[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 120 (Wednesday, September 15, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10944-S10947]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CENTRAL AMERICAN AND HAITIAN PARITY ACT OF 1999

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Central 
American and Haitian Parity Act of 1999 with my colleague Senator 
Kennedy. This legislation will provide deserved and needed relief to 
thousands of immigrants from Central America and the Caribbean who came 
to the United States fleeing political persecution.
  In the 1980's, thousands of Salvadorans and Guatemalans fled civil 
wars in their countries and sought asylum in the United States. The 
vast majority had been persecuted or feared persecution in their home 
countries. The people of Honduras had a similar experience. While civil 
war was not formally waged within Honduras, the geography of the region 
made it impossible for Honduras to be unaffected by the violence and 
turmoil that surrounded it. The country of Haiti has also experienced 
extreme upheaval. Haitians for many years were forced to seek the 
protection of the United States because of oppression, human rights 
abuses and civil unrest.
  Salvadorans, Guatemalans, Haitians and Hondurans have now established 
roots in the United States. Some have married here and many have 
children that were born in the United States. Yet many still live in 
fear. They cannot easily leave the United States and return to the 
great uncertainty in their countries of origin. If they are forced to 
return, they will face enormous hardship. Their former homes are either 
occupied by strangers or not there at all. The people they once knew 
are gone and so are the jobs they need to support their families. They 
also cannot become permanent residents of the United States, which 
severely limits their opportunities for work and education. This 
situation is unacceptable and requires a more permanent solution.
  Before outlining how this bill will provide a permanent solution, it 
is important to review the evolution of deportation remedies. Prior to 
the passage of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Responsibility Act in 
1996, aliens in the United States could apply for suspension of 
deportation and adjustment of status in order to obtain lawful 
permanent residence. Suspension of deportation was used to ameliorate 
the harsh consequences of deportation for aliens who had been present 
in the United States for long periods of time.
  In September of 1996, Congress passed the Illegal Immigration Reform 
and Responsibility Act. This law retroactively made thousands of 
immigrants ineligible for suspension of deportation and left them with 
no alternate remedy. The 1996 Act eliminated suspension of deportation 
and established a new form of relief entitled cancellation of removal 
that required an applicant to accrue ten years of continuous residence 
as of the date of the initial notice charging the applicant with being 
removable.
  In 1997, this Congress recognized that these new provisions could 
result in grave injustices to certain groups of people. So in November 
of 1997, the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) 
granted relief to certain citizens of former Soviet block countries and 
several Central American countries. This select group of immigrants 
were allowed to apply for permanent residence under the old, pre-IIRRA 
standards.
  Such an alteration of IIRRA made sense. After all, the U.S. had 
allowed Central Americans to reside and work here for over a decade, 
during which time many of them established families, careers and 
community ties. The complex history of civil wars and political 
persecution in parts of Central America left thousands of people in 
limbo without a place to call home. Many victims of severe persecution 
came to the United States with very strong asylum cases, but 
unfortunately these individuals have waited so long for a hearing they 
will have difficulty proving their cases because they involve incidents 
which occurred as early as 1980. In addition, many victims of 
persecution never filed for asylum out of fear of denial, and 
consequently these people now face claims weakened by years of delay.
  Mr. President, the bill I introduce today is a necessary and fair 
expansion of NACARA. It provides a permanent solution for thousands of 
people who desperately need one. Specifically, the bill amends the 
Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act and provides 
nationals of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Haiti an opportunity 
to apply for adjustment of status under the same standards as 
Nicaraguans and Cubans. While the restoration of democracy in Central 
America and the Caribbean has been encouraging, the situation remains 
delicate. Providing immigrants from these politically volatile areas an 
opportunity to apply for permanent resident status in the United States 
instead of deporting them to politically and economically fragile 
countries will provide more stability in the long run. Such an approach 
is the best solution not only for the United States but also for new 
and fragile democracies in Central America and the Caribbean. 
Immigrants have greatly contributed to the United States, both 
economically and culturally and the people of Central America and the 
Caribbean are no exception. If we continue to deny them a chance to 
live in the United States by deporting them, we not only hurt them, we 
hurt us too.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the legislation 
be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1592

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Central American and Haitian 
     Parity Act of 1999''.

