GEORGIA’S TWO U.S. SENATORS SAM NUNN AND PAUL COVERDELL VOTED APRIL 25 AGAINST A MEASURE THAT WOULD HAVE REDUCED BY AT LEAST 10% OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IMMIGRATION BY FAMILY MEMBERS OF LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE UNTIED STATES. BUT MR. NUNN SWITCHED HIS VOTE ON A SIMILAR MEASURE WHICH WAS INTRODUCED SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, ACCORDING TO THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD.
THE FIRST MEASURE WAS INTRODUCED BY WYOMING SEN. ALAN SIMPSON AS AN AMENDMENT TO A BILL INTENDED TO CURB LEGAL IMMIGRATION IN A MOVE THAT ATLANTA ATTORNEY DARYL BUFFENSTEIN, PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN IMMIGRATION LAWYERS ASSOCIATION, CALLED “PROCEDURAL SHENANIGANS.”
“SIMPSON ATTEMPTED TO SLIP MASSIVE CUTS ON FAMILY IMMIGRATION AS A PRECURSOR TO CUTS ON BUSINESS IMMIGRATION,” MR. BUFFENSTEIN TOLD GLOBALFAX. THE VOTE IN THE SENATE OF 80 AGAINST, TO 20 FOR MR. SIMPSON’S AMENDMENT FOLLOWING A FIVE-HOUR DEBATE REAFFIRMED THE DECISION OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE LAST MONTH TO DEAL WITH LEGAL AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IN SEPARATE BILLS, HE ADDED.
THE SECOND MEASURE WAS INTRODUCED BY CALIFORNIA SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN AND CLOSELY RESEMBLED MR. SIMPSON’S BUT WOULD ALLOW SOME VISAS FOR ADULT CHILDREN AND CHILDREN. IT WAS KILLED BY A VOTE OF 74 TO 26.
MR. BUFFENSTEIN SAID THAT IN VIEW OF THE VOTE MR. SIMPSON “GROSSLY MISCALCULATED THE MOOD IN THE CONGRESS.” HE ADDED, HOWEVER, THAT FURTHER ATTEMPTS TO TACK ON PROVISIONS AFFECTING LEGAL IMMIGRATION TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION WERE POSSIBLE, AND HE REGRETTED MR. NUNN’S AMBIVALENCE ON THE ISSUE.
HE MAY BE REACHED BY CALLING (404) 815-2232; FAX, (404) 815-2424.