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OCR Page 1 of 103An unusual coalition of conserva-
SENATE VOTES BILL
Continued From Page Al
tives who oppose big government
and liberals who fear the verification
spread over eight days that was side-
program would violate workers' civil
AIMED AT ALIENS
tracked several times by Democrat-
liberties failed to block the provision.
ic efforts to tack on provisions deal-
"Eventually, every hiring decision
ing with the Social Security trust
would have to be cleared" by com-
IN U.S. ILLEGALLY
fund and a proposed increase in the
puter, Gregory T. Nojeim of the
minimum wage. Three Democrats
American Civil Liberties Union
voted against the bill: Paul Simon of
warned. Much of the public anger
Illinois, Russell D. Feingold of Wis-
toward immigrants centers on a per-
consin and Bob Graham of Florida.
ception that they receive more in
CRACKDOWN GAINS, 97-3
The House and Senate bills largely
Government benefits than they pay
conform with the approach the Re-
in taxes. But only about 5 percent of
publican Congress and Democratic
working-age legal immigrants who
Measure Faces Reconciliation
White House have pursued in recent
are not refugees receive public as-
years, namely to increase law en-
sistance, virtually the same percent-
With a House Version, and
forcement on the border with Mexico
age of working-age citizens, accord-
and to streamline the deportation
ing to 1994 census figures.
Perhaps a Clinton Veto
process, particularly for immigrants
Illegal immigrants are ineligible
convicted of crimes here.
for public assistance, except emer-
AI
The centerpiece of the Senate bill
gency Medicaid, school lunches and
aims to curb the flow of the estimat-
By ERIC SCHMITT
other nutrition programs, immuniza-
ed 300,000 foreigners who enter the
WASHINGTON, May 2 - Riding a
United States illegally or overstay
tions and short-term disaster relief
wave of public anger against illegal
their visas each year, and to make it
Under the Senate bill, legal immi-
immigrants, the Senate overwhelm-
more difficult for those who do come
grants would be eligible only for the
ingly approved a bill today that
here-illegally to obtain jobs and Gov-
lunch and nutrition programs, much
would tighten America's borders and
ernment benefits. The Immigration
less than what illegal immigrants
clamp down on millions of illegal
and Naturalization Service esti-
would receive. That is because the
immigrants living and working here.
mates that four million illegal immi-
legislation would require that the in-
The bill, approved by a 97-to-3 vote,
grants now live in the United States.
come of the immigrant and the im-
would nearly double the size of the
"The Senate is saying that at least
migrant's sponsor be combined
Border Patrol, which now numbers
in 1996, an election year, it is drawing
when determining whether the im-
5,175 agents. It would stiffen penal-
a Maginot line against illegal immi-
migrant is eligible to receive any
ties against document fraud, speed
gration," said Demetrios G. Papade-
means-tested assistance.
deportation of immigrants who com-
metriou, an immigration specialist
Under current law, the sponsor is
mit crimes and restrict public bene-
at the Carnegie Endowment for In-
not legally responsible for the immi-
fits to legal and illegal immigrants.
ternational Peace in Washington.
grant's support. Legal immigrants
The senators also authorized Fed-
Indeed, the bill takes dead aim at
eral pilot programs that would re-
the border and the workplace.
are now eligible for all Federal as-
quire employers to tap into an auto-
The legislation provides for an ad-
sistance except welfare, Food
mated national database to verify
ditional 700 Border Patrol agents
Stamps or supplemental security in-
the legal status of workers they want
this year, and 1,000 more agents a
come for their first three to five
to hire, an approach that critics con-
year from 1997 through 2000. Assum-
years in the country.
tend would to the introduction of a
ing these additional agents arrest
Mr. Simpson acknowledged that a:
national identification card.
more illegal immigrants, the bill also
separate bill on legal immigration
"We've brought forward signifi-
orders the Immigration Service to
pending in the Senate was dead.
cant changes in legal and illegal im-
increase its detention space to at
"The question of how many legal
migration that are rather sweeping,"
least 9,000 beds, a 66 percent in-
immigrants come in and who we
said Senator Alan K. Simpson, a Wy-
crease in current capacity.
choose was derailed," said Dan
oming Republican who is the bill's
The bill also increases the maxi-
Stein, executive director of the Fed-
main author and the Senate's leading
mum criminal penalties for docu-
eration for American Immigration
authority on immigration.
ment fraud to a $500,000 fine and 15
Reform, which supports reductions
But the Senate rejected an impor-
years in prison, from $250,000 and 5
tant legal immigration provision
years. Government officials would
in legal and illegal immigration.
when it buried efforts led by Mr.
have new authority to conduct wire-
Simpson to-cut the number of legal
taps on suspected smugglers of im-
immigrants permitted to enter the
migrants and bogus-document users.
country, now about 750,000 a year.
"We have stuff in there that has
Both President Clinton and Sena-
everything but the rack and thumb-
tor Bob Dole of Kansas, the presump-
screws for people who are violating
THE NEW YORK TIMES
tive Republican candidate for Presi-
the laws of the United States," Mr.
dent, stand to benefit politically from
Simpson told reporters.
The bill takes several steps to
FRIDAY, MAY 3, 1996
tough positions against illegal immi-
grants. More than 70 percent of the
eliminate the magnet of the ease of
nation's legal and illegal immigrants
getting jobs that most immigration
live in six voter-rich states - Cali-
experts say is the greatest attraction
fornia, New York, New Jersey, Tex-
this country offers illegal immi-
as, Florida and Illinois - where
grants. To combat a booming bogus
many officials are worried that im-
document industry, senators autho-
migrants unduly burden schools and
rized the development of standard-
ized, counterfeitproof birth certifi-
other local services.
cates and other state-issued identifi-
The Senate bill must now be recon-
cation documents.
ciled with a version the House ap-
More important, senators directed
proved in March. The two bills are
the Immigration Service to test sev-
largely similar, except for provisions
eral pilot programs in states with
in the House bill that include restric-
large numbers of immigrants to find
tions on asylum-seekers and a meas-
one that best allows employers to
ure to allow states to bar public
verify the legal status of people they
schooling for illegal immigrants.
want to hire. Congress would then
Mr. Clinton, who has threatened to
review the choices, which will in-
veto any bill that includes the educa-
volve using a national computerized
tion provision, urged Congress to re-
databank, and select one it likes.
solve other provisions the White
"This bill makes it much harder
House opposes. "While this bill
for illegal aliens to falsify job appli-
strongly supports our enforcement
cations," said Senator Edward M.
efforts, it still goes too far in denying
Kennedy, a Massachusetts Demo-
legal immigrants access to vital
crat.
safety-net programs which could
jeopardize public health and safety,"
Mr. Clinton said in a statement.
Today's vote capped 51 hours and
45 minutes of often emotional debate
Continued on Page A22, Column 4