[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 67 (Thursday, May 25, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E849-E850]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




H.R. 4370, IMMIGRATION RELIEF FOR THE SUPPORT STAFF OF FERDINAND MARCOS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PATSY T. MINK

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 25, 2000

  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, in 1986 President Marcos of the 
Philippines was granted political asylum in the United States to avert 
civil conflagration because of a popular uprising against his regime. 
The civil unrest arose following a controversial election in which 
President Marcos claimed to have defeated Corazon Aquino but was widely 
accused of election fraud. Growing street demonstrations in support of 
Mrs. Aquino raised fears of violence against what many viewed as a 
fraudulent election result. President Marcos left the Philippines on 
February 25, 1986 at U.S. urging and went into exile in Hawaii.
  President Marcos, his wife Imelda and 88 members of his staff and 
their families were advised that they were being allowed into the 
United States with ``parole'' status for the convenience of the U.S. 
Government. This status is a legal fiction in which the individual is 
physically present in the United States but had never been ``admitted'' 
to the United States. The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) 
can terminate parole status at any time. The individual can be treated 
as if he or she had entered the United States illegally and had no 
right to be here. In this case, it is extremely unfair.
  INS has instituted proceedings to expel some of these individuals and 
their families but not all of them. There does not seem to be any 
pattern to which individuals have been selected.
  These immigrants were invited to the United States to help care for 
President Marcos who was already ailing and died in 1989. They were 
told that they could bring their families with them. They have been in 
the United States for fourteen years and are fully integrated into our 
society.
  These people should not be deported. They came to the U.S. for an 
important reason. Because that reason is now past should not cause us 
to turn against them.
  To rectify this unfair treatment, I introduced H.R. 4370 on May 3, 
2000. The bill grants the individuals and their families the right to 
remain in the United States. These honest, hardworking people came to 
the United States at the invitation of our government. Their presence 
was known and they have done nothing to violate our immigration laws. 
To uproot them would be an injustice to them and their families that we 
should not allow.
  The exile Marcos government in Hawaii was instigated by the U.S. to 
save the Philippines from political turmoil and rebellion. Those who 
came to implement this policy to end civil unrest in the Philippines 
should have the protection of this government.

[[Page E850]]



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