Speech #1000080276

Chairman. I rise in support of H.R. 618. There is a wellreasoned symmetry in the billA symmetry which provides for equal treatment of Nicaraguan and Salvadoran refugees. A symmetry which provides equal treatment for those who have fled war and bloodshed in their homelands. and A symmetry which is sorely missing in the administrations Central American refugee policy. The bill does not choose political favorites * * * it does not grant temporary asylum on the basis of which government is now in favor and which government is not. It does temporarily suspend the deportation of illegal immigrants until such time as reports of violence can be verified or until the political turmoil in Nicaragua and El Salvador ends. The administration. in its haste to chastise the Government of Nicaragua and. I suspect. bolster its effort to secure additional aid for the Contras. is encouraging Nicaraguans to apply for asylum in this country. What better evidence of human rights violations by the Sandinista government than a permanent underclass of Nicaraguan political refugees here in the United States? Yet. in an attempt to minimize the appearance of political turmoil in El Salvador. the administration wants to deport Salvadoran refugees as quickly as possible. Not even President Duarte supports the administrations policy. Mr.