Aliens Urged to Finish Program

Several immigration officials, joined by U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service Commissioner Alan C. Nelson, Tuesday issued yet another plea for eligible aliens to complete educational requirements under the second phase of the landmark national amnesty program.

If they do not, the aliens will become illegal again, the officials said at a Los Angeles news conference. At present, about a third of the estimated 1 million illegals who signed up in greater Los Angeles during the amnesty program’s first phase have sought to complete the educational components--know-ledge of the English language and U.S. history--required under the second phase, which expires in November, 1990.

Of special concern are an estimated 20,000 temporary residency cards--granted under the first phase of the program--that have not yet been picked up. “That’s the tragedy of this whole thing--to have spent the money and become a temporary resident and then let that expire and become illegal again,” said INS Western Regional Commissioner Harold Ezell.