Local News in Brief : INS Holiday Warning

The Immigration and Naturalization Service on Friday warned immigrants who have applied for legalization not to visit their homelands during the Christmas holiday without INS permission.

Harold Ezell, western regional commissioner of the INS, said during a Los Angeles news conference that amnesty applicants may not leave the country unless they already have their temporary resident cards.

Those whose cards have not yet been issued may obtain INS permission to return home temporarily if they can show documents to prove that they have a seriously ill relative or a serious business emergency, Ezell said.

“Some people might say we’re being a Scrooge, like we’re ruining someone’s Christmas,” Ezell said before the news conference. “But I think we’re being nice. We’re trying to warn people not to gamble with the legalization process they have already started.”