Immigrant Amnesty Workshops to Begin

With an estimated 100,000 Nicaraguan and Cuban nationals living in Los Angeles possibly eligible to apply for amnesty June 22, the San Juan Macias Orientation Immigrant Center will hold a series of free workshops designed to help immigrants apply.

The workshops, to be held throughout June, will focus on the qualifications that must be met to gain legal permanent residence status under the federal Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act.

The first sessions will be held today and Tuesday. Other workshops will be held June 15 and 17. All sessions will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The workshops will provide eligible people with information they need to start the application process, said Felipe Kofman, the public outreach coordinator for the center.

Although the act, signed into law by President Clinton in November, offers about 100,000 Nicaraguan and Cuban nationals living in Los Angeles a chance of amnesty, according to Kofman, the legislation also offers relief to eligible Salvadorans and Guatemalans in deportation proceedings.

Nicaraguans and Cubans who can show continuous presence in the United States since 1995 are possible candidates for amnesty, Kofman said.

Salvadorans or Guatemalans seeking relief from deportation proceedings must prove an uninterrupted presence in the United States for seven years, Kofman said.

Under the old law, the standard was set at 10 years.

The application period for either amnesty or deportation relief begins June 22 and closes March 31, 2000.

The San Juan Macias Orientation Immigrant Center is located at 13672 Van Nuys Blvd. in Pacoima.

Those wishing to obtain more information, but unable to attend one of the meetings may call the center at (818) 896-1156.