WASHINGTON,
D.C. – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today joined Congressional
efforts to force the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to take
action on “late” amnesty cases that affect the lives of more than 350,000
people.
Schakowsky
joined other members of Congress and advocacy groups at a hearing chaired
by Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) to examine solutions to the
late amnesty problem, including the Legal Amnesty Restoration Act of 1999.
The bill was introduced by Jackson Lee and cosponsored by Schakowsky
and other members.
“We
must restore fairness to our immigration policy. Today’s hearing
is another example of a system that has failed to properly serve the people
it was designed help. We have taken steps to help end the ‘customer
is always wrong’ culture at the Chicago INS, and now, we are setting our
sights on helping 350,000 hardworking Americans who are about to be deported
through no fault of their own,” Schakowsky said.
In
1986, the Immigration Reform and Control Act allowed illegal immigrants
who have been living in the U.S. for more than five years to apply to remain
in this country legally through amnesty programs. However, the INS
interpreted the law to mean that if an illegal immigrant had left the country
during those five years for any length of time, they were not eligible
for amnesty. Even after the Supreme Court determined in 1996 that
this interpretation was far too narrow and that these cases should be reconsidered,
the INS has failed to take action. The Republican-led Congress has
barred these immigrants from seeking remedy in court.
The
Immigration Reform and Control Act would restore authority to federal courts
to decide these cases and would encourage settlement of these cases with
the INS.
“Tearing
down roadblocks to help these individuals and their families, who have
been productive members of our communities for many years, remain in this
country is the right thing to do,” Schakowsky said. |