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MEMORIALIZING CONGRESS TO SUPPORT CONGRESSMAN BARNEY FRANK'S EFFORTS TO AMEND THE FEDERAL 1996 ANTI-TERRORISM ACT

WHEREAS, The United States of America is a nation of people descended from immigrants who have enriched our nation and culture, bringing 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 nation's leaders 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, shoplifting 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 House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby memorializes congress to support Congressman Barney Frank's efforts to amend the Federal 1996 Anti-terrorism Act; 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 entire Rhode Island Congressional Delegation to the United States Congress.