Speech #990180828

Mr. President. today I am introducing legislation. with my colleague from New Jersey. Senator BRADLEY. to allow residents of each of the 50 States to participate in naturalization ceremonies being held on Ellis Island on July 3 as part of Liberty weekend. Congressmen RODINO. GUARINI. and GALLO are introducing companion legislation in the House of Representatives today. Immigration regulations state that residents must be naturalized at the place where they filed their papers. and where they have resided for the required period of time. Under these rules. the naturalization ceremonies surrounding Liberty weekend would have been open only to residents of New York. As the son of immigrant parents who. along with thousands of other new citizens. first entered this country through Ellis Island. I felt that this limited participation was the wrong way to celebrate the rededication of the Statue of Liberty. Only a truly national ceremony can symbolize what the Statue of Liberty continues to mean to all Americansan affirmation of the spirit of freedom and opportunity. Last week. Senator BRADLEY and I were named to the board of trustees of the American Museum of Immigration housed on Liberty Island. This museum. which preserves the rich history of the immigrants who settled this country. will include continuing exhibits on the Statue of Liberty and its symbolism throughout the World. I am honored to be associated with such a program. Mr. President. this legislation has the support of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. whose regulations were the source of the earlier restrictions. The INS recognizes that becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States is a lifelong dream for the great numbers of people who have immigrated here and settled in every State. not just the New York area. This legislation will ensure that representatives of each of the 50 States will be able to participate in this onceinalifetime ceremony. I urge my colleagues to give it their fullest support.