1996: Voted for the Chrysler-Berman Amendment that would continue the practice of chain migration.
Representative Kennedy voted for the Chrysler-Berman Amendment to H.R.2202 (Smith). Had the amendment failed, H.R.2202 would have eliminated or significantly reduced several extended-family immigration categories. It would have reduced overall legal immigration by almost 2.5 million over a ten-year period. Instead, the amendment, sponsored by congressmen Chrysler, Berman and Brownback, passed by 238-183.

1990: Voted for bill removing limits on immigration (Kennedy)
Representative Kennedy supported H.R.4300 that increased limits in most immigration categories. Since then, immigration has risen to around 1,000,000 (one million) a year. The primary sponsor of this bill was Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.).

1996: Voted for an amendment that increased the number of visas in the visa lottery.
Rep. Kennedy voted for the Chrysler-Berman Amendment to H.R.2202 (Smith). This was a vote against a 50 percent reduction in the number of visas allocated to the lottery category. H.R.2202 would have reduced overall legal immigration by approximately 27,000 a year by cutting the lottery in half, which would have been a reduction of 270,000 over 10 years. Ultimately, the Chrysler-Berman Amendment, sponsored by congressmen Chrysler, Berman and Brownback, passed by a vote of 238-183, stripping legal reforms from the bill.

1990: Voted for bill establishing Immigration Lottery (Kennedy)
Representative Kennedy supported the creation of the visa lottery in the H.R.4300, Immigration Act of 1990. The lottery was intended to increase immigration from countries with previously low-admission rates and rewards its winners with a visa. The primary sponsor was Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.).

1998: Voted for a bill to almost double H-1B foreign high-tech workers (Smith).
Rep. Kennedy helped the House pass H.R.3736. Enacted into law, it increased by nearly 150,000 the number of foreign workers high-tech American companies could hire over the next three years. The primary sponsor was Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas).

1996: Voted for an amendment that would have increased the importation of foreign workers.
Representative Kennedy voted for the Chrysler-Berman Amendment to H.R.2202 (Smith). It was a vote in favor of a continuous stream of unskilled workers--those who compete with Americans and other immigrants for low-wage jobs and further depress the wages for those jobs. Had the amendment failed, H.R.2202 would have reduced overall legal immigration by almost 2.5 million over a ten-year period. Instead, the amendment, sponsored by congressmen Chrysler, Berman and Brownback, passed by 238-183.

1996: Voted against the Burr Amendment which would continue a foreign nurse guestwork program
The Burr amendment to H.R.2202 would have continued a foreign nurses guestworker program. The amendment, sponsored by Richard Burr, was defeated 154-262.

1990: Voted for bill increasing immigration categories (Kennedy)
Representative Kennedy supported an increase in worker importation by voting for H.R.4300, a comprehensive increase in immigration categories. Since then, immigration has risen to around 1,000,000 (one million) a year. The bills primary sponsor was Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.).

1996: Voted for an amendment which would have resulted in higher refugee admissions.
Rep. Kennedy voted for the Chrysler-Berman Amendment to H.R. 2202 (Smith) that stripped legal immigration reforms from the legislation. This was a vote against reducing annual refugee admissions, as recommended by the Barbara Jordan Commission. The amendment, sponsored by congressmen Chrysler, Berman and Brownback, passed by a vote of 238-183 and the comprehensive reforms were removed from the bill.

1990: Voted for bill that doubled the number of people granted asylum each year (Kennedy)
Rep. Kennedy voted for H.R. 4200, which doubled the number of asylum seekers who could be granted permanent residence each year, thus increasing the incentive to file fraudulent asylum applications. Ultimately, the 1990 bill sponsored by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) passed.

1998: cosponsored a bill to award amnesty to illegal aliens (Gutierrez).
Rep. Kennedy cosponsored H.R.3553, which would have awarded amnesty to almost 1.2 million illegal immigrants, in addition to the almost one million who were granted amnesty in 1997. The primary sponsor of this bill was Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.).

1997-1998: Voted against a motion to strip an amensty from a bill.
Rep. Kennedy voted against the Rohrabacher Motion to H.R. 2267 to kill the Section 245(i) amnesty that allowed certain illegal aliens to pay a fee and avoid a 1996 laws provision that punishes illegal aliens by barring them for 10 years from entering the U.S. on a legal visa as a student, tourist, worker or immigrant. The Rohrabacher Motion, sponsored by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.), failed by a vote of 153-268.

1990: Voted for a bill that provided family-based amnesty (Kennedy)
Rep. Kennedy voted for H.R. 4300, which provided an amnesty for up to 165,000 spouses and minor children of illegal aliens who were granted amnesty in 1986. Ultimately, the 1990 bill sponsored by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) passed.

1996: Voted against bill denying illegal aliens in-state tuition (Smith)
Rep. Kennedy voted against H.R. 2202 that denied illegal aliens in-state tuition, in addition to almost all forms of federal welfare. The primary sponsor was Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas).

1996: Voted against a bill to reduce illegal immigration with border control, such as increased Border Patrol forces.
Rep. Kennedy voted against H.R. 2202, a large omnibus bill with dozens of provisions aimed at reducing illegal immigration. It included major increases in Border Patrol forces. As well, it barred from any kind of legal entry for 10 years any illegal alien who had been previously apprehended and deported. H.R. 2202, sponsored by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), passed by a vote of 333-87.

1996: Voted against a bill to increase interior enforcement, such as restricting sanctuary cities.
Rep. Kennedy voted against H.R. 2202, a large omnibus bill with dozens of provisions aimed at reducing illegal immigration. Among the interior enforcement measures included in the bill were restrictions against sanctuary cities for illegal aliens. H.R. 2202, sponsored by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), passed by a vote of 333-87.

1996: Voted against an amendment that would have ended a workplace verification program.
Rep. Kennedy voted against the Chabot Amendment to H.R. 2202 to kill the voluntary pilot workplace verification program in 5 states. Workplace verification is an essential tool for withdrawing the job magnet from illegal aliens. The Chabot Amendment, sponsored by Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), failed by a vote of 260-159.

1996: Voted in favor of the Gallegly Amendment to increase interior enforcement through mandatory workplace verification pilot program
Rep. Kennedy voted in favor of the Gallegly Amendment to H.R. 2202 (Smith) to make the pilot workplace verification program mandatory in five states. This would have helped reduce illegal immigration by reducing the job magnet for illegal aliens. The amendment, sponsored by Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.), failed by a vote of 86-331.