[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 18 (Monday, May 7, 2001)]
[Pages 690-691]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to Congressional Leaders on Proposed Legislation To Extend the 
Filing Deadline for Undocumented Immigrants

May 1, 2001

Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. Leader:)

    I am a strong proponent of government policies that recognize the 
importance of families and that help to strengthen them. To the extent 
possible, I believe that our immigration policies should reflect that 
philosophy. That is why I support legislation to extend the window 
created under section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
during which qualified immigrants may obtain legal residence in the 
United States without being forced to first leave the country and their 
families for several years.
    According to agency estimates, there are more than 500,000 
undocumented immigrants in the country who are eligible to become legal 
permanent residents, primarily because of their family relationship with 
a citizen or legal permanent resident. However, the law generally 
requires them to go back to their home country to obtain a visa, and 
once they do so, they are barred from returning to the United States for 
up to 10 years. Many choose to risk remaining here illegally rather than 
to be separated from their families for those many years. This issue has 
been the subject of discussion in the Working Group that Attorney 
General Ashcroft and Secretary of State Powell co-chair with officials 
of the Mexican government, and should be addressed to ensure a more 
orderly, legal, and humane migration flow between our countries.

[[Page 691]]

    I encourage the Congress to consider whether there was adequate time 
for persons eligible under section 245(i) to apply for adjustment of 
status before the filing deadline expired yesterday. Information 
indicates an estimated 200,000 were eligible to file but did not meet 
the deadline. Preliminary reports suggest that many applicants were 
unable to complete their paperwork in time, due in part to the fact that 
the rules explaining how the provision would be applied were not issued 
until late March. It remains in our national interest to legitimize 
those resident immigrants, eligible for legal status, and to welcome 
them as full participants of our society. But we will only be able to do 
this if the path to legalization encourages family reunification. For 
this reason, I would support legislation that temporarily extends the 
recently expired April 30, 2001, filing deadline, while maintaining the 
requirement that the applicant was physically present in the United 
States on December 21, 2000.
    I look forward to working with you on this important legislation.
     Sincerely,
                                                George W. Bush

Note: Identical letters were sent to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the 
House of Representatives; Richard A. Gephardt, House minority leader; 
Trent Lott, Senate majority leader; and Thomas A. Daschle, Senate 
minority leader.