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WASHINGTON - As Republican Congressional leaders in the House continue to delay much needed immigration reform, Congressman Charles Rangel has introduced legislation to relieve the anguish of thousands of immigrants who are seeking to adjust their status legally without leaving the country.
Introduced June 29, HR 5741 would re-instate Section 245(i) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act, providing a way for residents who had entered the country legally or without inspection to stay in the U.S. while officials review their applications for permanent residency.
The once-overwhelmingly popular measure was renewed several times in the 1990s, but was allowed to expire as a result of post-Sept. 11 fears. Currently, immigration law mandates in most cases that immigrants return to their native countries when their temporary visas expire or risk three to 10-year bans on reentry.
"This bill is not a cure-all and it does not apply to everyone," said Rangel, whose congressional district in Northern Manhattan has a proud history of immigrant communities from around the world. "However, it does provide a way for certain undocumented immigrants – especially those who overstayed their visas – to adjust their status in this country without having to rip apart economic or family ties."
Rangel and fellow Democratic Congressional leaders have aggressively pushed for fair and practical immigration legislation that doesn't make felons out of undocumented workers. He has also fought hard for a just family reunification policy, to keep petitions alive for family members of deceased immigrant soldiers and to provide a path to citizenship for undocumented students who perform well academically.
Yet, while the current debate seeks a way to legalize the status of current undocumented immigrants, none of the proposals provide a permanent avenue for those who might otherwise qualify to remain in the U.S. as they adjust their status.
According to the Pew Hispanic Center, as much as 45 percent of the undocumented population has arrived in the country legally under some type of visa and not as a result of an illegal border crossing.
"I am under no illusion that this will be easy, considering the hostile atmosphere we've seen so far in Congress," said the veteran Congressman. "Yet, it's my hope that this will remain an option for those of us who want to set the right policies on immigration and not just use it as an issue to divide Americans and attract the votes of extremists."
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