Speech #1030130915

Haiti. and the former Yugoslavia combined. The reason over 10.000 people were given permanent status in the United States was that they were born in Cuba. The Cuban Adjustment Act is indefensible and should be repealed. and that is why today I am introducing legislation to repeal the Cuban Adjustment Act so Cubans will be treated just as every other political asylum seeker in the world is treated. Mr. Speaker. today I am introducing legislation to repeal the Cuban Adjustment Act of Mr. Speaker. the Cuban Adjustment Act allows Cuban nationals who have been living in the United States for 1 year. under any circumstances. to become permanent residents of the United States. In practical terms. the act creates an exception to our immigration law which is not available to any other people of any other nationality. In 199192 a total of 10.851 Cuban nationals adjusted to permanent resident status. this is in addition to 7.911 Cuban refugees for the same period. The number of Cuban nationals who adjusted under the act exceeds the total number of refugees in 199192 from Cambodia. El Salvador. Romania. Somalia. and the former Yugoslavia. Further. with travel restrictions being lowered in Cuba there is a greater likelihood that Cuban nationals may be overstaying their nonimmigrant visas and adjusting to permanent residence status under the act. The act enables presumably any Cuban national who arrives in the United States and finds some way to stay here. to become a permanent resident. whether or not he or she meets the definition of a refugee or fits within the legal immigration preference categories. The act was passed In 1966. a time when we as a country had very different concerns and priorities. It has not accomplished the goal of sending a message to Cuba. even il the message was sent it was never heard.