Speech #1050092484

I do not like disagreeing with my good friend. the gentleman from California . but I do oppose his motion to instruct. I would tell the gentleman. 245(i) does not give anybody an amnesty or give anybody a pass. It is a procedure whereby people who have been in this country and have attempted to regularize their status. and have applied and are on a list. and whose number has come up and a visa is available. it prevents them from being forced to go out of the country and wait either 3 years or 10 years to apply to come back. It keeps the families that have been established together. It is humanitarian. Yes. we are dealing with illegals who can be deported anytime. but it is a process for people who are ready to become regularized. to become regularized without having to break up the family. It deals with the reality that the people are here. If we abandon 245(i). they are going to stay here. They are not going to have to leave. But that visa that would be used up by one of those applicants will be used by another immigrant. so we add to the totality of immigration. not reduce it.