Speech #1010094036

Chairman. this Member rises in strong opposition to this H.R. 45. I regret opposing the initiative of the distinguished sponsor of this legislation. However. this bill. which suspends deportation of illegal immigrants from El Salvador. Nicaragua. and China for 3 years. I believe will inadvertently. I am sure. do irreparable harm to our existing refugee and immigration laws and sets numerous bad precedents. I realize this is not a popular position. but I feel compelled to take it. The Refugee Act of 1980 was a bipartisan effort to deal with the very thorny question of refugees. It establishes procedures whereby any person. regardless of origin. can apply for and receive consideration based on the merits of his or her case. By circumventing the exisiting mechanisms. H.R. 45 would in essence establish special privileged classes of illegal aliens. These privileged classes would then be able to remain in the United States for 3 years while the General Accounting Office completes a report on political conditions in their home countries. Let us be straightforward about what will almost certainly happen if we pass this legislation. These illegal aliens as a large category will be started down the path to naturalization. That will be the next step. Mr. Chairman. this body has already addressed the plight of the Chinese students in the legislation of the gentlewoman from California [Ms. PELOSIJ. Fair treatment and refugee status for the students from the PRC can be established by the Pelosi bill or by administrative action. Chinese refugees are not at issue here. the Chinese are undoubtedly added to this legislation to make it more palatable and attractive today. The plight of Chinese students should not be the excuse for this action. By including the Chinese students with illegal migrants from Nicaragua and El Salvador. H.R. 45 would mix individuals who are truly deserving of refugee status with those who have illegally entered this country for purposes of economic betterment. For example. evidence indicates that the vast majority of Salvadorans who have illegally entered this country are not refugees under the strict United States and United Nation definition. On the contrary. the reasons why the vast majority are coming to the United States are economic. For decades literally hundreds of thousands of Salvadorans. for example. have migrated illegally to the United States in search of economic opportunity.