Speech #930206552

Mr. President. today I introduce a bill on behalf of the Department of Justice which would amend se.tion 241(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. to clarify the authority of the Attorney General to exclude and deport aliens for fraudulent entry into the United States. I ask that it be appropriately referred. The purpose of the present section 241 (f) was to waive a single and relatively minor ground for deportation. arising out of misrepresentations in procuring entry. for aliens with a close family relative who is a U.S. citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence. However. because some courts have liberally read the statute. numerous deportable aliens have sought to expand the statute into a charter of amnestywaiving all restrictions for those aliens who entered the United States through fraud. In doing this. deportable aliens have found it useful to claim that they have committed fraud in contending that they were. therefore. entitled to benefits not available to the law abiding. The bill which I introduce today would curtail the distortion of the statute and reduce serious enforcement problems by clearly defining the scope of section 241 (f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. It would: First. Limit the waiver of deportabilIty to those who entered with an immigrant visa. Second. Waive only the deportation ground related to the misrepresentation. Third. Grant the waiver only in the discretion of the Attorney General. and Fourth.