of HR 2202 and the immigrant restrictions contained in the Welfare Reform package will be a slap in the face for APAs. Present immigration policy that stresses family reunification is in line with the national push for family values. To say that immigrant families are not as important as native-born U.S. citizen families is another insult to the APA community. Again, the urgency of your calls cannot be understated. The House Judiciary Committee is expected to mark up the bill on September 19. Your input to this devastating bill is crucial. To call your Congressmen, contact the Congressional Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and provide the operator with your city, state and zip code and s/he will connect you to him/her. If you have any further questions, please contact me at OCA's National Headquarters at: 202-223-5500. Organization of Chinese Americans 1001 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Suite #707 Washington, D.C. 20036 Tel:(202)223-5500 Fax:(202)296-0540 Voice Mail:(202)223-5523 =========================================================================== 5. A piece from Washington Post......................................41 Immigrants With Skills, September 16, 1995 There are two ways to view the impact on the national interest of allowing skilled workers and professionals to come to the United States as immigrants. One camp has it that welcoming these foreigners is an unmixed blessing. They are highly trained, either at the professioanl level or with skills acquired over a number of years. They are eminently employable, will be no drain on the welfare system and will make a real contribution to the country. All of this is true. Others reply that there are plenty of highly trained Americans--many of them college graduates-- who could and should be filling those job slots. They point out that without foreign competition, Americans would compete for and perform well in these jobs. This is also true. In the coming months, Congress will try to find some middle ground. The total number of immigrants and refugees admitted into this country (now 800,000 a year) will almost certainly be reduced by Congress. The final figure will be somewhere between 400,000 and 550,000 a year. The mix will also shift, with peripheral relatives such as married siblings excluded and the percentage of available places allotted to skilled workers rising. But because the total will be smaller, the actual number of spots for skilled workers will go down from the present 140,000 a year to something in the 75,000 to 100,000 a year. American manufacturers are complaining. They like the system as it is: fairly simple to get a temporary visa for a worker (permission from ther Labor Department is not needed) and five years later to get a permanent visa. The system works so well for them, in fact, that there is no backlog of visa applicats in this category, and the authorized 140,000 places are not filled. Immigrantion of those with skills should be encouraged, and the restructuring now being considered gives added weight to this priority. But it is also important to put the needs of American workers first. The Commission on Immigration Reform, chaired by former representative Barbara Jordan, has recommended, for example, that employers bringing in foreign skilled workers be required to pay a substantial fee--perhaps one-third of the first year's salary--to a designated private-sector initiative dedicated to developing a well-trained American work force. More to the point, they should also be required to conduct a nationawide search for workers here, offering 105% percent of the prevailing wage, before being allowed to hire foreigners. These suggestions are worth exploring. ======================================================================== For donations to NOI/ACCA, please make your checks payable to Association for Chinese Community Affairs, and mail them to Mr. Frank Chen c/o ACCA; 361 Ogden Avenue, Jersey City, NJ07307 ============================================================================ To endorse ACCA's petition letters to Congress, write to acca@superprism.net following the computer retrievable format as attached: From: *your e-mail-address here" To: acca@superprism.net Subjest: Signature #NJ 07307, Mr. Frank Chen, 361 Ogden Avenue, Jersey City, or #NJ 07307, Mr. Frank Chen, (291)-299-8909 Please retain an extra copy for yourself. If you do not receive our petition letter and acknowledgment in return in two hours, PLEASE TRY AGAIN. Thanks. ============================================================================ More info about HR 1915: ftp at superprism.net:/pub/acca www at http://superprism.net:/~acca/ gopher://cnd.cnd.org/11/English-Menu/InfoBase/HR1915 or, write to acca@superprism.net, with "help" in the "Subject:" field. Further inquiries or inputs send to hr1915@math.luc.edu **************************************************************************** To sub/unsub acca-l@superprism.net send to: acca-l-request@superprism.net with "sub" or "unsub" in the "Subject:" field. **************************************************************************** Editor of this issue: Yi Yan ============================================================================ ============================================================================ To (un)subscribe acca-l list, please write to acca-l-request@superprism.net with "sub" or "unsub" in the "Subject:" field, from your individual or local network redistribution account. You may also send your local redistribution address to hr1915@math.luc.edu. Committee on Immigration needs everyone of your support to protect our community and rights. ACCA's HR1915 infor-center through anonymous ftp at superprism.net:/pub/acca or www at http://www.superprism.net:/~acca. For auto-retrieval via e-mail, please write to acca@superprism.net, with "help" in the "Subject:" field. Also, please visit our CBS-IC infor-center, ftp superprism.net:/pub/cbs-ic or http://www.superprism.net:/~cbs-ic. National Chair of ACCA, Mr. Lin Huang (A.K.A. Mi Mi Sr.) ============================================================================ In Germany, they came first for the Communists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist; then they came for the Jews and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew; then they came for the Trade-Unionists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Trade-Unionist; then they came for the Catholics and I didn't speak up because I am a Protestant; then they came for me, and by that time no-one was left to speak up. --- Martin Niemoller --- ============================================================================