Speech #1090120431

This simply is not true. The Judiciary Committee bill. like the McCainKennedy bill upon which it is based. already denies earned legalization to broad categories of aliens who have committed crimes or are a security risk to our country. Immigrants denied legalization includeand this is only a partial listimmigrants convicted of "crimes of moral turpitude: aggravated assault. assault with a deadly weapon. fraud. larceny. and forgery. immigrants convicted of controlled substance offenses: sale. possession. and distribution of drugs. drug trafficking. immigrants convicted of theft offenses. including shoplifting: immigrants convicted of public nuisance offenses: immigrants with multiple criminal convictions. immigrants convicted of crimes of violence. immigrants convicted of counterfeiting. bribery. or perjury: immigrants convicted of murder. rape. or sexual abuse of a minor. immigrants convicted of espionage or sabotage immigrants believed to have engaged in terrorist activity. which is broadly defined: immigrants with any association with terrorist activity or representatives of a terrorist organization. spouses and children of individuals who are inadmissible as a terrorist. immigrants known to have acted in ways that are deemed to have adverse foreign policy consequences." What the KylCornyn amendment does is undermine the earned citizenship program in the committee bill. which I strongly believe in. It would prevent millions of Mexicans. Central Americans. Irish. and other nationals from applying for legal status because of status violations. not crimes. The vast majority of undocumented immigrants who would be affected by this amendment are not criminal aliens but. rather. the exact classes of immigrants intended to be covered by title VI of the Judiciary Committee bill. Our analysis shows that over 95 percent of the people potentially affected by this amendment are individuals whose only crimeand "crime" is very loosely construed for purposes of this discussionis being in the United States out of status95 percent. If the KylCornyn amendment passes. the United States will still confront a crisis of illegality and it will deny the will of the American people. three out of four of who favor earned legalization for immigrants who work. pay their taxes. learn English. and stay out of trouble. This bill before this body is a very fine piece of legislation. It sets a very strict standard to protect our national security.