Speech #970018280

Mr. Speaker. thousands of refugees from the violence in El Salvador could be forced to return to their wartorn homeland unless the United States gives them temporary refuge. The current policy of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service is to force as many as 400 refugees to return to El Salvador each month. Once in El Salvador. some refugees face retribution from their government and all are thrown again into the dangerous situation they sought to escape. An article which appeared recently in the New York Times provides a thorough explanation of the problems faced by Salvadoran refugees. and of the poor response thus far- byU.S. officials. The Secretary of State could initiate a procedure which would grant temporary shelter to these refugees. and a letter urging him to do so was sent 3 weeks ago by myself and 19 of my colleagues. In spite of the urgent importance of offering a temporary haven to Salvadoran refugees. documented in the article which follows. the Secretary of State has failed to take such action. The issue is of serious concern to us all. I urge my colleagues to carefully consider the information provided by this article.