    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
    [October 25, 1994]
    [Pages 1869-1870]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Immigration and Nationality Technical
    Corrections Act of 1994
    October 25, 1994

        I am pleased to sign H.R. 783, the ``Immigration and Nationality
    Technical Corrections Act of 1994,'' which will reauthorize the Visa
    Waiver Pilot Program, assist new refugees coming to the United States,
    improve laws relating to naturalization and citizenship, and speed the
    deportation of alien felons.
        The Visa Waiver Pilot Program was established in 1988 to allow
    visitors from certain countries to travel to the United States without a
    visa. The countries participating in this program grant reciprocal
    privileges to American visitors. In 1993, more than nine million
    international tourists and business people from 22 nations traveled to
    the United States under this program. This Act will help to promote U.S.
    tourism by extending the Visa Waiver Pilot Program for 2 years.
        The Federal Government provides approximately $400 million annually
    to States and voluntary agencies to help provide for health, employment
    related services, English language training, and other resettlement
    needs of refugees. H.R. 783 will continue the authority for this
    program.
        The Act also corrects a decades-old injustice to certain persons
    born outside the United States before 1934 of one U.S.-citizen parent
    and one noncitizen parent. Prior to the enactment of this Act, such
    persons could become U.S. citizens if the father was the citizen, but
    not if the mother was the citizen. H.R. 783 corrects this inequity and
    makes persons born before 1934 to a U.S. citizen mother and alien father
    eligible for U.S. citizenship.
        The Act allows for more rapid deportation of undocumented aliens who
    are convicted of serious crimes in the United States. The Act also adds
    certain crimes to the definition of aggravated felony. I sign this
    legislation with the understanding that convictions for crimes included
    in the existing law will be governed by the current effective date
    provisions, and that the effective date provision related to the
    expanded definition applies only to convictions for those crimes that
    have been added by this Act.
        Finally, I note that section 221 of the Act, relating to visits to
    the United States by Taiwan officials, is in potential tension with my
    constitutional authorities concerning receipt of Ambassadors,
    recognition of governments, and the conduct of foreign policy. Section
    212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (``INA'') permits the
    Secretary of State to exclude aliens where admission would have
    potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences. Were section
    221 of the Act read to restrict this authority, section 221 would
    impermissibly impinge on my constitutional responsibilities.
        Section 221 can be read in a manner consistent with the
    Constitution, however. Because the Congress has chosen not to modify
    section 212(a)(3)(C) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(C), I will construe
    section 221 as expressing the

    [[Page 1870]]

    Congress' own view that in the six circumstances enumerated, our foreign
    policy is better served by admitting these individuals, but ultimately
    leaving this determination to the Secretary of State under section 212
    of the INA. It is in this manner, consistent with the Constitution, that
    I intend for this statute to be construed.
        Accordingly, I am hereby directing the Secretary of State to weigh
    particularly carefully the foreign policy interests of the United States
    in considering any application by Taiwan's leaders to visit the United
    States in the six designated circumstances. These interests include
    maintaining the present peaceful conditions and robust economic climate
    in the Taiwan Strait region and the successful balance struck between
    our unofficial relations with Taiwan and our relations with the People's
    Republic of China.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,
    October 25, 1994.

    Note: H.R. 783, approved October 25, was assigned Public Law No. 103-
    416.