Speech #1050079779

Mr. President. approximately 1 year ago the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act became law. Next year at this time. September 30. 1998. section 110 of this act will be implemented and will adverselyand unintentionallyaffect our neighbors in Canada. Section 110 requires the Immigration and Naturalization Service [INS] to develop an automated entry and exit system for the purpose of documenting the entry and departure of every alien arriving and leaving the United States. The United States has never had such an alien departure management system. Unfortunately. section 110 as enacted fails to recognize the decadeslong practice of not requiring most Canadian nationals to fill out INS documents--referred to as "I94s" at the border. In a December 18. 1996 letter to the Ambassador of Canada at the time. Raymond Chretien. Senator Alan Simpson. and Representative LAMAR SMITH. the chairmen of the Senate and the House Judiciary Subcommittees on Immigration. respectively. indicated to Ambassador Chretien that it was not the intention of the Judiciary Committee to impose any new requirements for border crossing cardssocalled I94s--on Canadians who are not presently required to possess such documents. The legislation which I am introducing todaywhich was introduced in the House on September 16 by Congressman JOHN LAFALCE of New Yorkwould simply clarify the intent of Congress by exempting from the section 110 provisions of the act Canadian nationals who are not now required by law to possess a visa. passport. or bordercrossing identification card to enter the United States. There is no logical reason to inhibit the flow of traffic between the United States and Canada. If the committees intention is not clarified. and section 110 is implemented at the Canadian border. congestion would become intolerable.