Mr. Speaker. Today I am introducing legislation to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act in order to provide that once a person has been granted asylum under the laws of the United States. he may not be involuntarily removed from this country by contrary laws or judicial decrees of any state. Specifically. this important bill would clarify the status of Walter Polovchak. the 15year old Ukrainian boy. who lives in the l1th Congressional District of Illinois which I am honored to represent. and who wishes to remain in the United States rather than return to the Soviet Union. As my colleagues know. the Polovchaks had emigrated to our country from the Soviet Union with their three children in January 1980. but after 6 months in the United States. Walters parents became dissatisfied with American life. and decided to return to the Soviet Union. Wanting to remain in this country. Walter. age 12 at the time. fled from his parents on July 19. 1980. and later was granted political asylum by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. His older sister. age 17. was traveling on her own visa. and was legally old enough to decide to remain in this country without any problem. Therefore. Walter and his sister remained in the United States when their parents returned to the Soviet Union with their younger brother. and Walter. a minor. was subsequently placed by an Illinois lower court in the custody of Ukrainian friends in this country.
Keywords matched
Naturalization Immigration emigrated visa