Speech #980264886

I feel that it is important that we enter statements into the RECORD on this very important issue. I became involved with the issue of Salvadorans in the United States because of my concern for the plight of the Salvadorans residing in my home State of Arizona. The tragedy of those displaced from El Salvador has become only too familiar to many of my constituents and the fear of those who face deportation back to El Salvador at the present time has become their own fear. During November of 1983. I introduced S. 2131. which would temporarily suspend the detention and deportation of Salvadoran nationals in the United States. .Also during 1983. the President signed into law a sense of Congress resolution recommending that the administration grant extended voluntary departure (EVD) to Salvadorans in the United States. Unfortunately. this language has gone unheeded and deportations persist. The United States deports an average of 100 Salvadorans a week back to El Salvador. The administration has refused even temporarily to suspend the deportation of Salvadorans. There has been reason enough for Congress to address this issue. but it is now more important because the courts have made it clear that it is not in their jurisdiction to make decisions on extended voluntary departure. Judge Richey. of the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia. in a decision just last week. said that "For the Court to order EVD in this case would set a farreaching precedent. wholly within the prerogative of Congress. ...." This makes it clear to me that the issue of the suspension of deportation of Salvadorans is one that must be dealt with by the legislative branch. I would like to address a few issues involved in the suspension of the deportation question. which I feel are important for Members to understand. I have heard it said that most Salvadorans in the United States came here before 1980. Estimates of the number of Salvadorans currently living in the United States range between 300.000 and 500.000.