Prior to her appointment to the Congressional Commission for the Study of International Migration and Cooperative Economic Development, Dr. Lee had a wealth of experiences in international affairs. During her tenured years at the University of Houston/Clear Lake, Dr. Lee had a broad scope of academic and professional interests related to her teaching and research responsibilities. Her special interests in international studies were woven with her research and publications. As indicated in her Vita, Dr. Lee was a guest of South Korea’s UNESCO, Foreign Ministries of Russia and South Africa in mid-1980s and a Fulbright Scholar to India in 1987. She was also appointed by President George H. Bush to serve on the Fulbright Scholarship Board in 1991.
The Congressional Commission for the Study of International Migration and Cooperative Economic Development was established in May 1987 as mandated by the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) passed by the US Congress in 1986. This subcabinet level, bi-partisan commission consisted of 10 members appointed by the US Congressional leaders. Six were appointed by the Senate majority and minority leaders and four were appointed by the House leaders. Dr. Esther Lee (formerly known as Dr. Esther Lee Yao) was appointed by Senator Bob Dole. She was the only Asian American on the Commission and one of the two female commissioners. This subcabinet level Commission consisted of former governor, scholars, ambassador, cabinet members, lawyer and business leaders.
The mission of the Commission was to identify diverse factors leading to illegal migration from Central America and Caribbean and to determine the forms of economic collaboration that could mitigate the issues. The Commission visited several nations in Central America and Caribbean to consult their heads of states, governmental officials, business leaders and researchers regarding the issues related to undocumented immigration. In addition, a series of public hearings were held in those US cities impacted by the influx of illegal immigrants. The Commission also visited some newly established maquiladora plants along the US/Mexico border cities. In 1989, the federal government put in place specific procedures and requirements for maquilas under the “Decree for Development and Operation of the Maquiladora Industry”.[ Maquiladoras industry consists of those plants and companies that allow factories to be largely duty free and tariff-free for export. These factories take raw materials and assemble, manufacture, or process them and export the finished product. The activities and accomplishments of the Commission could be found in the scanned executive summary. Additional information could be searched via internet. https://books.google.com/books?id=7kg1AAAAIAAJ&source=gbs_book_other_versions
For some researchers’ interest, here is Dr. Lee’s background of this appointment. Since President Reagan’s reelection, Asian Americans had made good progress in terms of working with the White House. Mr. Rudy Beserra, a special assistant (1982-88) to President Ronald Reagan in the White House’s Office of Public Liaison, was very supportive and accessible to the Asian American community. He held White House briefings for Asian American leaders periodically. (Later, he retired from Coca Cola as the Sr. VP.) Treasuring the accessibility to Ronald Reagan’s administration, Esther became a friend of several White House staff members during 1984-1992. During a drop-by visit with Mr. Beserra one day in late 1986, he told Esther that the Congress just passed the new immigration reform bill. He encouraged Esther to pursue an appointment to the Commission created by the Bill. Later, he realized that the appointments of ten members were not by the President but by the Congress. Although Rudy was not involved in the appointment process, his information shared with Esther was very beneficial. As a result, through Esther’s political network, she was able to contact the Office of Senator Bob Dole, the Majority leader of the US Senate. The first female Chief Secretary of the US Senate, Jo-Anne L. Coe, was in charge of the process and finally informed Esther of her appointment via phone in Spring 1987.
The Congressional Commission for the Study of International Migration and Cooperative Economic Development was established in May 1987 as mandated by the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) passed by the US Congress in 1986. This subcabinet level, bi-partisan commission consisted of 10 members appointed by the US Congressional leaders. Six were appointed by the Senate majority and minority leaders and four were appointed by the House leaders. Dr. Esther Lee (formerly known as Dr. Esther Lee Yao) was appointed by Senator Bob Dole. She was the only Asian American on the Commission and one of the two female commissioners. This subcabinet level Commission consisted of former governor, scholars, ambassador, cabinet members, lawyer and business leaders.
