Rod Grams: “Minnesota and Michigan are two States that share a common border with Canada, and so I am very proud today to join my…”

“Minnesota and Michigan are two States that share a common border with Canada, and so I am very proud today to join my colleague, Senator Abraham, chairman of the Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, as a cosponsor of his bill to ensure Canada will receive current treatment once the immigration law is implemented in 1998. There has been a great deal of concern, especially in Minnesota, as well, as to how the immigration law we passed last year will affect the northern U.S. border. Right now the fear is the law is being misinterpreted by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Minnesota alone has about 817 miles of shared border with Canada and we share many interests with our northern neighbor--tourism, trade, and family visits among the most prevalent. In the last few years, passage back and forth over the Minnesota/Canadian border has been more open and free flowing, especially since the North American Free-Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into effect.”