Speech #1010133719

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to introduce legislation that will guarantee that people legalized under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 [IRCAI will be separated from their undocumented Immediate family members that are currently residing in the United States. This bill would maintain the family unit by granting undocumented immediate relatives of legalized persons work authorization and a stay of deportation until a visa is available for them under the second preference. This legislation would cover legalized persons undocumented spouses. children. and dependent parents whom are living with the legalized persons as of the date of the enactment of the bill. Under the current policy. the so called family fairness policy promulgated by the Immigration Naturalization Service (INS]. spouses and children of legalized persons are granted work authorization and extended voluntary departure if they have been residing with the legalized person in the United States since November 6. 1986. While the INS policy was designed to keep families together during the legalization process. this policy does not go far enough to preserve the sanctity of the family unit and prevent the deportation of the relatives of legalized persons. First. the INS family fairness policy still manages to exclude some immediate family members. Spouses of legalized persons who married after November 6. 1986. or entered the country after the cutoff date are precluded from benefiting from the INS policy.