Speech #930011585

I introduced legislation to help alleviate the situation of the residents of wartorn Northern Ireland. Bombings. murders. reprisals. arrests. and searches have created an atmosphere of terror which many residents of that area wish to escape. However. present immigration laws sharply restrict the number of Northern Irish who are permitted to enter the United States as immigrants. The bill which I introduced. H.R. 4195. would authorize the issuance of 25.000 special immigrant visas to residents of Northern Ireland who are seeking admission to the United States in order to escape the consequences of the civil war or religious. political. or economic persecution. These persons would not be subjected to the labor certification restrictions which currently impede residents of Northern Ireland who seek to emigate to the United States. In addition. my proposal would permit those residents of Northern Ireland who have entered the United States on nonimmigrant visas to adjust their status to that of special immigrants while they are in this country. Our Nation has benefited enormously from the contributions made by generations of IrishAmericans. In all walks of life. including politics. law. medicine. the military. industry. and the clergy.