[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 92 (Friday, June 20, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1315]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF A PRIVATE BILL FOR THE RELIEF OF JUNIOR ANTHONY FRANCIS

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                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 19, 2003

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a private bill to 
make Junior Anthony Francis a permanent resident of the United States 
to put an end to deportation proceedings that are pending against him 
by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (BICE).
  Junior has lived in the United States for 40 years and has six 
American-born children. He has been working and supporting his family 
and living as normal a life as anyone else. He is being considered for 
deportation not because of any crime that may be part of his past, but 
because after many years it was discovered that his immigration papers 
are not in order. But Junior had taken steps, in good faith, to make 
sure his papers were in order. He may have received bad legal advice 
that brought him to this point, but he certainly should not be deported 
because of it.
  It is absolutely wrong to deport Junior and break up his family, who 
are the real victims in this matter. That is why I am fighting for him. 
Junior's employer has recruited a new legal team with whom I have been 
working to keep Junior and his family together in the United States.
  We should pass this bill to prevent this injustice from breaking up 
Junior's family. At the very least, I hope introducing this private 
bill will help convince federal authorities to be lenient in this case 
because it is the right thing to do.

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