Speech #980098983

I believe that the United States bears a certain responsibility for the noncombatant deaths because of our support for the Salvadoran Government and military. This prompted me to meet with thenSecretary of State Alexander Haig over a year ago. I presented him with a letter which outlined my concerns about the refugees who are in this country. I urged him to grant political asylum status to those who had lost family members in the violence and who had a justifiable fear of returning to El Salvador. I wanted to insure that those who truly deserved such status would be assured of receiving it. When I could see no change in our policies regarding asylum requests. I wrote to Secretary of State George Shultz. Again. I outlined my grave concerns about the plight of the Salvadorans who were in this country and who feared for their safety should they be unwillingly returned to El Salvador. I urged that every opportunity be given to the Salvadorans during the deportation hearings to explain their reasons for fearing a return to their country. I urged that those with a wellgrounded fear of persecution or those who presented evidence of torture or repression against their families and coworkers would be granted the opportunity to remain in the United States until it was safe for them to return. Last month.