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China News Digest - US Regional Services (Bo Xiong) --------------- Date: Wed, 6 Sep 1995 03:23:35 -0400 From: ACCA Subject: National Committee on Immigration NR #9514 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 #9514 Wednsday, September 6, 1995 ============================================================================ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= The National Committee on Immigration is a cOalition of Chinese Students, Scholars & Professionals who work against the anti-immigration bill HR1915 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= ============================================================================ 1. Actions Needed on Immigration Bills .................................. 61 2. Immigration Bill Prompts S.F. Protest ................................ 73 3. Responses to ACCA's signature campaign are overwhelming .............. 39 4. ACCA HQ should urge CSS nationwide to make our voices be heard! ...... 20 5. Reader's comments on the letter drafted by ACCA HQ ................... 59 6. Truth and false about immigration .................................... 96 ============================================================================ 1. Actions Needed on Immigration Bills .................................. 61 _From: IFCSS HQ The Coalition on Family Immigration's representative, Michael Munoz, goes to Chicago on Sunday to meet Congressman Henry J. Hyde, Chair of House Judiciary Committee (Republican), who is supposed to be a key person with rather influential impacts on related bills in coming weeks, on H.R. 2202. Mr. Hyde has been quite symphathetic on H.R. 2202. But after influenced by vigorous lobby in the past weeks, Mr. Hyde has changed his mind somewhat from original "typical" Republican stands. He was now even concerned about the issue of harshly sweeping "illegal" immigration. IFCSS would like to appeal to CSS organizations in Chicago area, and in Illiois, especially those groups set particularly for immigration issues, and general CSS, to snatch the chance of the last several days before Labor Day: send fax and give calls to his district office, in order to make the current breakthrough solidized. As we spoke before, each piece of message counts! Senator Henry Hyde's information - Illinois, 6th Term District Office: 708 832 5950 (Addison) Legislative Director: Judy Wolverton D.C. office: 202 225 4561 (O) 202 225 1166 (F) office address: 2110-RHOB Republicans from three states will play critical roles in pushing H.R. 2202 through the House Judiciary Committee, although they are not too many. They all bear much more spiritual pressure from their state constituents, both pro or con, in their states. The coalition has allocated manpower to try softening each of them, respectively, at present. We would suggest Chinese students and scholars nationwide make more efforts on them by sending them fax message. Three states and their Republican representatives are: STATE/Representatives District Office D.C. Office California: Carlos J. Moorhead 818 792 6168 202 225 4176 202 226 1279 (F) Elton Gallegly 805 485 2300 202 225 5811 202 225 1100 (F) Sonny Bono 619 320 1076 202 225 5330 202 225 2961 (F) Texas: Lamar S.Smith 512 895 1414 4236 8628 210 821 5024 915 687 5232 512 218 4221 915 653 3971 Florida: Bill McCollum 407 872 1962 2176 0999 Charles Canady 813 688 2651 3376 8016 We were encouraged to know some consequence of the lobby. When two representatives of the coalition attended a party in Texas with presence of Mr. Lamar Smith, Mr. Smith admitted that he was nervous, too, about the grave concern and aggressive reactions when his H.R. 1915 was evolved into more harsh H.R. 2202. He was concerned the latter would encounter more resistance in the House, which may eventually kill it. It may give us a signal: we should make him concerned much more! ============================================================================ 2. Immigration Bill Prompts S.F. Protest ................................ 73 _From: 187POL-L@CMSA.BERKELEY.EDU, Defending Immigrant Rights & Associated Issues Immigration Bill Prompts S.F. Protest Proposal would affect siblings, adult children Benjamin Pimentel, Chronicle Staff Writer Helen Yan Qin Feng and Ken Liang had their picture taken yesterday on Union Square. But they are not tourists. The Foster City couple posed with about 250 people, mostly Chinese and Filipino immigrants, who attended a demonstration against a proposed bill that eliminates immigration preferences for the siblings and adult children of immigrants. Immigrant rights advocates said they plan to send the photo and a petition to members of the U.S. Congress, which is about to vote on a proposal that could effectively stop the immigration of more than 1.3 million