Speech #1050079024

I rise today to offer legislation that provides permanent resident status to three children. Sergio. 17 years old. Fauricio 15 years old. and Ana Lozano. 14 years old. who were granted immigrant visas to come to the United States with their mother earlier this year. Now they have lost their mother and could be deported because they were recently orphaned. The children have lived with their mother. Ana Ruth Lozano. until her death in February of this year due to complications from typhoid fever. Since their mothers death. the children have been living with their closest relative. their U.S.-citizen grandmother who lives in Los Angeles. Without their mother. the children do not have the legal right to remain in the United States. The Lozano children can be deported because the immigration law prohibits permanent legal residency to minor children without their parents. Without their mother. these children can be deported by the INS despite the fact the children have no family who will take care of them in El Salvador except their estranged father who. INS reports show. was abusive to the mother and the children. Without this bill. the children will most likely be sent to an orphanage in El Salvador. Here in the United States. the .childern have their U.S.-citizen grandmother and uncles who will give them a loving home. I have previously sought administrative relief for the Lozano children by asking the INS district office in Los Angeles and Commissioner Meissner if any humanitarian exemptions could be made in their case. INS has told my staff that there is nothing further they can do administratively and a private relief bill may be the only way to protect the children from deportation. I hope you will support this bill so that we can help the Lozano children begin to rebuild their lives in the United States. Mr.