     SEC. 2. ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS FOR CERTAIN NATIONALS FROM EL 
                   SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, AND HAITI.

       Section 202 of the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central 
     American Relief Act is amended--
       (1) in the section heading, by striking ``Nicaraguans and 
     Cubans'' and inserting ``Nicaraguans, Cubans, Salvadorans, 
     Guatemalans, Hondurans, and Haitians'';
       (2) in subsection (a)(1)(A), by striking ``2000'' and 
     inserting ``2003'';
       (3) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``Nicaragua or Cuba'' 
     and inserting ``Nicaragua, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, 
     Honduras, or Haiti''; and
       (4) in subsection (d)--
       [(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``Nicaragua or Cuba'' 
     and inserting ``Nicaragua, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatamala, 
     Honduras, or Haiti; and]
       (B) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``2000'' and inserting 
     ``2003''.

     SEC. 3. APPLICATIONS PENDING UNDER AMENDMENTS MADE BY SECTION 
                   203 OF THE NICARAGUAN ADJUSTMENT AND CENTRAL 
                   AMERICAN RELIEF ACT.

       An application for relief properly filed by a national of 
     Guatemala or El Salvador under the amendments made by section 
     203 of the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief 
     Act which was filed on or before the date of enactment of 
     this Act, and on

[[Page S10945]]

     which a final administrative determination has not been made, 
     shall, at the election of the applicant, be considered to be 
     an application for adjustment of status under the provisions 
     of section 202 of the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central 
     American Relief Act, as amended by section 2 of this Act, 
     upon the payment of any fees, and in accordance with 
     procedures, that the Attorney General shall prescribe by 
     regulation. The Attorney General may not refund any fees paid 
     in connection with an application filed by a national of 
     Guatemala or El Salvador under the amendments made by section 
     203 of that Act.

     SEC. 4. APPLICATIONS PENDING UNDER THE HAITIAN REFUGEE 
                   IMMIGRATION FAIRNESS ACT OF 1998.

       An application for adjustment of status properly filed by a 
     national of Haiti under the Haitian Refugee Immigration 
     Fairness Act of 1998 which was filed on or before the date of 
     enactment of this Act, and on which a final administrative 
     determination has not been made, may be considered by the 
     Attorney General, in the unreviewable discretion of the 
     Attorney General, to also constitute an application for 
     adjustment of status under the provisions of section 202 of 
     the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act, as 
     amended by section 2 of this Act.

     SEC. 5. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO THE NICARAGUAN ADJUSTMENT AND 
                   CENTRAL AMERICAN RELIEF ACT.

