Shelter for Refugees

Two members of Congress have offered a constructive remedy for the injustice evident in the way the United States handles refugees from El Salvador. Expedited action on this legislation is called for before more lives are put at risk.

Sen. Dennis DeConcini (D-Ariz.) and Rep. Joe Moakley (D-Mass.) have introduced identical bills to put a temporary halt to the deportation of undocumented Salvadorans. Their bills are similar to earlier proposals, but the urgency has grown with the uncertainty about the fate of those forced to return to El Salvador in the present circumstances of violence, continued if diminished death-squad killings and active guerrilla warfare.

Under their proposal, deportations would be suspended while the General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress, conducts a study of the situation for displaced El Salvador citizens within their own country and in neighboring nations, and also examines conflicting accounts of the fate of those who have been forced to return.

The effect of the legislation would be to grant to these people the same humane treatment already granted by administrative action to people from Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Uganda and Poland. Indeed, the legislation would have long since been obviated had the Administration exercised its discretion to grant extended-voluntary-departure status to the Salvadorans. Last year the Immigration and Naturalization Service granted asylum to only 503, denied it to 13,045.

President Reagan has resisted exercising the appropriate administrative solution, extended-voluntary-departure status, apparently because of concern that it might contradict the confidence that he has expressed in the ability of El Salvador to restore democracy, control political assassination and wage a successful war against the guerrillas.

There is proof that risk exists, although no one has been able to provide a satisfactory measure of the extent of danger to returning citizens. That is why the GAO investigation would provide a solid base for determining the future status of the refugees. In the meantime they can be registered by the Immigration Service, find employment as legalized temporary workers and await developments in their homeland. This will not be a satisfactory answer for those who have come solely for economic reasons. But it will ensure that U.S. policy conforms to the world standards on the treatment of those seeking political sanctuary.