Speech #980219386

amendment to provide permanent resident status to certain Cuban and Haitian boat people. This amendment would right the injustices in our treatment of Cuban and Haitian refugee boat people who sought safety on our shores before 1982. The unique plight and legal limbo of this restricted number of refugees should be resolved through a grant of permanent resident status as the amendment proposes. The great majority of the class of Cubans and Haitians who would benefit from the Rodino amendment long ago have been granted a temporary "entrant" status and a promise of legal residence. There is particular concern for the plight of the Haitian refugees. many of whom were jailed for up to 18 months under a detention program that has been found to have been illegal and discriminatory by two courts. This group still faces the prospect of forcible deportation to Haiti from which they fled over 3 years ago. A number of them have been aided. by charitable groups in my area. This amendment contains a comprehensive class definition which is necessary to fully correct this discriminatory treatment. It is a definition that is not restricted to the narrow formality of the "entrant" definition. It is essential to grant permanent residency to both entrants and nonimmigrants from Cuba or Haiti who arrived here before January 1. 1982. with respect to whom any record was established by the Immigration and Naturalization Service before that date. Mr. Chairman. it is essential that the legalization title of the Immigration Reform and Control Act contain particular language to provide for the need of these two refugee groups. The general and comprehensive legalization program already in the bill is subject to revision and its coverage to restriction. The compelling equities of the Cuban and Haitian boat people should not be lost amid the very important debate over general legalization eligibility. Therefore. again I express my support for Chairman RoDINOs amendment. which will assure these refugees a future in our country. and I urge my colleagues to join in voting for its immediate adoption.