Speech #980098964

And there are other countries of first asylum in Central America who are ready to accept these people. That is a key thing of which I think we should be aware. Most Salvadorans in the United States are economic migrants. and they come here without a valid claim to persecution in the event they should return voluntarily or be deported. There have been extensive efforts made by many private and religious groups. such as the ACLU and Amnesty International. to determine the fate of Salvadorans returning from the United States. and no evidence has been found to indicate that these returnees are harmed. There are areas of the country. particularly in the city of San Salvador and the western provinces. where the violence is not intense. There are displaced persons camps throughout the country where food and medical assistance are available and international personnel are present. The Honduran Governmentand I trust Senators will hear thishas indicated its willingness to accept all refugees who enter Honduras from El Salvador. In short then. there is a safe refuge in the region. Here is the irony that we are addressing. A person. if truly fleeing strife or persecution in El Salvador. has an opportunity to obtain refuge in Honduras. or in other Latin American countries where there is refuge and a common language and a common heritage. They do not choose to seek safe haven in those countries. but they can come to the border of the United States of America and say. "I am a refugee." They have had opportunities to seek refuge before they got to this country. They come that extra 2.000 miles to the Unites States for one reasonto obtain an economic opportunity. to work. to obtain a job. There are 300 to 350 Salvadorans who are currently being returned by the United States to El Salvador each month.