Lutherans Support Return of Elian Gonzalez to His Father

CHICAGO (ELCA) The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) supports the return of Elian Gonzalez to his father in Cuba. Gonzalez, 6, was brought to the United States last year after he was found clinging to a life preserver in the waters off the coast of Florida. His mother drowned while both were fleeing Cuba.
At the request of the Cuban Council of Churches, the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. (NCC) has been working actively to reunite Elian with his family in Cuba. Presently he remains with relatives in the United States. A court hearing related to Elian's case has been rescheduled for early March.
The ELCA is one of 35 member churches of the NCC.
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), a partner agency of the ELCA, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Latvian Lutheran Church in America, issued a statement on the Gonzalez case calling for the return of the child to his father.
"We conclude that this statement is consistent with ELCA social policy," said the Rev. Charles S. Miller, executive director, ELCA Division for Church in Society. "Therefore we gladly associate the ELCA with the LIRS position."
Lutheran churches depend on LIRS to provide leadership in immigration, refugee and asylum matters, Miller said. LIRS is headquartered in Baltimore.
"While it speaks independently on matters of public policy, the Lutheran churches regularly seek its counsel and direction on pertinent public policy issues," he said.
In its statement, LIRS said the U.S. Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) "correctly determined" Elian's best interests would be served by reunification with his father, and it pointed out the decision was affirmed by the U.S. Attorney General.
LIRS also said the U.S. Congress should not move forward with proposals by some members of Congress to grant Gonzalez U.S. citizenship.
LIRS based its decision on several principles. First, it said the criterion for placement of the child must be what is in his best interest. "In this case, the evidence suggests that Elian's best interests will be served by reuniting him with his father in Cuba," the LIRS statement said.
Second, family reunification is "a fundamental tenet of U.S. immigration law and international protocol regarding unaccompanied minors," LIRS said, where possible, an unaccompanied minor should be reunited with a parent, provided there is "no credible fear of persecution" in the country of origin, and if there are assurances the parent can provide a safe and loving home.
Third, due to a child's "heightened sense of time," securing permanent placement for a child is imperative. Elian should be reunited with his surviving parent without delay, LIRS said.
Fourth, LIRS said families have the right and responsibility to make important decisions affecting their children. "In this case, Elian's father is the closest surviving relative and he has the right to make decisions regarding Elian's citizenship," LIRS said.
LIRS said every child deserves the same level of care and
protection.
"Unfortunately, this has not been the case with all unaccompanied minors reaching U.S. territory," LIRS said. "The treatment of the Gonzalez case is in sharp contrast to the general policy and experience of Haitian and Latin American children, who have often been summarily deported to their countries of origin, even though they may end up being homeless and hungry."
"Such children are routinely deported without investigation into their family situations and without assurance as to their reception upon return," the statement said. "The United States should afford all unaccompanied minors the same care and protection which in this case has been afforded to Elian, assuring their well-being whether they remain or are returned."
LIRS urged "all parties in the discussion to refrain from further politicizing the debate" on Elian's situation.
"During this time in which Elian's status is being determined, the government is to be commended for having placed Elian with family members in the least restrictive setting, rather than in an INS juvenile detention facility, as happens with so many unaccompanied minors," the LIRS statement concluded.

[*Susan Baukhages is director of communication, Lutheran Immigration and
Refugee Service, Baltimore.]

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html