Speech #990229699

The amendment also requires that the report be made available to Members of Congress and identify the Federal agencies that would bear the costs of using the facilities. Mr. President. a number of weeks ago there was a riot at the Immigration and Naturalization Services Krome Detention Facility near Miami. This riot was a natural result of putting extremely dangerous criminals in a minimum security facility. as the Krome facility was designed. along with less dangerous detainees captured by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. While I would prefer that these criminals be returned to Cuba where they properly belong. there seems to be no practical way to return these criminals at this time. Until the time that these criminals can be returned to Cuba. we must find a way to keep them away from our local communities. out of inappropriate facilities. and put where they pose no danger to the people of the United States. Unfortunately. Mr. President. the currently untenable situation at the Immigration and Naturalization Service for detaining and controlling these Cuban criminals only shows signs of getting worse. The number of Mariel criminals becoming the responsibility of the Immigration and Naturalization Service is rising at the rate of almost 100 persons a month. By the end of fiscal year 1987. there will be nearly 2.500 Mariel in the custody of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The problem is also complicated by the tendency of State and local prison officials to unilaterally declare all Mariel criminals in their systems the responsibility of the Federal Government and release them. While this kind of action by State and local officials is irresponsible. the Federal Government must be able to keep these dangerous criminals in detention.