       (a) In General.--Section 202 of the Nicaraguan Adjustment 
     and Central American Relief Act is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by inserting before the period at the end of paragraph 
     (1)(B) the following: ``, and the Attorney General may, in 
     the unreviewable discretion of the Attorney General, waive 
     the grounds of inadmissibility specified in section 212(a)(1) 
     (A)(i) and (6)(C) of such Act for humanitarian purposes, to 
     assure family unity, or when it is otherwise in the public 
     interest'';
       (B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3);
       (C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
       ``(2) Inapplicability of certain provisions.--In 
     determining the eligibility of an alien described in 
     subsection (b) or (d) for either adjustment of status under 
     this section or other relief necessary to establish 
     eligibility for such adjustment, the provisions of section 
     241(a)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act shall not 
     apply. In addition, an alien who would otherwise be 
     inadmissible pursuant to section 212(a)(9) (A) or (C) of such 
     Act may apply for the Attorney General's consent to reapply 
     for admission without regard to the requirement that the 
     consent be granted prior to the date of the alien's 
     reembarkation at a place outside the United States or attempt 
     to be admitted from foreign contiguous territory, in order to 
     qualify for the exception to those grounds of inadmissibility 
     set forth in section 212(a)(9) (A)(iii) and (C)(ii) of such 
     Act.''; and
       (D) by amending paragraph (3) (as redesignated by 
     subparagraph (B)) to read as follows:
       ``(3) Relationship of application to certain orders.--An 
     alien present in the United States who has been ordered 
     excluded, deported, or removed, or ordered to depart 
     voluntarily from the United States under any provision of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act may, notwithstanding such 
     order, apply for adjustment of status under paragraph (1). 
     Such an alien may not be required, as a condition of 
     submitting or granting such application, to file a separate 
     motion to reopen, reconsider, or vacate such order. Such an 
     alien may be required to seek a stay of such an order in 
     accordance with subsection (c) to prevent the execution of 
     that order pending the adjudication of the application for 
     adjustment of status. If the Attorney General denies a stay 
     of a final order of exclusion, deportation, or removal, or if 
     the Attorney General renders a final administrative 
     determination to deny the application for adjustment of 
     status, the order shall be effective and enforceable to the 
     same extent as if the application had not been made. If the 
     Attorney General grants the application for adjustment of 
     status, the Attorney General shall cancel the order.'';
       (2) in subsection (b)(1), by adding at the end the 
     following: ``Subsection (a) shall not apply to an alien 
     lawfully admitted for permanent residence, unless the alien 
     is applying for relief under that subsection in deportation 
     or removal proceedings.'';
       (3) in subsection (c)(1), by adding at the end the 
     following: ``Nothing in this Act requires the Attorney 
     General to stay the removal of an alien who is ineligible for 
     adjustment of status under this Act.'';
       (4) in subsection (d)--
       (A) by amending the subsection heading to read as follows: 
     ``Spouses, Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters.--'';
       (B) by amending the heading of paragraph (1) to read as 
     follows: ``Adjustment of status.--'';
       (C) by amending paragraph (1)(A) to read as follows:
       ``(A) the alien entered the United States on or before the 
     date of enactment of the Central American and Haitian Parity 
     Act of 1999;'';
       (D) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``except that in the 
     case of'' and inserting the following: ``except that--
       ``(i) in the case of such a spouse, stepchild, or unmarried 
     stepson or stepdaughter, the qualifying marriage was entered 
     into before the date of enactment of the Central American and 
     Haitian Parity Act of 1999; and
       ``(ii) in the case of''; and
       (E) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(3) Eligibility of certain spouses and children for 
     issuance of immigrant visas.--
       ``(A) In general.--In accordance with regulations to be 
     promulgated by the Attorney General and the Secretary of 
     State, upon approval of an application for adjustment of 
     status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent 
     residence under subsection (a), an alien who is the spouse or 
     child of the alien being granted such status may be issued a 
     visa for admission to the United States as an immigrant 
     following to join the principal applicant, if the spouse or 
     child--
       ``(i) meets the requirements in paragraphs (1) (B) and (1) 
     (D); and
       ``(ii) applies for such a visa within a time period to be 
     established by such regulations.
       ``(B) Retention of fees for processing applications.--The 
     Secretary of State may retain fees to recover the cost of 
     immigrant visa application processing and issuance for 
     certain spouses and children of aliens whose applications for 
     adjustment of status under subsection (a) have been approved. 
     Such fees--
       ``(i) shall be deposited as an offsetting collection to any 
     Department of State appropriation to recover the cost of such 
     processing and issuance; and
       ``(ii) shall be available until expended for the same 
     purposes of such appropriation to support consular 
     activities.'';
       (5) in subsection (g), by inserting ``, or an immigrant 
     classification,'' after ``for permanent residence''; and
       (6) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(i) Statutory Construction.--Nothing in this section 
     authorizes any alien to apply for admission to, be admitted 
     to, be paroled into, or otherwise lawfully return to the 
     United States, to apply for, or to pursue an application for 
     adjustment of status under this section without the express 
     authorization of the Attorney General.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by paragraphs 
     (1)(D), (2), and (6) shall be effective as if included in the 
     enactment of the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act. 
     The amendments made by paragraphs (1) (A)-(C), (3), (4), and 
     (5) shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 6. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO THE HAITIAN REFUGEE 
                   IMMIGRATION FAIRNESS ACT OF 1998.

