September 18, 2002 Cubans Detained In Buffalo Released WASHINGTON, D.C. – Upon hearing about the case today of nine Cuban nationals being held in Buffalo, New York, Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Commissioner James Ziglar asked for an immediate review of their cases.  After that review, it was determined that the nine individuals would be paroled pending resolution of their immigration status. The nine individuals had presented themselves to INS officials at U.S. ports-of-entry in August after arriving initially in Canada.  All nine had been members of the Cuban delegation attending a Catholic conference with the Pope in Toronto. Under the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966, Cuban nationals admitted or paroled into the U.S. are eligible to apply for permanent residency after they have been physically present for more than one year.  Because of this unique law, most Cubans are released pending resolution of their status if they are not deemed to be a danger to the community. This does not represent a change in policy in the handling of Cubans arriving in the U.S. without visas.  The U.S. government continues to encourage the safe, legal, and orderly arrival of Cubans to the United States through normal immigration procedures. -INS-