I wish to join Senator KENNEDY. chairman of the Immigration Subcommittee. in sponsoring this measure to extend the time period to apply for legalization. This bill. when enacted. will go far to ensure congressional intent that aliens who meet the eligibility standards for amnesty be permitted to apply. As a member of the Immigration Subcommittee. I have been very concerned with the success of the legalization program. To be sure. uncertainty regarding new administrative requirements for applying for legalization were to be expected. particularly in an undertaking as large as this one. The task of overcoming the historic fear and mistrust of the Immigration Service among the undocumented population just 6 months after the new law passed would have been difficult in the best of circumstances. So it is not to be critical of the INS or to point a finger at the agency when I cosponsor this bill. I support this bill simply in order for the law to have full opportunity and time to work. The Immigration Service originally estimated that at least 200.000 aliens could be legalized in the Chicago area. As of January 12. however. only 65.323 applications had been accepted. In other words. fewer than onethird of those expected to be eligible have applied after twothirds of the time to apply has elapsed.
Keywords matched
undocumented Immigration