S-5231.1  _______________________________________________

                    SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8031

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature 2000 2nd Special Session

By Senator Sheahan

Read first time .  Referred to Committee on .

Requesting the grant of immigrant visas and refugee status for the family of Elian Gonzalez.

    TO THE HONORABLE WILLIAM J. CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND THE HONORABLE JANET RENO, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE COMMISSIONER OF IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION:

    We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

    WHEREAS, Elian Gonzalez has captured the hearts of Americans across the nation; and

    WHEREAS, Elian has suffered physically and emotionally on his journey from Cuba to the United States, including experiencing serious threats to his own safety and witnessing the death of his mother; and

    WHEREAS, The entire family has suffered a great deal over the last several months from separation and custody disputes; and

    WHEREAS, The federal government through the department of justice has become intimately involved in the lives of Elian and his family; and

    WHEREAS, Elian and his family must remain in the United States as they continue to wait for a custody decision by the United States court of appeals;

    NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that Elian Gonzalez and his immediate family, including his father, stepmother, and stepbrother be granted refugee status.  In addition, we respectfully request that members of the Gonzalez family currently remaining in Cuba be granted immigrant visas.

    BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington, Janet Reno, Attorney General of the United States, and the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization.

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