Dana Rohrabacher: “Mr. Chairman, my amendment will close an immigration loophole opened 2 years ago by a rider to the fiscal year 1995…”

“Mr. Chairman, my amendment will close an immigration loophole opened 2 years ago by a rider to the fiscal year 1995 Commerce-State-Justice appropriations bill. This loophole, which was put into the bill by Senator Kennedy, rewards many illegal aliens who are in the United States illegally. Let me repeat that. This only deals with people who are in the United States illegally by allowing them to apply for permanent resident status and remain here while their applications are pending. That was the loophole that was put into that bill by Senator Kennedy. While waiting for their applications to be adjudicated, these illegal aliens are considered PRUCOL, Persons Residing Under Color of Law. Those individuals that we are talking about are here illegally, but they are then eligible for several taxpayer-funded government benefits. This loophole also has serious repercussions for the security of our Nation. Under the Kennedy loophole, certain people who sneak across our border or illegally overstay their visas can apply for permanent resident status at the local INS office. That is right, right here in the United States, in their local communities, at the local INS office. Even these aliens who have flagrantly violated our immigration laws are now able to avoid an examination by the State Department officials in their home countries because they are applying to the INS here locally.”