President Bush Seeks Extension of Immigration Deadline
May 1, 2001
Washington, D.C.-- President Bush has sent a letter to House and Senate leaders urging Congress to extend the deadline for illegal immigrants to file applications to remain in the United States while they pursue permanent residency.
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said the president supported extending the deadline to take advantage of a temporary regulation change that spared illegal immigrants from having to travel to their home countries before seeking a green card.
The original deadline passed at midnight Monday, April 30. Immigration offices around the country were flooded with last-minute requests.
Several bills are pending in Congress to address the problem, and Fleischer said Bush supports extending the deadline so that many immigrant families can remain intact. The White House estimated that an extension would affect about 200,000 people.
"The president is very concerned about what would happen to families of immigrants ... who would be forced to separate from their loved ones," Fleischer said. "The president stands on the side of these immigrants and their families."
Bush was sending letters to House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D. He plans to work with lawmakers to determine how long the extension should last, Fleischer said.
The new law, part of the LIFE Act which took effect on December 21, 2000, will assist approximately 640,000 illegal immigrants. To apply, an immigrant must be sponsored by an employer or by a qualifying US citizen or legal permanent resident relative.
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to view a copy of President Bush's letter to Congress. 
