Speech #990120488

Mr. Speaker. last week. the Subcommittee on Immigration. Refugees and International Law held hearings on H.R. 822a bill that I have Introduced which would temporarily halt the detention and deportation of Salvadoran nationals now In the United States for approximately 2 years. The bill also calls for a General Accounting Office study to investigate the security conditions in El Salvador and the general plight of Salvadoran refugees. This study would be done while the suspension of deportations was in effect. During the hearing. a question was raised as to whether it would be more logical to conduct the GAO study first and then. depending on the outcome of that study. make a determination about whether to temporarily suspend deportations. My response was that I felt the logic was on the bills sideand that the study and the suspension of deportations should go hand in hand. It is difficult for me to believe that anyone could not recognize that El Salvador is currently engulfed in a dangerous civil war In which there are numerous civilian casualties. We do not need a GAO study to determine this basic factall one needs to do is read the newspapers and the human rights reports of every major human rights organization in the world. It seems clear. based on what we already know. a suspension of deportations is warranted. The purpose of the study is to determinenot whether there should be a suspension of deportationsbut what policy options should be pursued upon the completion of the suspension of deporta. tions. After the approximately 2 years has passed. should we extend the suspension or should we send the Salvadorans back to El Salvador? The GAO study is meant to provide Congress with a basis to make such a determination.