Speech #970028577

Mr. President. I have been concerned for many weeks over the growing problem of refugees fleeing the escalating conflict in El Salvadorthose in and around El Salvador as well as those Salvadorans in the United States or reaching our borders. Through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. we are joining others in the international community in providing humanitarian assistance to Salvadorans in Honduras and other countries. But for those Salvadorans in the United States. or reaching our shores. we have closed our doors to those who do not want to return to their country at this time because of the violence. Regrettably. this is being done by the administration contrary to past practice. During the worst days of the Lebanese or Nicaraguan conflicts. we adopted for a temporary period of time a number of special immigration measures to deal with nationals from those countries who were in the United States or those seeking safe haven. Basically. these measures involved the granting of stays of voluntary departure for Lebanese and Nicaraguanswith permission to work. if that was necessaryand adopting more flexible visa guidelines for the admission of those who had family or other ties in the United States. It also meant we did not deport such nationals whose life might be endangered upon return to their countries because of civil strife. At a hearing of the Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Policy on April 1. and in subsequent letters to Secretary of State Alexander Haig and Acting Immigration Commissioner David Crosland. I raised the issue of our treatment of Salvadoran refugees. I deeply regret that the responses I have received are negative. and that the administration has rejected granting stays of voluntary departure to Salvadorans who do not want to seek permanent asylum. but simply temporary safe haven from the violence in El Salvador. I hope that the administration will reconsider its decision. proceed on the basis of past precedents. and deal more flexibly and humanely with Salvadorans in the United States. Mr. President. I ask that my exchange of correspondence with the Department of State and the Immigration and Naturalization Service be printed at this point in the RECORD. The correspondence follows: