Speech #1000061786

I am proud to be a cosponsor of the measure introduced by the distinguished junior Senator from Illinois. providing for adjustment of the status of Polish nationals who arrived in the United States before the end of the period of martial law in Poland. In December 1981. the Communist Government of Poland declared martial law and outlawed the Solidarity labor movement. From that time until July 1984. an estimated 7.000 to 10.000 Polish refugees entered the United States under a special immigration status known as Extended Voluntary Departure. or EVD. Unfortunately. the State Department recommended that the EVD status of these refugees end on June 30. 1987. allegedly as part of the policy of normalizing relations with Polands Communist rulers. However. a decision by Attorney General Edwin Meese III renewed their EVD status until December 31 of this year. The Attorney Generals action has had the effect of resolving this question for the short term. but the time will soon come again when the fate of these people will be in question. This is so because once their EVD status ends. these refugees from Communist oppression will be subjected to involuntary departurethat is. forced deportation. And when an alien is deported. he or she is usually returned to their country of origin. Now is the time to take decisive action on this issue. so that these people and their relatives are not left hanging in cruel suspense. unable to plan for their futures or just live their lives. Leaving them in extended limbo is wrong. Many of these have married U.S. citizens or have children who were born here and are therefore U.S. citizens. Many of them are involved in businesses. in schools or colleges. and are active members of their churches and communities. If the Government deports them by force. we uproot them. brutally severing these relationships. shattering future plans. and separating families. What will happen to these refugees if they are deported to Poland. a nation still in the iron grip of the military dictator who suppressed Solidarity and from whose reach they fled? Because many were involved in the Solidarity movement. it is not unreasonable to think they will be treated harshly. Can the United States face the world and still claim leadership in human rights and in our opposition to Communist tyranny if these people are shipped back to Communist Poland?