Madam President. I dont think we needed a Federal judge to tell us that opposing China policy on forced abortions and sterilization is akin to political dissent. I know that many of my colleagues are concerned that such a policy would open the doors to thousands of Chinese immigrants entering the United States But the facts do not bear this out. According to statistics from 1992. 4.803 refugees from China were apprehended by the INS. Of this number. 654 were given grants of asylum by immigration judges. Although the INS did not keep strict statistics on the asylum claims. rough estimates indicate that only about 100 applied for asylum based on fear of the forced abortion policies. Even if the numbers were double that or more it would hardly be an overwhelming number to bring such concern. In any event. this amendment limits the numbers who can apply for asylum on this claim to 1.000 a year. Madam President. the issue at stake is not one of whether one supports or opposes abortion. but rather one of respect for human rights. It is time we recognized the horror of these programs of coercion in China. and took a stand on behalf of people willing to risk everything to evade this type of oppression. I hope Members will once again be willing to cast a vote. as 95 Members did in 1989. and extend to these Chinese a preferential immigration status.
Keywords matched
refugees asylum claims immigrants immigration