Speech #1000080187

Speaker. why we need to pass this important bill. First of all. it is the humane and right thing to do. This bill simply suspends the deportation of illegal immigrants from El Salvador and Nicaragua pending completion of a GAO report. The GAO report takes a balanced and reasonable approach in analyzing this situation: First. The GAO will report on the circumstances of Salvadorans and Nicaraguans who have been deported from the United States. Second. The GAO will report on the condition of Persons displaced in other parts of Central America. Third. The GAO will report on conditions in both El Salvador and Nicaragua and compare these conditions to other countries where the United States has suspended deportation in the past. This is a fundamental human. rights issuenot an issue which should be used to promote the administrations foreign policy initiatives. First. Immigrants from both El Salvador and Nicaragua face similar conditions of war. violence. and persecution at homeas do nationals from other countries where the United States has suspended deportation. Second. While many of my colleagues may have views about the direction in which both the Government of El Salvador -and Nicaragua are headed. the duty of the United States Government is to assess the present situation in any given country.. and decide if it is safe forpeople to return. The United States has often suspended the deportation of persons whose home country is in turmoil: First. This has been done 14 times in the past 25 years. Second. Deportation has been suspended for Citizens of friendly nations as well as enemies. Third. It is therefore disheartening that the administration is deporting most illegal immigrants from El Salvador while allowing Nicaraguans to: stay. Suspension -of deportation does not amount to a condemnation of the Duarte -government Or other governments. Suspension of deportation to these two groups of people does not mean that our borders. will be opened up to all kinds of foreign nationals. Suspension of deportation does not openup the Immigration Reform and Control Act. This legislation is a temporary measure targeted at a specific group of people who very well could be persecuted if deported.