[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 26, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E320]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             IN SUPPORT OF AMENDING IMMIGRATION REGULATIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 26, 1997

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join the gentleman from New 
York [Mr. Rangel] as a cosponsor of our bill to amend the law 
concerning communications between Government agencies and the 
Immigration and Naturalization Services. We appreciate New York City's 
mayor Giuliani bringing this important matter to our attention.
  As a supporter of last year's welfare reform and illegal immigration, 
I am aware of the need to address some of their flaws.
  The current provisions pose threats to the ability of our local 
government to protect the public health and safety of their residents.
  Let us not discourage undocumented aliens from receiving basic health 
care services due to their fear of disclosing their status to INS. 
Otherwise, we would reduce the chances of controlling the spread of 
communicable diseases.
  Effective law enforcement requires the trust and cooperation of all 
residents, even those who are currently out of status, who may have 
witnessed or been victims of crime. Our police need the cooperation of 
all to arrest criminals before they can strike again.
  Bear in mind that not all restrictions on communications would be 
permitted. It mandates that INS and localities exchange information on 
criminal aliens, regardless of their status.
  Accordingly, I urge our colleagues to support this important 
legislation.

                                H.R. --

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

     SECTTION 1. RESTRICTIONS ON COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT 
                   AGENCIES AND THE IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION 
                   SERVICE.

       (a) Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
     Reconciliation Act of 1996.--Section 434 of the Personal 
     Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 
     1996 (8 U.S.C. 1644) is repealed.
       (b) Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility 
     Act of 1996.--Section 642 of the Illegal Immigration Reform 
     and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-208) 
     is amended--
       (1) by striking subsections (a) and (b) inserting the 
     following new subsection:
       ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, a Federal, State, or local government entity or official 
     may not prohibit any government entity or official from 
     sending to, or receiving from, the Immigration and 
     Naturalization Service any information regarding the 
     immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual who 
     has been convicted of a crime under Federal, State, or local 
     law.''; and
       (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b).

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