Speech #1100052999

I have heard the proponents explain that the underlying bill is not an amnesty because it does not allow anyone to jump in line. This is a fundamentally important concept. It is a matter of fundamental fairness and crucial to the integrity. not only of our immigration system. but to our entire legal system. It would be extremely unfair to allow someone who has not respected our laws to be able to obtain a green card as a legal permanent resident before someone who has respected our laws and waited in line for a chance to legally enter this country. Please understand. 1 am not just talking about the fact that those who wait in line legally have to do so in their home country while someone who has entered our country in violation of our immigration laws and obtains Z status can wait in our country. That certainly is an issue. that those here are getting the advantage over those who are observing our laws. 1 point to a story in todays USA Today. where the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Secretary Chertoff. admits there is "a fundamental unfairness" in allowing undocumented immigrants to stay in the country while those who have respected our laws wait patiently outside the country. Should we make what even Secretary Chertoff admits is "a fundamental unfairness" that much more unfair? To the proponents credit. they have attempted to craft a proposal that would not allow anyone who came here illegally obtain their green card until everyone who chose to follow the law gets their green card. But the problem with the bill is this: The compromise bill arbitrarily sets the cutoff date for being in line legally at May 1. 2005. while setting the date for the end of the line for those illegally here at January 1. 2007. I understand the reason why that was done. It was so there would not have to be added a huge number of additional green cards in order to clear the backlog of people who have been waiting patiently. legally. in line to clear before Z visa holders would get the benefits under the law. But the problem is this: What this means is someone who chose to respect the law. chose not to enter illegally. and filed the proper immigration paperwork on. for example. June 1. 2005. is not considered to be "in line" under the terms of the bill. while someone who decided not to respect the laws and entered illegally on the very same date can obtain Z status and ultimately obtain citizenship. Family groups such as Interfaith Immigration Coalition. Jewish Council for Public Affairs. the U.S. Conference of Bishops. and MALDEF. have written to my office to explain that those people who played by the rules and applied after May 1. 2005 will not be cleared as part of the family backlog pursuant to the terms of this bill and will lose their chance to immigrate under the current rules and be placed in line behind the Z visa applicants. Some of these family groups reported that more than 800.000 people who will have patiently waited in line will. in essence. be kicked out of the line. I ask unanimous consent that the letters I just referred to from these organizations. the Conference of Catholic Bishops. Interfaith Immigration Coalition. Jewish Council for Public Affairs. and MALDEF. be printed in the RECORD following my remarks.