Speech #890248102

I simply desire to rise in support of this bill. H.R. 12596. which is very fair and corrects an inequity. A year ago. when we amended the Immigration and Nationality Act. we hoped that it would allow for more equitable treatment of those who wish to become citizens of this great Nation. Since last December 1. however. when the new act went into effect. it has become clear that the new law itself contains several distressing inequities. Many of the inequities in the new act apply most directly to the countries of Latin America. I hope that. before this session of Congress is over. the Judiciary Committee will have an opportunity to review the application of the new immigration laws to the people of Latin America. Mr. Speaker. one especially pressing problem confronts many Latin Americans who were in the United States last year. and whose applications for a change of status to that of permanent residents were filed before the new law went into effect. Because of the time lag in processing. many applications had not been acted upon by December 1. 1965. when the new law went into effect. The Justice Department has treated these applicants under the provisions of the new law. which does not permit Latin Americans to change their status--or to become permanent residentswithout returning to their country of origin. As a result. many Latin Americans have been threatened with deportation. Consequently. on March 8 I introduced H.R. 13394. which would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act in order to treat applications filed before December 1. 1965. under the provisions of the former law. The situation was urgent when I introduced that amendment 5 months ago. During the intervening months. as these peoples lives have been clouded with uncertainty and threats of deportation. the situation has become drastic. For that reason. I fully support H.R. 12596.