Speech #1020199407

I was shocked to learn that the hate. mistrust. and rampant violations of human rights have spilled over across the Atlantic to the midHudson Valley. On April 16. 1992. Francis Gildernew. a native of Tyrone County who had first come to our country in 1984. was arrested by some 8 to 12 FBI and Immigration and Naturalization Service Agents and charged with fraud in applying for his green card. On the surface. this case appears to be fairly simple. Francis Gildernew had in fact spent 8 years In prison in Northern Ireland. and had in fact answered "no" when asked on his green card application whether he had ever been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude in his home country. However. as one who has been closely involved in the situation in Northern Ireland. I can say that there is much more that needs to be said in Francis Gildernews defense. Francis entered this country legally on a visitors visa. and subsequently married an American citizen. Sharon Ann Tierney in April 1985. at which point he was granted an adjustment to permanent resident status. Throughout the past 8 years.