Mr. Chairman. I rise in opposition to efforts to strike from the immigration bill the provision granting a temporary stay of deportation of Salvadoran and Nicaraguan refugees who are currently in the United States. The issue of granting extended voluntary departure status to Salvadoran and Nicaraguan refugees is not a political statement against the governments of those countries. It is far from that. Instead. is a deeply humanitarian issue. It is a matter of whether we. as citizens of a country whose very principles are based on compassion and equity. will setaside our political differences and provide a temporary refuge for persons less fortunate than ourselves who are innocent victims of civil wars waging through their countries.
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immigration deportation refugees