DATE=5/4/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=COLOMBIAN MIGRANTS (L-O)
NUMBER=2-262003
BYLINE=RICK NUNEZ
DATELINE=MIAMI
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Hundreds of Colombians rallied in Miami today
(Thursday) demanding that the United States grant
special protective status to tens of thousands of
newly arrived Colombian migrants who fled their
homeland to escape a brutal guerrilla war. V-O-A's
Rick Nunez has the story from Miami:
// AMBIENT SOUND, ESTABLISH AND FADE UNDER //
TEXT: The demonstrators waved Colombian and U-S flags
as they lined an entire city block in the heart of
Miami. They are demanding that the Justice Department
grant Colombians the special status given to
individuals who have fled their home countries because
of internal conflict, natural disasters, or other
extraordinary criteria.
The status would allow those Colombian families
already in the United States to remain in the country
legally, and work for up to 18 months before returning
home.
The Miami-based Colombian American Service Association
organized the march. The President of the
organization, Juan Carlos Zapata, says between 90 and
100-thousand Colombians have fled to the United States
in the past two years. He says the escalating
violence committed against Colombian civilians by
leftist rebels and right-wing death squads constitutes
sufficient grounds to seek the protective status:
/// ZAPATA ACT ///
These families are the victims of the civil
strife in Colombia and therefore have been
forced to come here to seek refuge. They do
deserve this protection.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Zapata criticized the Colombian government for not
putting its weight behind the immigration efforts.
But Colombia's Foreign Minister, Guillermo Fernandez
De Soto, denies such charges. He says the decision to
grant the special status rests entirely with Attorney
General Janet Reno.
Ms. Reno would make the decision based on State
Department findings. A State Department official, who
spoke on condition of anonymity, told V-O-A the two
agencies have not discussed the Colombian immigration
matter.
The Colombian American Service Association plans to
hold a candlelight vigil in support of the special
immigration status late Thursday in front of the White
House.
The protests come as the U-S Congress is considering a
controversial one-point-six billion dollar package to
help Colombia fight drug traffickers.(Signed)
NEB/RAN/gm
04-May-2000 16:07 PM EDT (04-May-2000 2007 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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