[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 8, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E32-E33]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RESTORATION OF FAIRNESS IN IMMIGRATION ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 7, 2003

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I have introduced today the ``Restoration 
of Fairness in Immigration Act of 2003.''
  Since this nation's founding, more than 55 million immigrants from 
every continent have settled in the United States. Immigrants work hard 
to make ends meet and pay taxes every

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day. They have lived in this country for decades, married U.S. 
citizens, and raised their U.S.-citizen children. Laws that single 
these people out for no other reason than their status as immigrants 
violate their fundamental right to fair treatment.
  Yet, for too many years, Congress has witnessed a wave of anti-
immigrant legislation, playing on our worst fears and prejudices. Since 
1994, we have considered proposals to ban birthright citizenship, ban 
bilingual ballots, and slash family and employment based immigration, 
as well as to limit the number of asylees and refugees. In 1996 we 
passed laws denying legal residents the right to public benefits and 
denying immigrants a range of due process and fairness protections.
  We continue to see the tragedy of September 11th used as an excuse 
for even more assaults on the rights of immigrants. The Justice 
Department is now registering certain classes of immigrants and 
arresting them when law abiding immigrants arrive to register. The 
Department is holding deportation hearings in secret and detaining 
immigrants even after they are ordered released. The Attorney General 
is reducing both the independence and number of judges that handle the 
appeals of immigration cases. We are fending off legislation almost 
daily intended to reduce if not eliminate immigration to this country.
  Those who urge us to restrict the due process rights of immigrants 
forget the reason these rights were established in the first place. We 
grant due process rights to citizens and non-citizens alike; not out of 
some soft-hearted sentimentality, but because we believe that these 
rights form an important cornerstone to maintaining civilized society.
  The ``Restoration of Fairness in Immigration Act of 2003'' furthers 
this proud legacy by restoring our nation's long standing compassion 
for individuals seeking to build a better life and reunite with their 
families.
  The bill restores fairness to the immigration process by making sure 
that each person has a chance to have their case heard by a fair and 
impartial decision maker. No one here is looking to give immigrants a 
free ride, just a fair chance.
  Justice and fairness, as well as our own economic interests, demand 
no less.

                          ____________________