[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 29, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1846-S1847]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             ELIAN GONZALEZ

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise this morning to voice my deep 
concern over the developing situation in Miami involving this young 
boy, Elian Gonzalez.
  I do not rise today to make legal or policy arguments regarding the 
events that have transpired thus far, although I have strongly held 
views on those matters. Rather, I rise to implore--yes, implore--the 
Justice Department and the Clinton Administration to exercise restraint 
in how they proceed.
  For reasons I fail to understand, this Administration yesterday 
significantly ratcheted up the stakes in this matter, and unnecessarily 
turned this into a crisis situation by threatening to involuntarily and 
forcibly remove this

[[Page S1847]]

boy from the place he calls home and to forcibly remove him from the 
family that has cared and sheltered him for four months.
  And why? The Justice Department had previously indicated a 
willingness to allow the Miami family to pursue its legal avenues in 
federal court. This family is appealing the recent decision of the 
district court. That is not news, and should hardly come as a surprise 
to the Department. In fact, it is my understanding that the family has 
agreed to the Justice Department's request to try and expedite the 
appeal.
  So why has the Administration manufactured this crisis and issued 
these threats and ultimatums? Why make these threats regarding this 
arbitrary, self-created and self-imposed deadline of Thursday morning 
at 9:00 a.m.?
  I know that my colleagues have different views on the matter of 
whether Elian Gonzalez should be returned to Cuba or allowed to stay in 
our country. But I do not stand before you today to debate that matter.
  Rather, I would hope we could all join in calling upon the Department 
of Justice and the Clinton Administration to calm down, exercise 
restraint, and stop acting to increase the tension of this delicate 
situation unnecessarily through arbitrary deadlines or threats of 
force.
  I fail to see how these threats serve any useful purpose. Hasn't this 
young boy been through enough? Why does this Administration need to 
forcibly remove him from his home while the appeal process continues to 
run? Has Elian become an enemy of the United States of America? If not, 
why is the Administration treating him like a dangerous drug lord or a 
mass murderer?
  Again, I implore this Justice Department and this Administration to 
calm down and exercise restraint. We need to find a way to diffuse this 
situation, not to further inflame it. And, we need to act in accordance 
with the values of our country--restraint, respect for law, and common 
sense. We should not be led to extremes merely to appease a foreign 
government. We will be fair and deliberate. But, we should not engage 
in ridiculous, overwrought measures. After all, this is not Cuba. This 
is the United States of America, and we have a young boy here. He ought 
to be treated with dignity and with respect by a government that does 
not act as a bully with no restraint whatsoever.

  I thank the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Texas.

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