WASHINGTON, D.C. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jesse Helms (R, NC) issued the following statement today:
"Attorney General Reno called me earlier today to advise me of the Immigration and Naturalization Service's unwise decision to return Elian Gonzalez to Cuba.
While I have enormous respect for her, I advised her that she, of all people, should want to see this matter resolved in the Courts. Furthermore, I advised her, Elian's father should be required to come to the United States to make his case for custody of the boy.
Cuba is one of the most tyrannical nations on Earth, and Fidel Castro has undoubtedly made Elian's return a personal cause. For this reason, Elian's father is not free to speak his mind in Cuba, under the glare of Cuba's brutal dictator. Unless Elian's father, and indeed his entire family in
Cuba, are out of Castro's reach, we cannot possibly know what they really want for Elian.
We do know this: Elian's mother gave her life so he could grow up in freedom in America. For this reason, I reiterate that when Congress reconvenes later this month, I intend to proceed with a personal relief bill to give Elian United States citizenship. That way, when he is old enough to make
decisions for himself, he will be able to claim the freedom his mother purchased for him with her life". |