FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 4, 2000                       

CONTACT:
Matt Tallmer
AILA Public Affairs Manager
202-216-2404

IMMIGRATION LAWYERS APPLAUD HOUSE VOTE ON H-1B;

CONGRESS NEEDS TO PASS OTHER IMMIGRATION MEASURES

WASHINGTON, D.C. ─ The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) hailed House approval on a voice vote of a measure allowing employers to retain temporary foreign professionals. But AILA also called upon Congress to approve other vitally needed immigration bills.

            “We are extraordinarily pleased that both Republicans and Democrats together stood in support of a measure that will help sustain our economic growth, and will help American workers prepare for well-paying, high-tech jobs by funding training programs for current employees and education programs for American students,” said Margaret A. Catillaz, AILA’s President. “We thank Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) and Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-MO) for quickly taking up and passing S. 2045. We call on President Clinton to just as quickly sign the bill into law.” 

“Congress cannot lose sight of the fact that, before adjournment, it must address four other important immigration matters: due process reforms of the overly harsh 1996 laws, the restoration of Section 245(i), NACARA parity and updating the registry date. These measures do not merely make technical changes in a complicated law. The inequities of our nation’s immigration system are hurting people trying to reunite with their families and fleeing civil strife,” Catillaz said.

“Passage of these measures also are central to continuing our current economic expansion, because they will help alleviate the dire and long-term worker shortages that are affecting businesses in all economic sectors –shortages that Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan has said are the greatest threat to our economic growth.

“We urge Congress to restore American values of law, justice and fairness to our nation’s immigration system by passing much-needed reforms. By restoring American values, we also will be helping to ensure that the longest economic expansion in U.S. history continues unabated.”

-30-

38me0158