       (a) In General.--Section 902 of the Haitian Refugee 
     Immigration Fairness Act of 1998 is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by inserting before the period at the end of paragraph 
     (1)(B) the following: ``, and the Attorney General may, in 
     the unreviewable discretion of the Attorney General, waive 
     the grounds of inadmissibility specified in section 212(a) 
     (1)(A)(i) and (6)(C) of such Act for humanitarian purposes, 
     to assure family unity, or when it is otherwise in the public 
     interest'';
       (B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3);
       (C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
       ``(2) Inapplicability of certain provisions.--In 
     determining the eligibility of an alien described in 
     subsection (b) or (d) for either adjustment of status under 
     this section or other relief necessary to establish 
     eligibility for such adjustment, or for permission to reapply 
     for admission to the United States for the purpose of 
     adjustment of status under this section, the provisions of 
     section 241(a)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
     shall not apply. In addition, an alien who would otherwise be 
     inadmissible pursuant to section 212(a)(9) (A) or (C) of such 
     Act may apply for the Attorney General's consent to reapply 
     for admission without regard to the requirement that the 
     consent be granted prior to the date of the alien's 
     reembarkation at a place outside the United States or attempt 
     to be admitted from foreign contiguous territory, in order to 
     qualify for the exception to those grounds of inadmissibility 
     set forth in section 212(a)(9) (A)(iii) and (C)(ii) of such 
     Act.''; and
       (D) by amending paragraph (3) (as redesignated by 
     subparagraph (B)) to read as follows:
       ``(3) Relationship of application to certain orders.--An 
     alien present in the United States who has been ordered 
     excluded, deported, removed, or ordered to depart voluntarily 
     from the United States under any provision of the Immigration 
     and Nationality Act may, notwithstanding such order, apply 
     for adjustment of status under paragraph (1). Such an alien 
     may not be required, as a condition of submitting or granting 
     such application, to file a separate motion to reopen, 
     reconsider, or vacate such order. Such an alien may be 
     required to seek a stay of such an order in accordance with 
     subsection (c) to prevent the execution of that order pending 
     the adjudication of the application for adjustment of status. 
     If the Attorney General denies a stay of a final order of 
     exclusion, deportation, or removal, or if the Attorney 
     General renders a final administrative determination to deny 
     the application for adjustment of status, the order shall be 
     effective and enforceable to the same extent as if the 
     application had not been made. If the Attorney General grants 
     the application for adjustment of status, the Attorney 
     General shall cancel the order.'';
       (2) in subsection (b)(1), by adding at the end the 
     following: ``Subsection (a) shall not

[[Page S10946]]

