Speech #1050082981

Many were targeted by death squads and faced persecution at the hands of rogue militias. They came to America to seek safety and freedom for themselves and their children. The Reagan administration. the Bush administration. and the Clinton administration assured them that they could apply to remain permanently in the United States under our immigration laws. They were promised that if they have lived here for at least 7 years and are of good moral character. and if a return to Central America will be an unusual hardship. they would be allowed to remain. Last years immigration law violated that commitment. President Clinton has promised to find a fair. and reasonable solution for these families. and the administration will use its authority to help as many of them as possible. But Congress must do its part too. by enacting this corrective legislation. Some are opposing this legislation as an amnesty for illegal aliens. That charge is false. It is an insult to these hardworking refugees. and their families who have suffered so much pain and hardship and who relied in good faith on the solemn promise they were given. Virtually all of these families are already known to the Immigration and Naturalization Service. They are not illegal aliens working underground. These families have applied to come to the United States under INS programs. and they are here on a variety of temporary immigration categories. They have acted in accord with what our Government told them to do. Not all of these families will qualify to remain here under the terms of this amendment. They still must meet certain standards that existed in the law. before last years immigration law was enacted and applied retroactively. The Immigration Service estimates that less than half of those who qualify to apply to remain in this country will be approved. These families are lawabiding. taxpaying members of communities in all parts of America. In many many cases. they have children who were born in this country and who are U.S. citizens by birth.