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Thousands miss deadline, face deportation


By Ruth Morris
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

June 3, 2006



Hundreds of Honduran and Nicaraguan families in South Florida appear to have missed a crucial deadline to renew their immigration status, making them vulnerable to deportation, U.S. Customs and Immigration Service figures show.

The U.S. government granted temporary protected status to about 75,000 Hondurans and 4,000 Nicaraguans after Hurricane Mitch ravaged those countries in 1998. Federal officials granted several extensions, but the latest deadline for immigrants to apply to renew their status passed Thursday with thousands of unclaimed spots.

As of Wednesday, the Customs and Immigration Service had only accepted renewal applications from 42,013 Hondurans and 1,984 Nicaraguans. The agency will release final figures next week.

Community organizers and immigrants in South Florida said many failed to renew their status because they were confused by recent reports about a Senate bill that, if passed by Congress, would legalize some 8.3 million immigrants. Others had a hard time scraping together the $250 fee.

"What's really scary, what really worries us, is that there will be lots of deportations," said Nora Sandigo, executive director of the Nicaraguan Fraternity, an advocacy group in Miami. Those who failed to re-register "are known to immigration authorities," she said. "They have their fingerprints, their addresses, their phone numbers."

Despite frantic last-minute efforts to encourage Hondurans and Nicaraguans to re-register, Sandigo thinks thousands let the opportunity slip by.

"People don't want to pay twice, for this and for the new law," said Roberto Ruano, 36, at a Hollywood construction site where he sipped a cold soda during his lunch break. Ruano, of El Salvador, also has protected status, and must renew in December.

The "new law," as Spanish-speaking immigrants call it, refers to the Senate's legalization plan. The bill would put millions on a path to permanent residence, once they pay roughly $3,250 in fines and fees, plus back-taxes. It is far from becoming law, though.

Oscar Aguilar, 24, of Honduras, said he renewed his status about a month ago.

"I feel more secure this way," Aguilar said at the same work site. "I travel to other states, and that would be uncomfortable [without documents]."

Those shielded by the temporary status receive work permits and legal residence in the United States.Jose Lagos, who heads Honduran Unity, said those who missed the Thursday deadline could still apply if they were prevented from filing because of an injury or illness. As the deadline drew near, he spoke on Honduran radio stations.

"I've been telling them to get the word out, or else get ready to go to the airport to pick up their family members [as deportees]," Lagos said.

Ruth Morris can be reached at rmorris@sun-sentinel.com or 305-810-5012.