Byron Dorgan: “approximately 1 year ago the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act became law. Next year at this…”

“approximately 1 year ago the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act became law. Next year at this time, September 30, 1998, section 110 of this act will be implemented and will adversely--and unintentionally--affect our neighbors in Canada. Section 110 requires the Immigration and Naturalization Service [INS] to develop an automated entry and exit system for the purpose of documenting the entry and departure of every alien arriving and leaving the United States. The United States has never had such an alien departure management system. Unfortunately, section 110 as enacted fails to recognize the decades-long practice of not requiring most Canadian nationals to fill out INS documents--referred to as ``I-94s'' at the border. In a December 18, 1996 letter to the Ambassador of Canada at the time, Raymond Chretien, Senator Alan Simpson, and Representative Lamar Smith, the chairmen of the Senate and the House Judiciary Subcommittees on Immigration, respectively, indicated to Ambassador Chretien that it was not the intention of the Judiciary Committee to impose any new requirements for border crossing cards--so-called I-94's--on Canadians who are not presently required to possess such documents.”