Grassley cosponsored the bill, which would extend the deadline for eligible immigrants to apply for permanent residency without having to return to their home countries, in exchange for a $1000 penalty fee.
Last year, Congress passed the Legal Immigration Fairness Act and extended the time deadline for the filing of applications until April 30, 2001. Certain persons were eligible for relief, but through no fault of their own, were not able to have their applications considered in a timely manner by the INS. This year's legislation would allow immigrants to adjust their status and get their papers in order until April 30, 2002.
"Many of the immigrants who were eligible to file for residency under this program missed the earlier deadline because rules explaining the program were issued too late," Grassley said. "Without this extension, families could be unnecessarily separated and businesses could lose valuable employees."
Grassley said that immigrants may be eligible for permanent residency under the program based on family relationships or labor certification that existed prior to the date the bill is signed into law.
"Many pockets of the country, including Iowa, are looking to immigrants to help boost a dwindling workforce and meet the demand for high tech workers," Grassley said. "We want to make sure these people don't have to unnecessarily leave their jobs or families for years on end until they are told it's okay to live in the U.S. again."