California IN BRIEF : SACRAMENTO : INS Will Return Money to Refugees

To settle a class-action suit filed in federal court in Sacramento, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service has agreed to return millions of dollars in overcharges to more than 180,000 Salvadoran refugees who had applied for a temporary asylum program. Known as Temporary Protected Status, the program was created to provide temporary safe haven to refugees fleeing war or natural disaster in their home countries and was intended to be self-supporting. Refugee advocates, however, argued that the INS charged far more than was necessary and requested refunds. The INS agreed to reduce fees for six months of work authorization from $60 to $20. Attorneys say an estimated $3 million to $4 million may be returned to the Salvadorans through the reduced work authorization fee. The temporary haven granted to Salvadoran refugees is scheduled to end in June.