[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 70 (Tuesday, May 18, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E901]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            IN SUPPORT OF THE SAFE FOR AMERICA ACT H.R. 775

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                        HON. DONALD A. MANZULLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 18, 2004

  Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 775, the 
Security and Fairness Enhancement for America Act of 2003, or SAFE for 
America Act. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this important piece of 
legislation, which eliminates the visa lottery program from the 
Immigration and Nationality Act.
  Family connections play an overwhelming role in current immigration 
law. As a result of most immigrants coming from a few areas of the 
world, Congress established the visa lottery in the Immigration Act of 
1990 to diversify the immigration pool. Approximately 50,000 foreign 
nationals per year are randomly selected and awarded visas to come and 
live permanently in the United States under this visa lottery program.
  Immigrant visas are typically issued to individuals who already have 
some existing connection with a family member lawfully residing in the 
United States or with a U.S. employer. Millions of people apply for 
these visas through the lottery program, and the program requirements 
do nothing to ensure that the applicants have the skills they will need 
to participate in our modern economy. The recipients of these visas are 
selected based on luck, not by merit or existing ties with the U.S.
  This visa program is also problematic because it is unfair to those 
immigrants who have patiently waited and complied with our immigration 
laws. Most family-sponsored immigrants currently wait years to obtain a 
visa, yet the visa lottery program allows 50,000 random immigrants to 
pass ahead of these family-sponsored immigrants each year with 
relatively no wait.
  Finally, and what is perhaps most troubling are the numerous cases 
reported by the State Department that show that lottery winners often 
file fraudulent visa information. Because the lottery accepts visa 
applications from a variety of individuals and only requires 
credentials after selection, there is often a rush to find false 
documents once the winners are notified. False documentation is bad 
enough when applicants lie about education or work experience. With the 
amount of terrorist threats against our country, these immigration 
loopholes can create devastating consequences.
  Mr. Speaker, in this atmosphere of ambiguity, it would be wise to 
closely examine the flow of legal immigration into the United States in 
order to implement more comprehensive screening and naturalization 
measures.

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