It was my strong sense that Mr. Morelos would have qualified for asylum. considering his allegations of torture corraborated by scars I personally observed. As I looked into this matter further. discovered that the approval rates for Guatemalan and Salvadoran refugees were shockingly low. given the social unrest in those countries and the activism of many of their citizens. Only fourtenths of 1 percent of the Guatemalans applying for asylum are granted it. and only 2.5 percent of the Salvadorans. I raised this issue with Elliot Abrams. then Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs. in a hearing before the Foreign Operations Subcommittee on March 14. 1985. noting the apparent unfairness of the process.
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refugees