Central Americans Freed; INS Delays Deportations

The Immigration and Naturalization Service this week began releasing Central American immigrants whose deportations have been deferred until January because of the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch.

The INS had previously halted until Jan. 7 all deportations to Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala because of the disaster.

So far, the move has blocked the expulsion of more than 250 residents of Southern California, home to the nation’s largest concentration of Central Americans.

INS officials said that affected Central Americans who do not have criminal records may be released from agency custody--pending their eventual expulsion. Current law generally mandates the detention of any noncitizen convicted of a serious crime.

Meantime, sources say the Clinton administration is preparing to grant temporary protected status to tens of thousands of Central Americans in the United States, including many illegal immigrants. The move would stay deportation proceedings for at least six months and allow those covered to gain work permits.

Citizens of hurricane-ravaged Honduras and Nicaragua--the two hardest-hit nations--are the most likely beneficiaries of temporary protected status, sources say. Under U.S. immigration law, such status may be available to those fleeing armed conflict or environmental disasters in their homelands.