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April 25, 2000 Agreement Regarding Minneapolis Holiday Inn Case Curtis J. Aljets I am pleased to announce that the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and Centro Legal, represented by Mr. Benjamin Casper and Mr. Jorge Saavedra F., have come to an agreement concerning seven of the eight people who were apprehended at the Holiday Inn Express hotel in Minneapolis in October 1999. INS has agreed to grant the respondents "deferred action" for a period of two years, pending demonstration that they have complied with all legal obligations under other local, state and federal laws. Deferred action is temporary and does not confer any permanent immigration status. INS will also accept applications from each of the seven for employment authorization so that they may legally work during the time they remain in the United States with deferred action. We examined options for possible avenues to legal status for the seven, and determined there are no such provisions under current law. We feel that this agreement is a good compromise, one that allows a generous period for the defendants to arrange their affairs before returning to their home countries while still ensuring that the laws governing immigration in the United States will be upheld. It is important to reiterate that foreign nationals must apply to lawfully enter the United States, and must have specific authorization to work. Employers are required by law to determine that those they hire are legally entitled to work, while at the same time ensuring that they do not discriminate based on national origin or citizenship. I would like to emphasize that this is a highly unusual set of circumstances, and this agreement does not establish a precedent. The action INS is taking today is within the discretionary range of options available under law. I want to stress that INS does not condone the exploitation of any person, no matter what their legal status. One of the unfortunate results of illegal immigration is that it puts people in vulnerable, if not dangerous, circumstances, whether it be in unsafe vehicles while being smuggled; under the thumb of unscrupulous employers; at the mercy of legal advisors who for steep fees promise benefits they cannot deliver; or as indentured servants, working for years to repay criminal smuggling organizations. |
Last Modified 02/20/2003