Surge in Amnesty-Seekers Shows Distrust Is Fading, INS Says

A recent surge in undocumented immigrants from San Diego County seeking amnesty under the new immigration law should help quell doubts prompted by a low turnout during the first few weeks of the amnesty program, immigration officials said Wednesday.

During the first nine days of June, according to the Immigration and Naturalization Service, amnesty-seekers submitted more applications at the two legalization offices in San Diego County than during the entire month of May. The INS began accepting applications May 5.

Slow Pace Tied to Fears

Early on, the slow pace of applications prompted considerable concern that many prospective applicants may be hesitant to come forward, fearing arrest and deportation at the hands of the INS. Despite those persistent doubts about the INS’ credibility, officials say that the recent increase in applicants demonstrates that distrust of the agency’s motives is abating.

“The more timid folks are finally coming forth,” said Art Shanks, deputy district director for immigration reform in San Diego. “I think we’re really seeing a surge.”

However, officials also acknowledge that the recent upturn is at least partly attributable to the fact that applicants under special agricultural worker provisions of the law could only submit their applications after June 1.

The recent increase here, authorities say, reflects a nationwide rise in the number of applicants for legal residence under the amnesty, or legalization, provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

As the amnesty effort got off to a slow start last month, immigration officials throughout the country insisted that the number of applicants would pick up as it became clear that the INS is sincere about its efforts to legalize the status of illegal immigrants.

The legalization program provides the possibility of legal status for undocumented immigrants who have lived continuously in the United States since Jan. 1, 1982. Also potentially eligible for legal status are those who have done at least 90 days of agricultural work during a recent one-year period. Both groups of applicants will have 12 months to apply.

‘Momentum Increasing’

“I think the momentum is increasing throughout the country,” said John Belluardo, a spokesman for the INS’ regional office in Los Angeles, which covers California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii and Guam.

“We think it’s directly attributable to the fact that people are coming into our offices . . . and going back to their communities and spreading the word that legalization is for real and that the INS is sincerely interested in granting these benefits.”

However, others remain doubtful that the program has the confidence of the undocumented community, where the INS has long been associated with deportations and family separations. Critics noted, for instance, that the agency continues to conduct raids and roundups of undocumented workers throughout San Diego County, home to an estimated 100,000 illegal aliens, of whom perhaps half might qualify for amnesty.

Meanwhile, there is still considerable uncertainty and confusion about certain aspects of the bill--and concern that amnesty could result in the separation of some families.

‘Trust Still Not Gained’

Father Douglas Regin, executive director of Catholic Community Services in San Diego, said the INS still hasn’t gained the trust of the alien community.

“I think it’s a big problem,” said Regin, whose agency is the largest voluntary group assisting amnesty applicants here, having pre-registered 19,000 prospective amnesty-seekers in San Diego and Imperial counties. Regin said the lingering distrust has discouraged many from applying for amnesty.

“I would have expected a heavier concentration of people at least picking up applications and starting the initial work,” he said.

At the INS’s legalization office in Serra Mesa, officials say they received 1,253 amnesty applications from June 1 through June 9. During May, the same office received 1,137 applications, said Robert L. Coffman, the chief legalization officer there. Officials have recommended rejection of the applications in fewer than 4% of the cases, Coffman said.

Local recommendations for granting and rejecting applications will be forwarded to the regional office for final approval or denial.

At the legalization office in Escondido, applicants submitted 1,026 amnesty applications from June 1-9. In May, 662 undocumented immigrants submitted amnesty applications, said Floyd Chandler, chief legalization officer in Escondido.

Recommended rejections are running about 6% in Escondido, said Chandler, who theorized that North County farm workers may be having more difficulty securing documentation to back up their amnesty claims than the non-agricultural applicants in San Diego.

“The word is getting out . . . that there is nothing to fear,” Chandler said. “I believe that our activity is going to increase daily for the next few months.”