[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 63 (Wednesday, May 14, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H2596]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONDEMNING THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS TO DEPORT IRISH-AMERICAN 
                                FAMILIES

  (Mr. KING asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to denounce the outrageous 
decision by the Justice Department to deport Irish nationals from this 
country. As my friend, the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Menendez] has 
said, we are talking about 10 men and women who have lived in this 
country a number of years, who have never violated any laws of the 
United States, who are legally in the United States, who are married 
either to American citizens or foreign-born residents of this country.
  The fact is these men are outstanding members of this community. They 
have raised their children who go to our schools, they have raised 
families, they have worked hard, they have contributed to this country. 
Yet, in a mean-spirited action, the Justice Department is moving to 
deport them. Their only crime is they were politically convicted in 
nonjury political courts in Britain years ago. They were political 
prisoners. They entered this country legally. Now, for no reason 
whatsoever, our Justice Department is moving to deport them.
  The gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman] and I had the opportunity to 
testify for one of these men, Brian Pearson. At his trial the judge 
found that he was entitled to status in this country, and refused to 
deport him. Yet the Justice Department has decided to appeal that 
decision, in direct violation of President Clinton's campaign pledge 
that there would be no more Joe Doherty's. This is another Joe Doherty. 
The decision is wrong, it is outrageous, and I condemn it.

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