Amnesty Hailed, Rapped on Anniversary

The one-year anniversary of enactment of the Immigration Reform Act was marked Friday by assurances by federal officials that the legalization program is a success, while critics countered that the effort is failing and can only be salvaged by an extension of the amnesty application period.

“We’ve had an incredible six months,” said INS Western Regional Commissioner Harold Ezell, referring to the first half of a yearlong amnesty program that began in May.

Speaking at a press conference called to respond to charges made at an earlier gathering of immigrants’ advocates, Ezell said nearly 550,000 amnesty applications have been filed in the region--with 97% recommended for approval.

“We believe that the agency has dropped the ball on legalization,” said immigrant rights attorney Peter Schey, speaking for a statewide coalition of advocacy, labor, religious and ethnic organizations. “It has been implemented in a restrictive, confused, arbitrary and capricious manner.”

Later in the day, 11 immigrant activists were arrested during a demonstration at the Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles when they tried to block an INS van. And another demonstration, called by Central American refugees who have generally been excluded from the amnesty, was planned Friday night at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic church.

Extension ‘Essential’

Schey said an extension of the yearlong amnesty period is essential to allow the maximum number of the nation’s eligible immigrants to win legal status.

“Unless this 12-month period is extended, tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people whom Congress intended to qualify for legalization will never get that benefit,” Schey said. Immigrant activists charged that the agency’s early delays in defining the law’s regulations and its continuing “flip-flops” on interpretations of the law have reduced the numbers of immigrants who otherwise might have applied for amnesty.

In one instance, Schey said, the agency initially ruled that aliens who briefly left the country and returned using tourist visas would not be eligible. Last month, the agency reversed the decision, now allowing those immigrants to qualify. INS officials have said that as many as 100,000 aliens may be affected by that change; Schey believes 400,000 will be affected.

“The INS, in effect, cut (the immigrants’) application period in half,” Schey said.

Immigrant activists called for at least a six-month extension of the amnesty program, which is due to expire May 4, 1988.

Ezell said the agency opposes an extension. “It’s not going to happen through INS,” he said. “Maybe if Congress deals with it, but not through us.”