Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of H.R. 618. which suspends detention or deportation of displaced Salvadorans and Nicaraguans residing in the United States for close to 3 years. pending a GAO report and congressional review. As a cosponsor of H.R. 618. I would like to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for bringing this worthy legislation before us today and for his dedication to international human rights. The United States has historically offered temporary protection to refugees whose homelands were plagued by extreme civil strife. war. or gross human rights violations. This temporary status has been granted 15 different times in the last 25 years to nationals of countries where war or political upheaval would jeopardize their lives upon return to their native countries. and currently protects Poles. Afghans. and Ethiopians from deportation. Under the Somoza regime. Nicaraguans were granted protection due to the unstable and unsettled conditions in Nicaragua at that time. Surely. the conditions that exist today in El Salvador and Nicaragua should compel our Government to offer the same temporary protection to those refugees who are currently in the United States. Approximately 50.000 civilians have been killed in El Salvador since 1979. and increasing repression through censorship. harrassment of the church. and suspension of fundamental civil liberties is reported in Nicaragua. Mr. Chairman. lets put aside our political difference and instead work toward providing a safe temporary home for these Salvadoran and Nicaraguan refugees. H.R. 618 is a bipartisan. humanitarian measure intended to save lives. and I urge my colleagues to join in support of this legislation.
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deportation refugees