     apply to an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, 
     unless the alien is applying for such relief under that 
     subsection in deportation or removal proceedings.'';
       (3) in subsection (c)(1), by adding at the end the 
     following: ``Nothing in this Act shall require the Attorney 
     General to stay the removal of an alien who is ineligible for 
     adjustment of status under this Act.'';
       (4) in subsection (d)--
       (A) by amending the subsection heading to read as follows: 
     ``Spouses, Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters.--'';
       (B) by amending the heading of paragraph (1) to read as 
     follows: ``Adjustment of status.--'';
       (C) by amending paragraph (1)(A), to read as follows:
       ``(A) the alien entered the United States on or before the 
     date of enactment of the Central American and Haitian Parity 
     Act of 1999;'';
       (D) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``except that in the 
     case of'' and inserting the following: ``except that--
       ``(i) in the case of such a spouse, stepchild, or unmarried 
     stepson or stepdaughter, the qualifying marriage was entered 
     into before the date of enactment of the Central American and 
     Haitian Parity Act of 1999; and
       ``(ii) in the case of'';
       (E) by adding at the end of paragraph (1) the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(E) the alien applies for such adjustment before April 3, 
     2003.''; and
       (F) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(3) Eligibility of certain spouses and children for 
     issuance of immigrant visas.--
       ``(A) In general.--In accordance with regulations to be 
     promulgated by the Attorney General and the Secretary of 
     State, upon approval of an application for adjustment of 
     status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent 
     residence under subsection (a), an alien who is the spouse or 
     child of the alien being granted such status may be issued a 
     visa for admission to the United States as an immigrant 
     following to join the principal applicant, if the spouse or 
     child--
       ``(i) meets the requirements in paragraphs (1) (B) and (1) 
     (D); and
       ``(ii) applies for such a visa within a time period to be 
     established by such regulations.
       ``(B) Retention of fees for processing applications.--The 
     Secretary of State may retain fees to recover the cost of 
     immigrant visa application processing and issuance for 
     certain spouses and children of aliens whose applications for 
     adjustment of status under subsection (a) have been approved. 
     Such fees--
       ``(i) shall be deposited as an offsetting collection to any 
     Department of State appropriation to recover the cost of such 
     processing and issuance; and
       ``(ii) shall be available until expended for the same 
     purposes of such appropriation to support consular 
     activities.'';
       (5) in subsection (g), by inserting ``, or an immigrant 
     classification,'' after ``for permanent residence'';
       (6) by redesignating subsections (i), (j), and (k) as 
     subsections (j), (k), and (l), respectively; and
       (7) by inserting after subsection (h) the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(i) Statutory Construction.--Nothing in this section 
     authorizes any alien to apply for admission to, be admitted 
     to, be paroled into, or otherwise lawfully return to the 
     United States, to apply for, or to pursue an application for 
     adjustment of status under this section without the express 
     authorization of the Attorney General.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by paragraphs 
     (1)(D), (2), and (6) shall be effective as if included in the 
     enactment of the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 
     1998. The amendments made by paragraphs (1) (A)-(C), (3), 
     (4), and (5) shall take effect on the date of enactment of 
     this Act.

     SEC. 7. MOTIONS TO REOPEN.

       (a) Nationals of Haiti.--Notwithstanding any time and 
     number limitations imposed by law on motions to reopen, a 
     national of Haiti who, on the date of enactment of this Act, 
     has a final administrative denial of an application for 
     adjustment of status under the Haitian Refugee Immigration 
     Fairness Act of 1998, and is made eligible for adjustment of 
     status under that Act by the amendments made by this Act, may 
     file one motion to reopen an exclusion, deportation, or 
     removal proceeding to have the application reconsidered. Any 
     such motion shall be filed within 180 days of the date of 
     enactment of this Act. The scope of any proceeding reopened 
     on this basis shall be limited to a determination of the 
     alien's eligibility for adjustment of status under the 
     Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 1998.
       (b) Nationals of Cuba.--Notwithstanding any time and number 
     limitations imposed by law on motions to reopen, a national 
     of Cuba or Nicaragua who, on the date of enactment of the 
     Act, has a final administrative denial of an application for 
     adjustment of status under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and 
     Central American Relief Act, and who is made eligible for 
     adjustment of status under that Act by the amendments made by 
     this Act, may file one motion to reopen an exclusion, 
     deportation, or removal proceeding to have the application 
     reconsidered. Any such motion shall be filed within 180 days 
     of the date of enactment of this Act. The scope of any 
     proceeding reopened on this basis shall be limited to a 
     determination of the alien's eligibility for adjustment of 
     status under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American 
     Relief Act.

