Speech #960183833

Mr. Chairman. I am offering this amendment to remedy a gross inequity and to fill a gap in our refugee laws which will still be left following passage of this bill. I am referring to the burden placed on our local and State communities to support aliens who have lawfully applied for political asylum. but whose cases have not been adjudicated. Briefly. my amendment applies only to those who have applied for political asylum before November 1. 1979. Thus it is not openended and does not include any undocumented aliens who have fled to the United States for economic. rather than political reasons. The amendment provides authority for the Attorney General to issue work permits. consistent with present practice. Finally. it provides for negotiated Federal reimbursement to local communities for social services they have provided or will provide to these asylum applicants. but only until their status is adjudicated. Over the past 8 years. over 14.000 Haitian and other Caribbean aliens have landed on the Florida shores. Approximately 8.000 of these people. mostly Haitians. have applied for political asylum. alleging persecution in Haiti.