Speech #970019884

Asha was born without a record of her birth. A doctors examination determined her birthdate to be June 15. 1966. This means the child is over 14 years of age and therefore ineligible for a relative immigrant visa. because 14 years of age is the age limitation for such visas. Prior to the discovery of Ashas age. the Sicilias had invested a considerable amount of time and effort in meeting the requirements for adopting an abandoned child from overseas. For the Sicillas to have invested so much of themselves and then to be so close to realizing their dream of sharing their love with Asha. only to be denied the unification and completion of their family at this point due to an estimation of the childs age. can only add immeasurably to the difficulties I understand the Sicilias are experiencing. Congress has been sympathetic to circumstances such as this and has a history of approving private legislation which unites abandoned children overseas under the age of 16 years with adoptive families in the United States. Indeed. legislation has been introduced in the 97th Congress which would amend the pertinent section of the Immigration and Naturalization Act to raise the age limitation to 16 years. However. until this legislation passes both Houses of Congress. private legislation will still be necessary to resolve these unfortunate and difficult circumstances. By Mr.