Sunday, March 23, 1997
Mayor Giuliani yesterday criticized immigration officials for going “in the wrong direction” by suddenly deciding to accept green card applications only by mail.
“People are in a sense of real fear,” Giuliani said, referring to the panic that set in last week after the Immigration and Naturalization Service cut off the line of applicants trying to apply for green cards in person at the agency’s offices.
“Instead of trying to cut back on what the immigration service is doing, the INS should be putting more resources into trying to help people,” Giuliani said. “They are putting a tremendous amount of pressure on people.”
INS spokeswoman Eyleen Schmidt said she could not comment on the criticism.
Citing building security concerns, immigration officials cut off the lines after hundreds of immigrants began camping out overnight hoping to get green cards that would enable them to stay in the U.S.
The lines started building with the approach of the April 1 effective date of tougher new immigration laws. Many undocumented immigrants feared they had to file for legal status by April 1 or risk being deported.
But in a notice issued Friday, immigration officials said the deadline is actually Sept. 30.
Clinton administration officials have asked Congress to postpone the deadline.
The INS notice said there was “no advantage” gained by trying to marry a U.S. citizen or legal resident by April 1 — a tactic that has resulted in crowds of immigrants at city marriage license offices.
“We understand that there is tremendous confusion with the significant changes in the immigration law,” Schmidt said. “We’ve been working hard . . . to let people know that they can go to any INS office in the U.S. after April 1 and apply to adjust their status, to become legal residents of this country.”
The agency also added extra staff to answer calls to a toll-free information number: (800) 375-5283.
Giuliani, who has focused on immigration as he seeks reelection this year, said the federal agency isn’t doing enough.
“The INS has to recognize that the Federal Immigration Reform Act and some of the measures in the Welfare Reform Act have produced enormous problems for people that are not going to be solved by turning them away, or not allowing them to come to the INS offices,” the mayor said.
Original Story Date: 032397
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