March 22 - 1997

The Honorable William J. Clinton
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20016

Dear President Clinton:

I am writing to bring to your attention the need to find a permanent solution to the immigration status of Salvadorans and Guatemalans who are in the U.S. protected under the settlement agreement that resulted from the American Baptist Church v. Thornburgh lawsuit (know an the " ABC " agreement). The ABC settlement acknowledged that the Immigration and Naturalization Serviced (INS) had unfairly discriminated against Salvadorans and Guatemalans in processing their political asylum claims and provided that they could refile asylum cases which would be processed in a fair and equitable manner.

Unfortunately, after years of living and working in this country which has become their home, the INS has decided to commence asylum interviews and proceedings in the same month that most of the provisions of the Illegal Immigrant Reform and Responsibility Act of 1996 take effect. The "cancellation of removal" provisions of the new law‑‑‑ which severely limits the types of relief we understood they would be able to apply for‑‑‑ impose extremely restrictive standards most of will be unable to meet.

After temporary protective status approved by both Republican and Democrat administrations, they have become established members in their communities, and as tax‑paying workers who have labored in a broad range of jobs, especially in the service sector, they have become an integral part of the U.S. economy. Their families include U. S. born children and they have been in this country for at least seven years. They have demonstrated to be people of high moral integrity, and they would suffer tremendously if forced to return to El Salvador or Guatemala, their countries of origin.

In the past, your administration has demonstrated its commitment to securing a safe haven for thousands of Salvadorans and Guatemalans fleeing civil strife. I am urging you to take the opportunity to ensure that long‑term, law‑abiding residents be permitted to apply for suspension of deportation and that they not be subjected to the new cancellation of removal provision. Moreover, we plead to you for an executive decision to grant adjustment of status residency for members of the ABC class. Such a solution will secure stability for their families and will enable them to continue to thrive as successful members of the community. We trust that you will find a just solution for this urgent situation.

Sincerely,