Speech #1010036402

First. the Chinese Government might learn about the students request for protection and label that student as a counterrevolutionary. This would expose the student to grave danger upon return. Second. acceptance of "deferred departure" status means the student cannot petition for changes in immigration status. even if it would be beneficial in terms of extending the students stay here. The Emergency Chinese Visitor Immigration Act would provide that Chinese nationals in this country illegally remain here during the period in which the Attorney General defers their departure. This provision would permit them to change their status if they qualify. In addition. the bill would waive the 2year foreign residency requirement for Chinese nationals. The residency requirement says that holders of "J" exchange visitor visas must return home for 2 years before they can be eligible to obtain another work or immigrant visa from the United States. Two years in China can be deadly to an individual who supports the prodemocracy movement. so the bill would let Chinese visitors petition for new visas without first having to go home and wait. This bill will. of course. send a strong message to the Chinese Government. But more than that. it will help alleviate the fear that now grips our Chinese guests. Some 70 percent of the 40.000 Chinese students in the United States are on "J" visas. In petitions. faxes. and letters to my office. they have communicated their anxiety and their desire for adjustments in the immigration laws. Now. especially. we should respond with humanitarian legislation. Mr.