Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id f4IM0Tf12181; Fri, 18 May 2001 18:00:29 -0400 (EDT) Date: Fri, 18 May 2001 18:00:29 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <B72B04E6.E17%azbecker@mindspring.com> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Aliza Becker <azbecker@mindspring.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ESL:6047] FW: Action Alert on 245(i) X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Status: O Content-Length: 3195 Lines: 68 ACTION ALERT CALL REPRESENTATIVES, WHITE HOUSE TO OPPOSE BAD 245(i) BILL The Republican leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives is pushing a bill (HR 1885) that would extend the filing deadline under section 245(i) for only 120 days. The bill would also require that the family or employment relationship that would qualify an immigrant for legal status under section 245(i) must have existed on or before April 30, 2001. The House is now scheduled to vote on this bill on Monday, May 21st at 6:00PM. We need to send our U.S. Representatives a clear message that HR 1885 is not enough. An extension of 120 days is too little time, and the new restrictions regarding qualifying relationships will cause too much confusion at INS. We also need to tell President Bush to follow through on his May 1 statement supporting a 245(i) extension by pushing Congress to approve a more generous bill. The National Immigration Forum has developed a set of talking points, which are reprinted below. WHAT WE NEED TO DO Please call your U.S. Representative to tell him or her to oppose HR 1885 and to support a longer extension of section 245(i) without any new restrictions. Capitol Hill Switchboard (202) 224-3121 Please also call the White House switchboard to urge President Bush to follow through on his statements and push for a longer 245(i) restoration. White House (202) 456-1111 TALKING POINTS ON HOUSE 245(i) EXTENSION PROPOSAL (developed by National Immigration Forum) * The 245(i) proposal in the House is insufficient in time and stingy in scope. A meaningful extension must go beyond 4 months and should not impose arbitrary requirements. Lawmakers should look to the bipartisan Senate legislation, sponsored by Senators Hagel (R-Nebraska) and Kennedy (D-Massachusetts), that would extend the 245(i) provision by one-year without the restrictions of the House proposal. * The White House has stated support for an extension of 245(i) for 6 to 12 months, and there is bipartisan legislation in both houses of congress for similar extensions. The new proposal of a limited 4-month extension with restrictions is "out of the blue." It is not consistent with the spirit of President Bush's letter where he advocated for policies that strengthen families and recognized that there was not enough time with the previous four-month extension. * In December 2000, when bipartisan legislation in Congress passed the 245(i) provision that expired April 30, 2001, it took the INS over 3 months to issue the new regulation, causing great panic and confusion among immigrants and creating an opportunity for unscrupulous and fraudulent immigration "advisors." This argues for a clean extension without new provisions. * The 245(i) provision helps people in this country who otherwise qualify for legal permanent residency. It is not an amnesty, but rather a way for people with deep roots in this country to reunite their families and work their way towards citizenship and full participation in their adopted country. For more information, please call the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, (312) 332-7360. ------ End of Forwarded Message
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