Amnesty Deadline Rumor Sends Hundreds to INS
More than 600 immigrants flooded an Immigration and Naturalization Service office in Sepulveda Monday morning, mistakenly believing a rumor that today was the deadline to apply for legal residence status under the amnesty program.
The rumor apparently started last Wednesday afternoon when the San Fernando legalization office on Parthenia Street ran out of the temporary work authorization cards issued to illegal aliens who have applied for residency under amnesty programs.
Because they could not issue work cards, the office stopped accepting amnesty applications and told prospective applicants to return this week. The office continued to turn away applicants last Thursday and Friday, said Richard Walden, chief legalization officer of the Northridge amnesty office.
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