[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 16, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S4014]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN:
  S. 2559. A bill for the relief of Vijai Rajan; to the Committee on 
the Judiciary.


PRIVATE RELIEF LEGISLATION GRANTING UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP TO VIJAI 
                                 RAJAN

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce legislation 
today to grant United States citizenship to Vijai Rajan. Ms. Rajan is a 
twenty-four year old permanent resident from India whose naturalization 
application was denied because of physical disabilities that make it 
impossible for her to take the oath of allegiance.
  Ms. Rajan has lived in the United States since she was four months 
old. Her sister, Inbhu, was born in Cincinnati and is an American 
citizen by right of her birth in the United States. Her father Sunder 
Rajan became a naturalized citizen in 1980. But Ms. Rajan's mother 
Shakunthala, was not naturalized until 1994, just after Vijai's 18th 
birthday. If both parents had become citizens before Rajan turned 18, 
she would have automatically qualified for citizenship.
  Unfortunately, due to this peculiar circumstance, the law now 
requires that Ms. Rajan undergo the rigors of the regular 
naturalization process, including taking the oath of allegiance, before 
she can become a United States citizen.
  An anomaly in the law has resulted in Ms. Rajan being left out of her 
family's American dream, for no other reason than because her physical 
disabilities prevent her from taking the oath of allegiance. Ms. Rajan 
suffers from cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, seizures, and Crohn's 
disease.
  American citizenship is the most visible sign of one's attachment to 
the United States. The naturalization process, including the oath of 
allegiance, should be credible, and it must be accorded the formality 
and ceremony appropriate to its importance. I would not support any 
steps that would detract from the meaningfulness, solemnity, and 
dignity of this time-honored tradition.
  In 1952, when Congress codified the requirements for becoming an 
American citizen, it required that the oath contain five elements: (1) 
support for the Constitution; (2) renunciation of prior allegiance; (3) 
defense of the Constitution against all enemies; (4) true faith and 
allegiance; and (5) a commitment to bear arms or perform noncombatant 
service when required.
  I believe these principles should remain intact. But I also believe 
that we should carry out these ideals with compassion and sufficient 
flexibility that persons who are so severely disabled, like Ms. Rajan, 
are not automatically disqualified from becoming U.S. citizens.
  I believe the case of Vijai Rajan is compelling and warrants 
Congress' immediate consideration. Moreover, I am aware that there are 
other cases in which a physical disability has prevented an otherwise 
qualified person from becoming an American citizen. I intend to work to 
enact legislation that will give the Attorney General the discretion to 
act on such compelling cases without having to resort to a private act 
of Congress.
  In the meantime, I urge my colleagues to support this private 
legislation on behalf of Vijai Rajan.
                                 ______