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[Congressional Record: October 27, 2000 (House)]
[Page H11412]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr27oc00-73]
CARIBBEAN AMNESTY AND RELIEF ACT
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to
address this body and talk about my bill, the Caribbean Amnesty and
Relief Act, and I would like to speak about it again.
I am very proud to introduce the Caribbean Amnesty and Relief Act,
which is legislation to reduce the devastating impact on the Caribbean
community caused by the 1996 Immigration Reform bill.
The people of the Caribbean Basin have always been loyal friends of
the United States. At the height of the Cold War, the United States
looked to the Caribbean nations to fight the infiltration of Cuban-
style Communism.
As a result, the Caribbean countries suffered political upheaval, and
the people of the Caribbean fled to the United States to escape human
rights abuses and economic hardship.
People of the Caribbean have now established roots in the United
States, many in my congressional district. Many have married here and
many have children that were born in the United States.
The economic structure of the Caribbean is such that it cannot absorb
the great number of undocumented people now present in the United
States.
Our country, in my opinion, should grant the Caribbean population
already in the United States amnesty since they have been here so long
and continue to benefit the United States economy.
The Jamaicans, for example, present in the United States, send back
to their families 800 million in U.S. dollars per year. The Jamaican
economy would be severely strained if that money were to disappear.
In 1997, Congress recognized that the Illegal Immigration Reform and
Responsibility Act would result in grave injustices to certain
communities, and so we passed the Nicaraguan and Central American
Relief Act but left out Caribbeans. I believe that that was very
unfair.
We need to pass legislation which will help the Caribbean community;
thus, I am proud to take the lead on the Caribbean Amnesty and Relief
Act.
I would like to again tell my colleagues what this would do. This
bill would allow for an adjustment for permanent residents for
Caribbean nationals who have lived and worked in the United States
prior to September 30, 1996 and have applied for an adjustment of
status before April 1, 2002.
This means that Caribbeans who have been in the U.S. prior to
September 30, 1996 without proper documentation can receive green
cards.
The bill provides for spouses and children of those who have become
permanent residents under section (a) to also become permanent
residents of the U.S. if they apply before April 1, 2002.
The bill establishes a Visa Fairness Commission, which will study
economic and racial profiling by American consulates abroad and customs
and immigration inspectors at U.S. points of entry.
The purpose of this section is to determine whether there is
discrimination against Caribbeans and others when applying for a visa
or upon entering the United States.
In addition, this section would allow for the Secretary of State to
waive the visa fee for those who are too poor to pay.
Again, it is imperative that we try to unite families. It is
unconscionable that we would have families here in the United States
and others in the Caribbean nations who want to be reunited but through
loopholes cannot be.
We are also concerned about the arbitrariness of people who are
granted green cards and some people who are not able to get green
cards. We think that much of this is done in an arbitrary manner.
Madam Speaker, this is important legislation, and I urge the House to
give it favorable consideration as soon as possible. We are, after all,
dealing with people's lives. I look upon immigration as a good thing
for this country. Immigrants built this country. The reason why this
country has done so well through the years is because the best and the
brightest from all over the world have come to these shores, as my four
grandparents did many, many years ago, and have helped to build this
country.
What kind of a person emigrates to these shores? It is not a lazy
person. It is someone who is willing to put aside all of the customs
and cultures, leaving family behind and coming to this country is
certainly an industrious, hard-working person who just wants to be
given a chance.
That is what the United States has meant to millions and millions and
millions of people through the years, for people to just have a chance.
It is a win-win situation, because, in terms of helping the families,
we are also helping this country.
Again, if we do not do it as this term winds down to an end, I will
be reintroducing this in the next Congress, and I hope we can move so
that this travesty of families being broken apart can be ended and that
we can finally give relief to people who need it, helping them, helping
their families and helping this country as well.
Madam Speaker, I urge this House to give my legislation favorable
consideration as soon as possible.
____________________
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