Nicaragua. and El Salvador who have good reasons to fear returning to their native countries. During this decade. the combined violence in these three countries has claimed the lives of an estimated 100.000 people. and has prompted the exodus of over 1/2 million more. The Central American refugees who have come to the United States to escape the constant threats that war poses are presently subject to deportation unless they can establish a "well founded fear of persecution." This kind of individually based test is simply inadequate to the situation we face. Citizens of wartorn nations rarely have the ability to demonstrate that they have been singled out by forces in their native countries. Rather. in places where civilian lives are routinely taken. the United States should be more helpful as a nation to these refugees. Overall. we need to address current inconsistencies regarding who may find temporary refuge in our country. for how long. and with what privileges and restrictions. At best. the present process of extended voluntary departure is ambiguous. As a nation. we cannot afford to send the kind of mixed messages which result from a vague or arbitrary policy. As we Americans witness and applaud the great rush of East Germans to gain freedom in the West. we must carefully consider how our country will be viewed by turning away these needy refugees from China. Nicaragua. and El Salvador. It is for these basic reasons that I am a consponsor of this measure. and it is for these reasons that I urge my colleagues to vote for its passage.
Keywords matched
deportation refugees