MIAMI, 6 (AP) - A U.S. immigration official accused of spying for the Cuban government pleaded innocent Monday to federal charges of communicating national defense secrets.

Mariano Faget, 54, a Cuban-born supervisor in the Miami office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, stood silently during the brief arraignment hearing.

``He is adamant that he is not guilty of these charges,'' said lawyer Diane Ward, standing in for Faget's lawyer. ``He is adamant that he did not do anything to betray his country.''

Faget was indicted Friday on charges he relayed U.S. secrets to a Cuban citizen and lied about contacts with Cuban government officials over a 14-month period.

He has been jailed without bond since his high-profile arrest Feb. 17.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Gregorie notified the court that the case will involve classified information that will require Faget's attorney, Ed O'Donnell, to be cleared to handle government secrets.

Invoking the Classified Information Protection Act also means government documents will be filed under seal and the public will be barred from hearings or parts of them.

AP-NY-03-06-00 2202EST

Copyright 2000 The Associated Press.

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