Speech #1010070393

Current U.S. policy does not adequately address the need of Lebanese nationals In the United States for a temporary place of refuge. The treatment of cases varies greatly and Lebanese nationals in the United States are denied extended voluntary departure [EVD] status. In 1985. the INS reissued its 1976 policy memorandum which encourages Immigration officials to view sympathetically individual requests for extended voluntary departure status. on a casebycase basis. whenever such requests are based on compelling humanitarian need. The Implementation of this policy is largely at the discretion of the regional INS office and the treatment of this case depends on how sympathetically an Individuals case is reviewed by that office. As part of the casebycase review. the INS may and does offer an extended voluntary departure status to Lebanese nationals for only 30 days.