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it is a privilege to join Senator Durbin 
in introducing the ``Central American and Haitian Parity Act of 1999. I 
commend our colleagues in the House, Representatives Chris Smith, Luis 
Gutierrez, and others, who introduced a companion bill last month. This 
legislation has the strong support of the Clinton administration, 
because it is a key component of America's effort to support democracy 
and stability in Central America and Haiti.
  Two years ago, Congress enacted the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central 
American Relief Act, which protects Nicaraguan and Cuban refugees by 
enabling them to remain permanently in the United States as immigrants. 
But many Central Americans and Haitians were unfairly excluded from 
that bill. At that time, many of us in Congress opposed the unfairness 
and discrimination involved in treating Nicaraguans and Cubans more 
favorably than similarly situated Central Americans and Haitians. We 
believe all of these refugees should be treated equally.
  It is time for Congress to end this disparity. With this legislation, 
we are remedying this flagrant omission and adding Salvadorans, 
Guatemalans, Hondurans, and Haitians to the list of deserving refugees.
  These Central American and Haitian refugees, like Nicaraguans and 
Cubans, fled decades of violence, human rights abuses, and economic 
instability resulting from political repression. They suffered 
persecution at the hands of successive repressive governments. Central 
Americans and Haitians supporting democracy have faced torture, extra-
judicial killings, imprisonment, and other forms of persecution. These 
and other gross violations of human rights have been documented by the 
State Department, and by human rights organizations such as Americas 
Watch and Amnesty International.
  Like other political refugees, Central Americans and Haitians have 
come to this country with a strong love of freedom and a strong 
commitment to democracy. They have settled in many parts of the United 
States. They have established deep roots in our communities, and their 
children, that have been born here, are U.S. citizens. Wherever they 
have settled, they have made lasting contributions to the economic 
vitality and diversity of our communities and our nation.
  Citizens in these countries are now working hard to establish 
democracy in their nations. President Clinton and Secretary Albright 
have repeatedly stated that it is America's long-standing foreign 
policy to ensure the continuing stability and viability of emerging, 
yet still fragile, democracies in Central America and Haiti. The 
Central American and Haitian communities in the United States have 
contributed substantially to this goal, sending hundreds of millions of 
dollars to their native lands. These funds have played a critical role 
in stabilizing these countries' economies as they make the 
transition to democracy, at no cost to the U.S. taxpayer.

  The State Department has documented the potential adverse 
consequences of reducing the flow of these funds. From a U.S. foreign 
policy and humanitarian standpoint, these amounts have taken on added 
importance. These funds have become a primary source of income for 
families who lost their jobs as a result of the hurricanes that ravaged 
these countries last year. Repatriating thousands of Central Americans 
and Haitians will impose a substantial additional burden on these 
countries. It will also diminish the ability of Central Americans and 
Haitians in the U.S. to contribute financially to rebuilding their 
countries. Allowing Central Americans and Haitians to remain here as 
legal residents will enable them to continue to provide assistance that 
will contribute substantially to vital economic recovery and 
reconstruction.
  This legislation will provide qualified Salvadorans, Guatemalans, 
Hondurans and Haitians with the opportunity to become permanent 
residents of the U.S. To qualify for this relief, they must have lived 
in this country since December 1995. By approving the Central American 
and Haitian Parity Act, we can finally bring an end to the shameful 
decades of disparate treatment that has existed.

[[Page S10947]]

  This is an issue of basic fairness. The United States has a long and 
noble tradition of providing safe haven to refugees. Over the years, we 
have enacted legislation to guarantee safe haven for Hungarians, 
Cubans, Yugoslavs, Vietnamese, Laotians, Cambodians, Poles, Chinese, 
and many others.
  This Congress has the opportunity to right the shameful wrongs that 
Central American and Haitian refugees have suffered. This bill offers 
the full protection of our laws to these victims of persecution in 
their fight for democracy. Congress has a duty to offer the same 
protection to Central Americans and Haitians that we have offered over 
the years to other refugees fleeing from repressive regimes. This bill 
does what is fair, what is right, and what is just.
  We should do all we can to end the current flagrant discrimination 
under our immigration laws. Central American and Haitian refugees 
deserve protection too--the same protection we gave to Nicaraguans and 
Cubans. We need to pay more than lip service to the fundamental 
principle of equal protection of the laws.
  Since its introduction in the House of Representatives, the Central 
American and Haitian Parity Act has received important bipartisan 
support. I am optimistic that it will receive similar support in the 
Senate. It deserves to be enacted as soon as possible.

                          ____________________