Asians, many of whom have been on waiting lists for years. For Feng and Liang, the proposal could mean the end of their dream to be reunited with their 26- year-old son of Canton, China. ``He's been waiting for 13 years, since he was 13 years old,'' Feng, who immigrated in 1982, said through an interpreter. ``We pay taxes, and they're taking our rights,'' Liang said. The proposal is the latest attempt to reform the country's immigration policies. Several bills being considered by Congress would cut current immigration levels from about 800,000 people annually to about 550,000 annually, basically by changing family ``reunification'' rules. Currently, siblings and adult children of U.S citizens can apply for immigration to the United States based only on their family connection. This ``preference'' would be eliminated, and those individuals would have to apply for immigration under some other criteria, typically one that is skill-based. There are fewer of these slots available, and the criteria for qualifying are much more rigorous. Proponents say the new rules will speed the entry of nuclear family members, i.e, children and parents. But immigrant rights advocates say the proposed changes are unfair to immigrants, mostly those from Asia and Latin America, who have been waiting for years to bring their families to the United States. ``This is the Asian and Latino Exclusion Act of 1995,'' said Bill Ong Hing, professor of law at Stanford University and one of the speakers at the rally, referring to past policies that systematically excluded or deported Asians and Latinos. ``I have hope that Congress will recognize that this will impact predominantly communities of color. I have hope that they won't act radically.'' The demonstration was organized by a coalition of Asian American organizations for immigrant rights. Angelo Ancheta, executive director of the Asian Law Caucus, said they want to send a message to Washington that immigrant reforms are ``critical issues'' for the Asian community. It is a critical concern for Joaquin Autor, a 69-year-old San Francisco resident who spoke at the rally. He came to the United States four years ago as one of thousands of Filipino World War II veterans who were granted U.S. citizenship. Autor said he hopes to bring his 29-year-old son to the United States. ``We would like our families to come here,'' he said at the rally. ``If this law is passed, I feel that it is cruel.'' Monday, August 28, 1995, Page A11, 1995 San Francisco Chronicle ============================================================================ 3. Responses to ACCA's signature campaign are overwhelming .............. 39 _From: ACCA HQ Responding to ACCA HQ's signature drive, several hundreds of our readers have registered their signatures since our News Release #13 is dispatched. A preliminary count indicates 932 signatures are received in 234 e-mails. received. ACCA HQ hereby urges our readers to continue the effort. Please approach any potential supporters to get them registered their support with us, parents, spouses, children, friends, ...., any one you can think of and you can ask for support. Please remember, EVERY signature COUNTs, and ACCA wants to collect as many as our manpower can handle. The current goal is *20,000* Where to send your signatures ACCA has established an auto-signature retrieval system. Please send them to acca@superprism.net, and in the "subject:" field, put "signature". Your mail header should look somewhat like the following: _From: *your e-mail address here* To: acca@superprism.net Subject: signature How to send your signatures In order to retrieve your signatures automatically, please follow the format. your signature should look like: #NY 10463, Mr. Johnny Gunther, 3044 Albany Crsnt 1G, Bronx #NY 10463, Miss Anne Frank, Bronx Sci. High School, Bronx #NY 10463, Miss Anne Frank, (718)-458-9123 (o) (718)-471-5678 (h) "#" is an auto-retrieval flag, "NY 10031" is for identifying the representatives from your district, following is the complete name and address reachable, or phone numbers. Each entry MUST be kept in ONE line. Multiple entries in one single e-mail is encouraged. Your signatures will be attached ONLY to the petition letters we send to the Congress in general and to the Congressmen/women from YOUR state. ============================================================================ 4. ACCA HQ should urge CSS nationwide to make our voices be heard! ...... 