[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 136 (Friday, September 27, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H11545]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         OSCAR SALAS-VELAZQUEZ

  The Clerk called the bill (H.R. 1031) for the relief of Oscar Salas-
Velazquez.
  There being no objection, the Clerk read the bill, as follows:

                               H.R. 1031

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. WAIVER OF GROUNDS FOR DISAPPROVAL OF REQUESTS FOR 
                   CLASSIFICATION AND ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 204(c) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act, the Attorney General may not 
     disapprove a petition for classification of Oscar Salas-
     Velazquez under section 201(b)(2)(A)(i) of such Act, or an 
     application for adjustment of the status of Oscar Salas-
     Velazquez under section 245 of such Act, on any ground 
     relating to a determination that the marriage of Oscar Salas-
     Velazquez and Jennifer Christine Brady was entered into for 
     the purpose of evading the immigration laws.
       (b) Waiver of Inadmissibility.--Notwithstanding 
     subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of section 212(a)(6) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act, Oscar Salas-Velazquez may 
     not be considered to be within a class of excludable aliens 
     at any time on or after the date of the enactment of this Act 
     on any ground relating to--
       (1) a determination that the marriage of Oscar Salas-
     Velazquez and Jennifer Christine Brady was entered into for 
     the purpose of evading the immigration laws; or
       (2) the deportation of Oscar Salas-Velazquez on February 9, 
     1995.

  With the following committee amendment in the nature of a substitute:
  Committee amendment in the nature of a substitute: Strike out all 
after the enacting clause and insert;

     SECTION 1. WAIVER OF GROUNDS FOR DISAPPROVAL OF REQUESTS FOR 
                   CLASSIFICATION AND ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 204(c) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act, the Attorney General may not 
     disapprove a petition for classification of Oscar Salas-
     Velazquez under section 201(b)(2)(A)(i) of such Act, or an 
     application for adjustment of the status of Oscar Salas-
     Velazquez under section 245 of such Act, on any ground 
     relating to a determination that the marriage of Oscar Salas-
     Velazquez and Jennifer Christine Brady was entered into for 
     the purpose of evading the immigration laws.
       (b) Waiver of Inadmissibility.--Notwithstanding 
     subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of section 212(a)(6) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act, Oscar Salas-Velazquez may 
     not be considered to be within a class of excludable aliens 
     at any time on or after the date of the enactment of this Act 
     on any ground relating to--
       (1) a determination that the marriage of Oscar Salas-
     Velazquez and Jennifer Christine Brady was entered into for 
     the purpose of evading the immigration laws; or
       (2) the deportation of Oscar Salas-Velazquez on February 9, 
     1995.
       (c) Denial of Preferential Immigration Treatment for 
     Certain Relatives.--The natural parents, brothers, and 
     sisters of Oscar Salas-Velazquez shall not, by virtue of such 
     relationship, be accorded any right, privilege, or status 
     under the Immigration and Nationality act.
       (d) Reduction of Immigrant Visa Number.--Upon the granting 
     of an immigrant visa or permanent residence to Oscar Salas-
     Velazquez, the Secretary of State shall instruct the proper 
     officer to reduce by 1, for the current or next following 
     fiscal year, the worldwide level of family-sponsored 
     immigrants under section 201(c)(1)(A) of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act.

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute be 
considered as read and printed in the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  The Committee amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this legislation, H.R. 1031, 
is to reunite a family that has been ripped apart.
  This bill is not about policy or politics. It is about bringing back 
a father for two adorable little boys, ages 3 and 6, who have missed 
their dad so much that they have cried every day for almost 2 years.
  It is about bringing together a loving husband and wife who have been 
devastated for almost 2 years.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill deals with the human side of government--the 
side that directly impacts families, mothers, fathers, and children.
  Mr. Speaker, my staff and I have worked to help the Oscar and Sharron 
Velazquez family of Plymouth, MN, for more than 3 years.
  For the past 2 years, we have worked to reunite Sharron Velazquez and 
her two young sons, Rico, 6, and Nicolas, 3, who have been separated 
from their husband and father, Oscar Velazquez. Oscar was deported in 
early 1995 and has been forced to live far away from his family in 
Mexico.
  Mr. Speaker, this is truly a case of undue hardship that justifies 
the return of Oscar Velazquez.
  Because Sharron Velazquez has a special medical condition that 
predisposes her to Reiter's Syndrome, a crippling disease with no cure, 
doctors have forbidden her from joining or even visiting her husband in 
Mexico.
  According to medical experts who have examined Sharron Velazquez 
extensively, she has the antigen for Reiter's Syndrome, which would be 
triggered by organisms in the food and water in Mexico.
  The unique circumstances facing this family certainly merit passage 
of this bill. This has been a long and tortuous struggle for the 
Velazquez family and their extended family, Jim and Julie Libby, Karen 
and Ron LePage, Ted and Therese Salonek, Rich and Becky Farniok and 
Patricia Morrison, and their many wonderful friends who have never lost 
faith that justice and fairness would prevail.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to express my gratitude, on behalf of the 
Velazquez and Libby families, to several people whose assistance was 
crucial in moving this bill.
  Our colleagues from the Judiciary Committee, especially Chairman 
Hyde, Chairman Lamar Smith and Mr. Sensenbrenner, were key in moving 
this bill through the Immigration and Claims Subcommittee and the full 
Judiciary Committee. On the other side, ranking member Bryant was also 
very supportive.
  Also, special thanks to Cindy Blackston of the Immigration and Claims 
Subcommittee and Karin Hope of my staff, who worked so hard on this 
bill and whose expertise and counsel have been invaluable.
  Finally, I am grateful to Senator Hatch and his staff, who have also 
been very helpful.
  Mr. Speaker, a loving family awaits Oscar Velazquez, his employer 
eagerly awaits his return, and the members of this church, who have 
been holding nightly vigils, are praying for Oscar's return.
  Let us put politics totally aside here and do the right thing for the 
Velazquez family.
  Let us right a wrong. Let us reunite the Velazquez family by passing 
H.R. 1031.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read 
the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

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