The mission of the Commission was to identify diverse factors leading to illegal migration from Central America and Caribbean and to determine the forms of economic collaboration that could mitigate the issues. The Commission visited several nations in Central America and Caribbean to consult their heads of states, governmental officials, business leaders and researchers regarding the issues related to undocumented immigration. In addition, a series of public hearings were held in those US cities impacted by the influx of illegal immigrants. The Commission also visited some newly established maquiladora plants along the US/Mexico border cities. In 1989, the federal government put in place specific procedures and requirements for maquilas under the “Decree for Development and Operation of the Maquiladora Industry”.[ Maquiladoras industry consists of those plants and companies that allow factories to be largely duty free and tariff-free for export. These factories take raw materials and assemble, manufacture, or process them and export the finished product. The activities and accomplishments of the Commission could be found in the scanned executive summary. Additional information could be searched via internet. https://books.google.com/books?id=7kg1AAAAIAAJ&source=gbs_book_other_versions
For some researchers’ interest, here is Dr. Lee’s background of this appointment. Since President Reagan’s reelection, Asian Americans had made good progress in terms of working with the White House. Mr. Rudy Beserra, a special assistant (1982-88) to President Ronald Reagan in the White House’s Office of Public Liaison, was very supportive and accessible to the Asian American community. He held White House briefings for Asian American leaders periodically. (Later, he retired from Coca Cola as the Sr. VP.) Treasuring the accessibility to Ronald Reagan’s administration, Esther became a friend of several White House staff members during 1984-1992. During a drop-by visit with Mr. Beserra one day in late 1986, he told Esther that the Congress just passed the new immigration reform bill. He encouraged Esther to pursue an appointment to the Commission created by the Bill. Later, he realized that the appointments of ten members were not by the President but by the Congress. Although Rudy was not involved in the appointment process, his information shared with Esther was very beneficial. As a result, through Esther’s political network, she was able to contact the Office of Senator Bob Dole, the Majority leader of the US Senate. The first female Chief Secretary of the US Senate, Jo-Anne L. Coe, was in charge of the process and finally informed Esther of her appointment via phone in Spring 1987.
The congressional Commission for the Study of International Migration and Cooperative Economic Development was established in May, 1987 as a result of the immigration reform bill passed by the Congress in 1986. This bi-partisan commission consisted of 10 members appointed by the US Congressional leaders. Six were appointed by the majority and minority leaders of the senate and four were appointed by the House leaders. Dr. Esther Lee (formerly known as Dr. Esther Lee Yao) was appointed by Senator Bob Dole in the spring of 1987. She was the only Asian American on the Commission and one of the two female commissioners. The mission and accomplishments of the Commission could be found in the scanned executive summary.
Here is the background of her appointment. One day when Esther went to the White House to visit her friend, Rudy Beseria, Presidential assistant for Public Liaison, she was informed and encouraged by Rudy to seek an appointment of this commission created by the passage of the immigration reform law in 1986. Since it was a congressional commission the White House had no influence of the appointments of its membership. He suggested Esther to contact Senator Bob Dole, the minority leader of the US Senate. Through working with Anna Coe, Dole’s key staff member, Esther finally was appointed by Senator Dole; it’s a miracle due to the high level of its caliber. Esther did not feel she was qualified and deserve such an appointment. However, she learned and contributed greatly to the commission as a minority and immigrant member.
This three-year commission traveled extensively to Central and South America and Caribbean in addition to holding hearings throughout the country. The commission had its own office and staff. They also relied on experts from the field, including universities.
Here is the background of her appointment. One day when Esther went to the White House to visit her friend, Rudy Beseria, Presidential assistant for Public Liaison, she was informed and encouraged by Rudy to seek an appointment of this commission created by the passage of the immigration reform law in 1986. Since it was a congressional commission the White House had no influence of the appointments of its membership. He suggested Esther to contact Senator Bob Dole, the minority leader of the US Senate. Through working with Anna Coe, Dole’s key staff member, Esther finally was appointed by Senator Dole; it’s a miracle due to the high level of its caliber. Esther did not feel she was qualified and deserve such an appointment. However, she learned and contributed greatly to the commission as a minority and immigrant member.
This three-year commission traveled extensively to Central and South America and Caribbean in addition to holding hearings throughout the country. The commission had its own office and staff. They also relied on experts from the field, including universities.
