Mr. Chairman. today the House will consider H.R. 618. a bill to suspend the deportation of Salvadorans and Nicaraguans from the United States. I have cosponsored this bill in the 98th. 99th. and in this Congress and I want to take this opportunity to thank Congressman MOAKLEY for his tireless leadership on this issue. I would also like to commend the many people from Long Island who have met with me or written to me to express their support for Congressman MOAKLEYs bill. H.R. 618 is relatively straightforward. It suspends deportation proceedings. It does not grant permanent resident alien status. It does not make Salvadorans and Nicaraguans allowed to remain in the United States eligible for public assistance. In addition. the General Accounting Office will investigate matters affecting Salvadoran and Nicaraguan nationals. including the situation in Central America. the status of human rights protections. and the refugee situation in general. Once the GAO issues its report. Congress has 9 months in which to act on the question of the refugees status. If it takes no action. then the deportations will resume. As you know. Mr. Chairman. the administration has consistently opposed this legislation. However. in one of his more cynical acts. Attorney General Edwin Meese recently issued a ruling which allows Nicaraguan refugees to remain in the United States. Clearly. the administration has decided to play games with the lives of thousands of Central American men. women. and children. It will allow some Central Americans to remain here in the United States in order to score cheap propaganda points. but it will not allow others to remain.
Keywords matched
deportations refugee deportation refugees