The passengers on the St. Louis who were forced back to occupied Europe in 1939 were smuggled aliens too. Finally. we should be extremely careful about forcibly repatriating asylum seekers to China in light of evidence that a number of those sent back by the United States since 1993 have been subjected to "reeducation camps." forced labor. beatings. and other harsh treatment The passage of this legislation. despite its defects. should be good news for the dozens of people who are still being detained by INS. even though they were found to have testified credibly to a wellfounded fear of forced abortion or forced sterilizationor even that they have already been subjected to these procedures. People whose claims were rejected under the discredited case of Matter of Chang and its progeny should be released from detention immediately. and their asylum cases should be reheard under the rule that is restored by this law. Mr. Speaker. the problem is not people fleeing persecution. and it is not people who obey our immigration laws. The problem is illegal immigration. The solution is to cut illegal immigration from 300.000 per year to zero. and to provide speedy deportation proceedings for millions of illegal immigrants who have abused our hospitality. As President Reagan said in his farewell address: "The shining city upon a hill is still a beacon for all who must have freedom. for all the pilgrims from all the lost places who are hurtling through the darkness. toward home." We are still the land of the free. still the most generous nation on Earth. but we must also insist on fairness and on respect for law. We must continue to work for the swift and sure enforcement of our immigration laws. without sacrificing American values.
Keywords matched
immigration asylum cases illegal immigrants deportation asylum seekers illegal immigration