[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 24, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H1675]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                ISSUES OF CONCERN REGARDING IMMIGRATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 minutes.


     Tribute to Houstonians on Observance of Women's History Month

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this is a month in which we 
honor women for the contributions that they have made to the United 
States and to our communities and our neighborhoods.
  And so, Mr. Speaker, I would like to briefly acknowledge some of my 
neighbors in Texas, in Houston in particular, who I hope to be able to 
expand on their many contributions in weeks and months to come by 
tributes that I will submit to the Congressional Record. But just for 
tonight briefly since I will also talk about another issue in the time 
allotted, let me pay tribute and acknowledge:
  Christa Adair, the first secretary of the NAACP, who created 
opportunities for people to vote in Houston, Texas.
  Luella Harrison, an outstanding teacher, pioneer and spokesperson in 
our community.
  Mrs. Erma Leroy, another activist who has contributed along with her 
husband, Moses Leroy, to the labor movement in Houston.
  Madgelean Bush who founded the Martin Luther King Community Center 
that today provides facilities for babies with HIV/AIDS.
  Nellie Fraga who has championed Hispanic and Mexican rights but also 
cultural connections and exchange.
  Mrs. Laurenzo, the owner of Ninfa's Restaurant, a businesswoman 
premier who has guided us to indicate and teach women that they too can 
be involved in business.
  I pay tribute to those women among many others who have done such 
great things for our community with a special tribute as well to Mae 
Jemison who has pioneered into space and now has an office in the 
Houston area.
  Mr. Speaker, I would also like to respond and indicate some issues of 
concern that I have as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on 
Immigration and Claims of the House Committee on the Judiciary. I was 
disappointed that the amendment today of my good friend the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Bentsen) was not able to be debated. The gentleman from 
Texas offered an amendment to ensure that criminal aliens that were 
already incarcerated would not be released until deportation. I wanted 
the gentleman from Texas to have the opportunity to discuss and debate 
a very important issue. The issue was raised because of the $80 million 
that was included in the emergency supplemental appropriations bill 
that was to provide increased border enforcement and funds for 2,945 
additional beds for the detention of criminal aliens from certain parts 
of Central and South America.
  I am concerned that when money is given to an agency and it is given 
to the agency still with the sense that the agency is not functioning, 
that we need to debate the issue and get clarification. I think it is 
important that we should acknowledge, as was acknowledged, that any 
presupposed or any memo that suggested that the INS was prepared to 
release criminal aliens is obviously incorrect or has been withdrawn. I 
am disappointed that preliminary discussions about that were ultimately 
released to the public. But INS should own up to it and explain what 
that memorandum was about. They say it was about the fact that they did 
not have enough beds. In fact, in our own community, they have 
contracted out the need for facilities for incarcerating or keeping 
criminal aliens. What I would like to see is the Federal Bureau of 
Prisons move more expeditiously, although I know they are working 
toward doing this, in providing beds for criminal aliens so that they 
are not located particularly in neighborhoods and communities around 
the Nation.
  I also believe it is important not just to give $80 million for the 
increased border enforcement, but we need trained Border Patrol agents, 
experienced Border Patrol agents. And so it is important that INS 
responds how they are going to ensure that the border enforcement 
patrol is well trained so that everyone is protected, both the Border 
Patrol agents as well as those they encounter.
  I think it is equally important that we address the question that so 
many have approached me with, and, that is, the INS personnel, in terms 
of improvements, both in terms of their conditions but also, Mr. 
Speaker, in terms of the workings of the office, the delay, the 
treatment of those who come into the INS office.
  My commitment to all of those who are commenting about the INS is 
that we are going to fix it. It is an agency that has an enormous 
responsibility. Mr. Speaker, this is a country of immigration but it is 
a country of laws. My colleagues have my commitment as ranking member 
of the Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims that we are going to 
address these concerns to the INS and make the United States known for 
a fair and balanced immigration policy while responding to the concerns 
of our constituents and our colleagues.

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