16901: (Hermantin) Maimi-Herald--IMMIGRATION-Meek Seeking new law (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>


Posted on Sat, Oct. 04, 2003

IMMIGRATION
Meek seeking new law
By FRANK DAVIES
fdavies@herald.com

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, a Miami Democrat, introduced a bill
this week to make it easier for Haitians to become permanent residents and
avoid deportation while their applications are processed.

This bill expands on changes in immigration law made by the Haitian Refugee
Immigration Fairness Improvement Act, which his mother, former Rep. Carrie
Meek, successfully sponsored in 1998. That law allowed Haitians who arrived
in the United States before 1996 to become permanent residents.

Kendrick Meek's bill would expand coverage to most Haitians who arrived by
air and block the deportation of any Haitian who has an application pending.
It would also include children who became adults before their applications
could be considered.

''This is a reasonable and responsible bill that makes an already good law
even fairer,'' Meek said.

He acknowledged that the current Congress is less sympathetic to immigration
changes than the one in 1998, but said there was a chance his bill could be
included in a catch-all immigration bill later this year.

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