20 _From: v7980@starbase.umd.edu Dear ACCA and NCOI, Although I am thrilled by the news that several key Congress people, such as the Henry J. Hyde, Chair of House Judiciary Committee, Lamar Smith, the sponsor of the bill H.R. 1915 and now H.R. 2202, have been influenced by the extensive lobby efforts from various immigration advocacy groups and the immigrant communities, however, most of the voices are concentrated on *family-based* immigration, NOT *employment-based* ones. It is very likely our meek voices, are gone un-noticed and are falling on deaf ears! To make our noise louder, ACCA, NCOI should urge our constituents, to make as much noises as possible! Would-be employment-based immigrants are facing the most daunting challenge of all of other groups - we do not have any family relatives here who have the votes and the important number which may tilt the political scale to their favor. For each and every our constituents, hundreds times as much as efforts are required to make ourselves be heard! ============================================================================ 5. Reader's comments on the letter drafted by ACCA HQ ................... 59 _From: malagodi@paradise.net Mi Mi Sr., In the #13 newsletter the analysis of HR2202 and the sample are very usefull, but for one thing. In the sample letter, the second paragraph begins... "While the problem of immigration, illegal immigration in particular, does pose real challenges, ..." As we continue to organize various groups in Florida against Prop. 187, we strive to gather together the broadest possible coaltion. In order to do that, we try to avoid highlighting the distinction between legal and 'illegal' immigration. It's not that the statement is untrue, but our opponents will waste no time exploiting those divisions. We believe that HR 2202 exists in an overall climate of xenophobia against all 'foreigners' and that in order to kill off hr 2202, a broad coalition of groups, including those of undocumented workers, must be mobilized. When ACCA appears to be interested in advocating only for its own more narrow interests, it heightens the differences, rather than illuminating the common human interests that all people share. In short, the introductory clause cited above is unnecessary, as the paragraph continues nicely to the real issue "we believe that the changes proposed in H.R. 2202 work against the fundamental interests of the United States..." Is it ACCA's position that the issues of Federal immigration reform be separated from Prop. 187 type initiatives? - Steve Malagodi - Miami Beach >>>===<<< _From: ACCA National HQ (Mi Mi Sr.) Dear Steve Malagodi, thanks for your comments which pinpointed the problematic phrase we have overlooked. This phrase will be taken out in our final letter to the Congress. In fact, CBS-IC stood out to against Prop 187 since last year, even though there was not enough support in our community to support that cause. CBS-IC came into being when our community was hit by an unfair TV Special Report. It was exactly that Prop 187 kind of thing which prompted CBS-IC into transforming as ACCA, as for the former CBS-IC concluded its mission to win back the justice from CBS. As pointed by then CBS-IC position, we needed to protect the rights of those deprived - children who relied on public schools for their futures, mothers who relied on medical services to have healthy babies, etc. It is not fair to scapegoat those who are poor and in need. We believe, immigrants, be it legal or illegal, are all new comers to this land, and are Americans after all. Yours, Mi Mi Sr. ============================================================================ 6. Truth and false about immigration .................................... 96 _From: V1904G@VM.TEMPLE.EDU (Info-India) It will be too naive for anyone to claim that the U.S. immigration policy is based on altruism or on principles of charity. One of the three priorities that dictate the U.S. immigration policy is to allow U.S. employers to bring in a relatively small number of skilled workers from overseas (the other two priorities being family reunification and refugee protection). The success of the U.S. economy depends to a large extent on the idea of the free enterprise that facilitates business organizations to function at the most efficient level. The immigration policy selectively allows businesses to induct from overseas certain categories of people whose skill level per unit of wage is higher than what is available within the U.S. Because of this, the U.S. companies are able to stay competitive in the global marketplace so that they can create more jobs for those at home. Thus the U.S. immigration policy is directly and effectively designed to benefit the U.S. economy. According to the nonpartisan Urban Institute, immigrants and refugees pay approximately $28 billion a year more in taxes than they consume in services. Considering that only 9% of U.S. population is foreign-born (the percentage was 15% in 1900), the net surplus of $28 billion contributed by immigrants and refugees assumes great significance. Thus the immigrants not only consume very little of welfare funds, but they subsidize, as it