Speech #1010216890

I thank Chairman MOAKLEY for including my bill regarding Lebanese nationals. H.R. 3267. An orderly. systematic procedure for providing temporary protected status for nationals of countries undergoing war. civil war. or other extreme tragedy is needed to replace the current ad hoc haphazard procedure. The current procedure for extended voluntary departure is so arbitrary and discretionary that aliens are reluctant to come forward. In the case of the Lebanese. this fear is compounded by the fact that Lebanese nationals in many areas of the country are placed into deportation hearings once they apply for extended voluntary departure or deferred departure. These are the same Lebanese nationals whose cases are supposed to be viewed sympathetically by the Immigration and Naturalization Service because of an INS directive last October to that effect. I ask unanimous consent that the telex be entered into the RECORD.