[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 114 (Thursday, August 5, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF H.R. 2721 TO ENHANCE IMMIGRATION LAW FAIRNESS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PATSY T. MINK

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 5, 1999

  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, today I introduced H.R. 2721, a 
bill to reduce the harsh consequences to legal aliens who have 
innocently voted and are now subject to being deported as a result.
  Due to the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility 
Act of 1996 (IIRIRA), record numbers of aliens across America are being 
deported: Illegal entrants, visa overstays, and aliens who commit 
crimes, such as drug offenders and aggravated felons.
  Swept into this dragnet are law-abiding, legal residents who made the 
mistake of believing they could vote, when they were not yet eligible.
  IIRIRA makes legal aliens inadmissible and deportable if they 
violated any law, regulation or ordinance--at the federal, state, or 
local level-on voter eligibility.
  Worse yet, this three-year-old law applies retroactively. Aliens who 
voted decades ago--even once--are being deported today. In my district 
is an elderly woman who has proudly voted for 20 years because she had 
no idea she was not allowed to. While processing her naturalization, 
INS asked her if she had voted as part of its routine screening. She 
proudly said ``yes,'' and she is being deported this week.
  Even some immigrants who INS has tested and fingerprinted and are 
deemed to be qualified to become U.S. citizens are being kicked out, 
simply because they voted before taking the oath. Imagine their shock 
at being told that they are being deported along with traitors, drug 
dealers and violent offenders.
  I do not condone violating voter eligibility rules. Violators should 
not escape sanctions entirely. But deportation for voting in good faith 
(although erroneously) is an overly harsh punishment that does not fit 
the offense.
  My bill amends the IIRIRA of 1996 to reduce the harsh consequences to 
these legal aliens. It does not change any voter eligibility law. It 
does not reduce the sanctions that already apply to aliens who vote 
without permission. All my bill does is ensure that an alien who voted 
in good faith, without criminal intent, will not be forced to pay the 
ultimate price of deportation or inadmissibility.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation to 
restore a sense of compassionate justice to our immigration laws.

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