Speech #1000061786

H.R. 2692 has been introduced in the House of Representatives allowing these Poles the opportunity to acquire permanent resident status. Now. this measure has been introduced into the Senate as a companion bill. The bill authorizes the Attorney General to grant permanent resident status to all Poles who entered the United States on or before July 21. 1984. have established a record of entry with the immigration and naturalization service. and have lived in the United States continuously since that time. As a guiding principle the definitions contained in the Immigation and Nationality Act will apply in the administration of this procedure. This measure provides these refugees the opportunity to live in freedom. By guaranteeing these people permanent resident status. this bill provides them the opportunity to plan ahead and live their lives without the sword of deportation hanging over their heads. No good can possibly come from the mass deportation of these people. Such an action would recall the period of time at the end of World War II when tens of thousands of refugees were forcibly deported to the East where they met their deaths at the hands of Stalins executioners. Those episodes are a dark stain on the honor of the Western democracies. Instead. let us live up to our modern standards of humane conduct. those standards embodied in the Helsinki final act and other international agreements.