Speech #1030232387

Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of H.R. 783. as amended. the "Immigration and Nationality Technical Corrections Act of 1994." H.R. 783 originally passed the House by voice vote on November 20. 1993. It consisted of five sections. all of which dealt with naturalization and citizenship. The bill also passed the Senate by voice vote on that day. but the Senate added a number of new sections to the original five. Then. on September 20. 1994. the House concurred with the Senate amendment. and added an amendment. Last night the Senate accepted our version of the bill. as passed on September 20. in its totality. but added additional provisions concerning criminal aliens. foreign doctors. and diplomatic visas. The Senate amendment makes some needed changes in the law regarding criminal aliens. First. the Senate amendment expands the definition of aggravated felony. Under current law. If an alien commits an aggravated felony the consequences are far reaching because such an alien is not eligible for most forms of discretionary relief from deportation. Under current law. aggravated felony is defined as a felony involving murder. drug trafficking. trafficking in firearms. money laundering. or any crime of violence for which the term of imprisonment is at least 5 years. The Senate amendment expands the definition of aggravated felony to include other violent crimes. immigration related crimes such as alien smuggling. specified white collar crimes and various other extremely serious crimes. A similar provision was included in a bill. H.R. 1459. introduced by the ranking member of the subcommittee. Mr. MCCOLLUM. Second. the Senate amendment establishes a judicial deportation mechanism which would give the U.S. district courts the authority to enter judicial orders of deportation when they sentence a deportable alien who has been convicted of a crime. This provision will alleviate resource problems at INS and result in more criminal aliens being deported. Again. a similar provision was included in the bill. H.R. 1459. introduced by the ranking member.