Congress Extends Immigration Filing Deadline

Domestic filers to be given until 0ct. 23 to submit applications for residency

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Sep. 30) -- As expected, the Senate approved a House measure passed Monday that gives a three-week extension to tens of thousands of illegal immigrants seeking to stay in the country while the government reviews their applications for residency.

House critics complained U.S. immigration law was being compromised, but the House voted 355-57 to extend a filing deadline from Wednesday to Oct. 23 for a targeted group of immigrants seeking residency. The measure breezed through the Senate 99-0 today, and President Bill Clinton, who supports the measure, is expected to sign it before midnight.

First passed in 1994 as a temporary measure, the law applies to spouses, children and parents of U.S. citizens, allowing them to pay a $1,000 fine and file for residency in the country. Normal procedure would have them file abroad. About 345,000 people have already taken advantage of the law, and this year a total of 214,000 were expected to apply. The total undocumented population is estimated at five million.

Faced with the possible loss of the loophole, immigrants have had to weigh staying in the U.S. illegally or leaving the country to get a residency "green card" abroad. In recent weeks, lawyers and charitable groups have been swamped by phone calls about the issue.

During House debate, critics said the provision makes a mockery of the U.S. immigration system. "Common sense says you don't reward people for breaking the law," said Rep. Brian Bilbray, a California Republican.

But Abby Price of the U.S. Catholic Conference's Migration and Refugee Services told The Associated Press the issue is more complex than that.

"I think it's slowly dawning in many, many sectors that there's much more to this than meets the eye, and that the impact in communities, with the separation of families, and the impact upon American businesses will be very severely felt," Price said.

Whither the INS?

In a related development, the Commission on Immigration Reform issued its final report today, calling for the end of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, recommending that the agency's functions be split up and moved to other departments.

The Commission recommended that the Justice Department deal with illegal border crossing; that the State Department handle immigration and refugee admissions; and that the Labor Department would respond to employment questions. Finally, a new independent agency would be created to review immigration-related appeals.

Another key recommendation was to more actively pursue the assimilation of immigrants into American society. That would include better-orienting newcomers to the communities they live in, and making educating newcomers in English-language skills and core civic values a higher priority.

The commission also advocated a simplification of the test that immigrants are required to take for citizenship, and a rewriting of the oath of allegiance to make it easier to understand.

The commission's recommendations are not a done deal -- both the White House and INS are studying them -- and Congress would have to approve.

In Other News:

Tuesday Sept. 30, 1997

• Ickes To Testify Next Week
• Critics On The Right Snipe At Sen. Thompson
• Negotiators Agree To Allow Pay Increase For Congress
• N.Y. Lieutenant Gov. Joins Democratic Party
• Clinton Meets With Race Advisory Board
• Clinton Bids Goodbye To Retiring Military Chief
• Congress Extends Immigration Filing Deadline

E-mail From Washington:
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