U.S.

Clinton Backs Reno's Actions

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

April 22, 2000 / 11:06 AM EDT / CBS

President Clinton said on Saturday he supported the decision to order federal agents to snatch Cuban shipwreck survivor Elian Gonzalez from the home of his Miami relatives to reunite him with his father.

"I believe it was the right thing to do," Mr. Clinton told reporters at the White House. "The law has been upheld," he said.

Mr. Clinton said U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno had gone to "great lengths" to negotiate with Elian's Miami relatives to voluntarily turn over the boy to his father. Mr. Clinton said he backed Reno's decision to order agents in to take the child.

Clinton's Statement

What The President Said
To see the full text of President Clinton's statement, click here.

He said Reno showed "great restraint, patience and compassion. When all efforts failed, there was no alternative but to enforce the decision of the INS and the federal court that Juan Miguel Gonzalez should have custody of his son."

"She (Reno) made the decision. She managed it," Mr. Clinton said, adding: "I supported the decisions that were made."

Elian arrived at Andrews Air Force base outside Washington on Saturday morning, where he was reunited with his father.

"This was, in the end, about a little boy who lost his mother, that has not seen his father in more than five months," said the president. "I hope with time and support, Elian and his father will have the opportunity to be a strong family again."