were, the welfare of others. When the immigrants are so obviously and immensely contributing to the U.S. economy, it may be difficult to understand the basis for the anti-immigrant sentiments. A probable explanation is that most of the tax revenues paid by immigrants are sent to the federal government, while most of the costs associated with helping newcomers get started -- education and health care being the primary areas -- are borne primarily by state and local governments. Moreover, newcomers mostly live only in seven or eight states in the U.S. Local vested interests and press reports intent only on sensationalism ensure that people do not get the whole picture. But anti-immigration sentiments and the resultant anti-immigration measures only hurt the interests of the U.S. economy. Business Wire of 16 Mar 95 carried a report on how Anti-Immigration Laws Could Damage High-Tech Industry. "At every important high-tech company in America, the crucial players, half of them, are immigrants," says George Gilder, who frequently writes about international competition and the information superhighway. "You exclude immigrants from our high-tech industries and what you get is Europe, where they have no important computer or semiconductor company now after 20 years of focusing on information technologies." Nathan Rosenberg, a Stanford economist who studies the history of technology, agrees: "It seems to me that the American high-tech industry will suffer, will suffer tremendously, if these anti-immigration measures go into effect" (Business Wire, 16 Mar 95). Several studies have documented the impact of immigrants on the nation's economic well-being. In the most comprehensive study to date, the U.S. Department of Labor has concluded that immigrants keep U.S. industries competitive, increase employment through higher rates of self-employment, and increase wages and mobility opportunities for many groups of U.S. workers. The same report also notes that in cities with many immigrants, there is virtually no evidence that immigrants displace natives and cause unemployment. "Immigrants bring with them high-tech expertise and the knowledge of the way businesses organize and market themselves in other parts of the world," says Glenn Garvin, contributing editor of Reason. "But the recent battle against illegal immigrants threatens to stem the tide of legal immigrants as well" (Reason Magazine, April 95). An effective way to encourage xenophobia -- is to confuse and blur the distinction between legal and "illegal" immigrants. While legal immigration is definitely designed to benefit the U.S. economy, "illegal" immigration is something over which we have comparatively less control -- most probably because 60% of the "illegal" immigrants enter the U.S. legally and become "illegal" when they stay in the country after their visas expire (most undocumented immigrants do not come to the U.S. by "crossing a border"). It should also be noted that out of the 22 million foreign born people in the U.S., 87% are legal immigrants and naturalized citizens; only 13% are undocumented or "illegal" immigrants (Golden Door, Winter 1995). This means that only 1.25% of the total U.S. population is here without proper papers. Also, undocumented immigrants are not eligible for welfare programs and most social service benefits. The only services to which undocumented are entitled are emergency health care, K-12 public education, and nutritional programs for newborns and school children. The reason for extending these services to undocumented is that it will cost us more in the long run in terms of health, safety and prosperity, if we deny these basic services to those here without papers. Thus even the undocumented immigrants are dealt with so as to benefit the U.S. society only. According to a World Bank 1992 estimate, there are 100 million international migrants of all kinds on the globe, constituting 2% of the world's population. Out of this, only around one third reside in Western Europe, North America and Australia. The U.S. admits approximately 1.1 million international immigrants each year as a part of a conscious policy designed to serve its national interests. ============================================================================== 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. ACCA is formerly CBS-IC, to know more: ftp superprism.net:/pub/cbs-ic or http://superprism.net:/~cbs-ic/ ****************************************************************************** Editor of this issue: Anne Frank ****************************************************************************** ============================================================================ 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 --- ============================================================================