[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 63 (Wednesday, May 14, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E932]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             MATT MORRISON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM (BILL) CLAY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 14, 1997

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to protest the deportation of Matt 
Morrison. Mr. Morrison is a highly respected member of the St. Louis 
community where he has lived as a model citizen for more than 11 years. 
He is married to a native St. Louisan and is the father of two young 
children. My office has received thousands of pleas from Missourians 
who support Matt Morrison's request for political asylum.
  The Immigration and Naturalization Service's arbitrary interpretation 
of the law in the case of Mr. Morrison and other Irish nationals is an 
abominable injustice. There is absolutely no evidence to support that 
Mr. Morrison is now or has ever been a criminal or a terrorist. Mr. 
Morrison is a man of principle and conscience. As a college student he 
was involved in the struggle for freedom in Northern Ireland, he 
engaged in political protest activities and without benefit of a jury 
trial, he was jailed for his beliefs.
  The Justice Department is wrong to deport Matt Morrison. The 
fabrications about Mr. Morrison jeopardize the integrity of our laws. 
There is no legitimacy to the actions our Government has taken against 
Matt Morrison. I implore Attorney General Reno and President Clinton to 
halt the persecution of Irish nationals in our country. Rather than 
serving the cause of justice, the deportation of Matt Morrison will 
only compound the inequities that inhibit peace and understanding.

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