[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 24292]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                     IMMIGRATION BILL DISCRIMINATES

  (Mr. RODRIGUEZ asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I want to appeal to the Republican side 
to look at the immigration law from 1996. The 1996 law on immigration 
took away all discretion. The 1996 law took away all due process. The 
1996 law splits apart families. The 1996 law took away all compassion.
  We need to repeal the most punitive aspects of the 1996 immigration 
law. We need to restore fairness and equity to the system of 
immigration and naturalization. We need to give parity to Central 
Americans who fled for their lives. We need to allow for families to 
reside together, where they will be able to apply for an application 
without having to leave this country. We need to make sure and make 
clear that this law will be changed. And we need to make sure that both 
Customs and the Commerce, Justice, State bills do not pass until we 
make sure this immigration law is taken care of.
  I ask the Republican side that everything be done to make sure that 
equal treatment be taken into consideration in this particular piece of 
legislation. I ask for consideration in amending the 1996 piece of 
legislation.

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