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.