Speech #990064973

Thus. over the past few years. a large number of ref ugees from El Salvador have entered the United States illegally. The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization ServIce (INS) currently apprehends over 1.000 undocumented Salvadorans each month but believes that this may reflect only about a fourth of the total entries. The number of Salvadorans residing Illegally in the United States Is unknown. but estimates range from 100.000 to 500.000. What is so disturbing about this problem is the recent trend that exists among churches offering themselves as places of sanctuary for illegal aliens from El Salvador. Although the churches claim to be "morally obligated to save the lives and protect the liberty of these refugees." one of the "primary objectives" of the sanctuary movement "is to offer living testimony about the wars effects" and to use the Salvadorans as "a symbol of resistance" to dramatize "the immorality of U.S. intervention." They claim the aliens are fleeing persecution and that they face certain death if deported. The Department of State. on the other hand. contends that the primary motivation for Salvadoran migration to the United States is economic. not political. pointing to the overpopulation and poverty in El Salvador. and the longstanding policy of that nation to encourage the emigration of their people to relieve conditions in their country. The Department also points to the fact that most Salvadorans travel through other countries before reaching our borders. yet continue on to the United States in search of a better way of life. The Department believes that while civil strife and violence in El Salvador are at distressing levels. there has not been the widespread fighting. destruction. and breakdown of public services and order that has been present in other situations when the United States granted extended voluntary departure [EVD status to refugees. In order to grant EVD status. the refugee must be someone who has a "wellfounded fear of persecution on account of race. religion. nationality. membership in a particular social group. or political opinion." Thus. according to the Refugee Act of 1980. general assertions of flight from "lolence or hostilities do not satisfy this burden. The State Department concludes that most Salvadorans present in the United States were not involved in political or military activities prior to their departure from El Salvador. and that there is no evidence that upon return to El Salvador. they would be subject to persecution. In a recent survey of about 500 Salvador..a deportees. not a single case of abuse or murder was found. Interestingly enough. of the 500 deportees surveyed. 39 had already returned illegally to the United States. Furthermore. any grants of Extended Voluntary Departure status must be considered in light of its potential inducement to further the influx of illegal immigrants. Past experience with the mass migration of Cuban and Hatian nationals to the United States underscores the finite capacity of our countrys law enforcement and .ocial support system. In conclusion. I believe that the current INS and U.S. Government policy position is a sound and appropriate one. combining large amounts of economic assistance. energetic diplomatic efforts. and the grant of asylum to those with a wellfounded fear of persecution. I cannot concur with the position taken by some churches to harbor or conceal illegal aliens from El Salvador. or elsewhere. Furthermore. with the current democratic strides being made by President Duarte in El Salvador. the risk of persecution to the general public from civil disturbance has lessened. Our conduct in this matter should be guided by the rule of law. which in this case is a felony.