Speech #1030071872

Mr. President. I rise today to Introduce a bill that would provide workable and much needed reforms in our asylum laws and related immigration provisions while at the same time. ensuring that persons who have legitimate asylum claims receive full and fair hearings. This legislation is designed to combat.the growing Immigration policy problems which confront the United States on a daily basis. It is quite obvious that a majority of Americans find that the problem of illegal immigration Is more serious now than ever before. As President Clinton and Attorney General Reno have recently noted. our immigration policy is in disarray. The Immigration and Naturalization Service is underfunded and there are almost 300.000 cases pending. The current claim process takes about 2 years to complete and. as result. many asylum applicants never even check on their claims. This cannot be allowed to continue. This bill is identical to H.R. 2602. which was introduced in the House by