U.S.

Text Of The INS Letter

April 13, 2000 / 9:10 AM EDT / AP

This is the text of a letter sent Wednesday to Lazaro Gonzalez from Michael A. Pearson, executive associate commissioner for field operations, Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Dear Mr. Gonzalez,

The goal of the Department of Justice and the Immigration and Naturalization Service is to ensure that Elian's transition to his father's care is as peaceful as possible. We must all do everything in our power to see that the transfer is accomplished in a thoughtful, constructive manner.

We understand from your attorneys and various other representatives that you would like an opportunity to meet with Juan Miguel Gonzalez. We are prepared to accommodate that request as part of an orderly transfer of the care of Elian to his father.

To that end, please present Elian at Opa-Locka Airport, 1500 N.W. 42nd Ave., Opa-Locka, Fla., where you should proceed to the Main Coast Guard Gate at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 13. Rosa R. Urquiola, a bilingual INS official experienced in immigration matters involving children, will be there to accompany you, Elian, your daughter Marisleysis, and an agreed number of other members of your family to Washington, D.C., for this meeting. Before the meeting, Juan Miguel Gonzalez will have an opportunity to meet privately with his son. During the meeting, Elian will remain with Ms. Urquiola, and INS will have custody and care of Elian during that time. After the meeting, care and parole of Elian will be transferred to Juan Miguel Gonzalez. These successive transfers of parole and care are being ordered pursuant to 8 C.F.R. 212.5,235.2,236.3 (1999).

If you do not wish to meet with Juan Miguel Gonzalez as described above, District Director Bob Wallis and I hereby instruct you to present Elian at the same time and place, i.e., the Main Coast Guard Gate at Opa-Locka Airport, at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 13. At that time, the parole of Elian into your care will be revoked, and care of Elian will be temporarily transferred to Ms. Urquiola, who will bring Elian to Washington, D.C. Once Elian has arrived in Washington, D.C., he will be paroled into the care of his father. These successive transfers of parole and care are being ordered pursuant to 8 C.F.R. 212.5,235.2,236.3 (1999).

You and your representatives have frequently stated in the last several weeks that while you did not agree with the Department of Justice's determination in this case or the federal judge's ruling upholding it, you would nevertheless abide by the law. The time has now come to carry through on that commitment, above all for the sake of a boy who deserves to have his reunion with his father take place without any further conflict or stress.

Please contact Mr. Wallis...with your response to this letter.