[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 30 (Wednesday, March 2, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1136-S1137]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN:
  S. 448. A bill for the relief of Shing Ma ``Steve'' Li; to the 
Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, today I am introducing a private 
relief bill on behalf of Shing Ma ``Steve'' Li. Steve is a Peruvian 
national who lives in San Francisco, California. He was brought to the 
United States as a child and is now a student at City College of San 
Francisco hoping to become a nurse.
  I decided to introduce a private bill on Steve's behalf because I 
believe that Steve would suffer undue hardship if he were removed to 
Peru. Without this legislation, Steve would be separated from his 
family and his community, and returned to a country he does not know.
  Steve was only 12 years old when his parents brought him to the 
United States. Steve's parents are Chinese nationals who originally 
fled China to escape economic oppression and the Chinese government's 
policies on reproductive rights. From China, his parents went to Peru, 
where Steve was born.
  The family then sought asylum in the United States, which was denied. 
Steve was ordered removed to Peru, where he was born, while his parents 
were ordered removed to China, the country of their nationality. 
Steve's parents would not be able to accompany their son to Peru.
  Steve's parents never told him about the asylum denial or the removal 
orders. Steve did not know that he was in the United States illegally, 
and he went through all of his teenage years in the United States 
believing he was legally allowed to be here. He did not learn about his 
deportation order until one morning this past September when 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrived at his home and took 
him into custody.
  All too often, youngsters like Steve are put in the position of being 
returned to a country they do not know. These young people did not make 
the choice to come to the United States but were brought to this 
country by their parents. Many of these young people grew up in America 
and have little or no memory of the countries they came from. They are 
hard working young people dedicated to their education. They have 
stayed out of trouble. Some are valedictorians and honor roll students. 
Many are community leaders and have an unwavering commitment to serving 
the United States.
  I hoped that the Senate would pass the DREAM Act last year to provide 
qualified young people the opportunity to contribute to this country 
and their communities. Unfortunately, the bill fell short of the 60 
votes it needed to move forward. I hope the Senate will one day pass 
the DREAM Act. The legislation I am introducing today will provide one 
of these youngsters the opportunity give back to the country he calls 
home.
  Steve attended George Washington High School in San Francisco, 
California. While there, he was enrolled in the Honor's Program and 
became very involved in his high school community. Steve was an athlete 
on the cross country and track team. He worked for the school newspaper 
as a reporter, editor, and cameraman. Demonstrating his desire to 
educate his community on health issues, Steve also provided 
presentations to other students through his high school's wellness 
program on the risks of drinking and driving and sexually transmitted 
diseases.
  Steve graduated high school in 2008 and enrolled at City College of 
San Francisco to pursue a career in nursing. City College of San 
Francisco awarded Steve the Goldman Scholarship to cover the cost of 
his tuition. Steve has continued his active involvement in his 
community, joining the Asian American Student Success Center, as well 
as the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Program, which 
is a 2-year outreach and educational support program.
  Steve continued his commitment to academic achievement when he 
attended the San Francisco State University Summer Science Institute, 
which provided a year-long internship to prepare him for a career in 
health care upon his graduation from college.
  Educators working with Steve highlight his potential for giving back 
to the United States, while Steve's friends and other community members 
have contacted me about the impact his compassion and helpfulness has 
had on the community. Steve's teachers call him a ``great student,'' 
``hard working,'' ``an exceptional student,'' and ``goal directed.''
  This private bill is an opportunity for Steve to finish his education 
and remain in the country he considers his only home. If he were forced 
to relocate to Peru, his education would be cut short, and Steve would 
be sent to a place where he knows no one. I believe that, by staying in 
California, Steve will only continue to serve his community and serve 
this country as a health care professional.
  I ask my colleagues to support this private bill.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 448

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS FOR SHING MA ``STEVE'' 
                   LI.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law 
     or any order, for purposes of the Immigration and Nationality 
     Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.), Shing Ma ``Steve'' Li shall be--
       (1) deemed to have been lawfully admitted to, and remained 
     in, the United States; and
       (2) eligible for issuance of an immigrant visa or for 
     adjustment of status under section 245 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 
     1255).
       (b) Application and Payment of Fees.--Subsection (a) shall 
     apply only if the applications for issuance of an immigrant 
     visa or for adjustment of status are filed, with appropriate 
     fees, not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act.
       (c) Reduction of Immigrant Visa Numbers.--Upon the granting 
     of an immigrant visa to Shing Ma ``Steve'' Li, the Secretary 
     of State shall instruct the proper officer to reduce by 1, 
     during the current or next following fiscal year, the total 
     number of immigrant visas that are made available to natives 
     of the country of the birth of Shing Ma ``Steve'' Li under--

[[Page S1137]]

       (1) section 203(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
     (8 U.S.C. 1153(a)); or
       (2) section 202(e) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1152(e)), if 
     applicable.
       (d) PAYGO.--The budgetary effects of this Act, for the 
     purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go-Act of 
     2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest 
     statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' 
     for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional 
     Record by the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, 
     provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the 
     vote on passage.
                                 ______