R 296
2000-S 3047
Enacted 6/21/2000


S  E  N  A  T  E     R  E  S  O  L  U  T  I  O  N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THAT CONGRESS AMEND THE 1996 ANTI-TERRORISM LAW AND THE 1996 EFFECTIVE DEALTH PENALTY ACT TO PRODUCE A MORE EQUITABLE DEPORTATION PROCESS

Introduced By:  Senators DaPonte, Connors, Irons, Paiva Weed and Enos Date Introduced:  June 21, 2000

WHEREAS, America is a nation of people who were descended from immigrants. Throughout our history, immigrants have enriched our nation and culture and quite often they bring a renewed spirit and appreciation for democracy and the ideals upon which our great nation was founded; and

WHEREAS, In 1996, in the wake of the devastating Oklahoma City bombing, our national leaders understandably passed tougher laws to deter terrorism. Unfortunately, the result of these laws has been the unfair deportation and loss of due process rights for many hardworking immigrants in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Under the current law, an alien can be deported if the person is convicted of a crime that can lead to a jail sentence of as little as one year. Thus shoplifting is treated the same as murder; and

WHEREAS, In addition, federal judges are not permitted to use their judicial discretion, no waivers are allowed and the deportation process has been shortened from five years to one year; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby respectfully requests that Congress amend the 1996 Anti-Terrorism Law and the 1996 Effective Death Penalty Act to produce a more equitable deportation process; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation.

As always, your comments concerning this page are welcomed and appreciated.

Thank you for stopping by!