Mr. Speaker. the headlines of a recent article in the Miami Herald. "Getting Married for Money Is South Florida Cottage Industry" tells a chilling tale of the inadequacies of our immigration laws. While total immigration to the United States dropped 9.6 percent from 1978 to 543.903 in 1984. the number of immigrants obtaining status by marriage to U.S. citizens increased 43 percent from 78.057 in 1978 to 111.653 in 1984. A more important statistic recently revealed by the Immigration and Naturalization Service shows that in 1984 alone. 11.721 alien fiances were admitted to the United States. of these 4.935 adjusted their status. and 1.438 decided to leave our country leaving 45 percent unaccounted for. Mr. Speaker. the legislation that I am introducing today will tighten the 11K" nonimmigrant visa category by requiring that a couple intending to marry must have met in person. speak the same language and have a bona fide intention to marry. Upon marriage. the alien would be granted a conditional 3year visa status which would count toward the 5year naturalization period. At the end of this period the couple must produce evidence that a bonafide marriage exists. If this information is not produced then status is not adjusted and the individual is subject to deportation. In addition. this legislation creates criminal penalties for those who knowingly enter into a marriage contract for the purpose of evading immigration laws.
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