Mr. Speaker. I rise to support the extension of section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and to oppose this effort to blatantly force immigrants to endure unnecessary hardship. Section 245(i) enables prospective lawful permanent residents to adjust their status while in the United States. This provision generates. through fees. more than $150 million in additional annual revenues. reduces the caseload of U.S. consulates overseas. and allows immigrants to remain with their families and businesses as they adjust their status in the United States rather than being forced to process their adjustments abroad. This provision is designed to encourage immigrants to comply with the law and become legal residents. It punishes people for their infractions and fines them $1.000. and only then does it allow immigrants to adjust their status and become legal residents. If the provision did not exist. some immigrants may continue to evade the law in order to remain in this country and stay with their families. This provision is a practical and effective tool that has benefited the U.S. Government as well as thousands of now legal immigrants. If we fail to extend this provision. we will have shifted enormous workloads back to U.S. consulates abroad. sacrificed desperately needed funds. and forced undue hardship on legal immigrants and their families. We ought to extend section 245(i). and extend it permanently.
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