What did the NCC say about the move among some in Congress to confer U.S. citizenship on Elian, with the aim of removing him from INS jurisdiction?
The NCC shared the grandmothers anguish and concern about legislative efforts in Congress, which we contended served to further delay Elian s return to his father. Elian s paternal grandmother, Mariela Quintana, on January 21, said, “Nobody outside has the right to make him (Elian) an American citizen. He was born in Cuba, lives in Cuba, he s a Cuban. No one, even Congress or the President, can change his status.” Back to Top The NCC s work to facilitate the reunification of Elian Gonzalez with his father and grandparents in Cuba has received much publicity. How is the Council assisting other families who wish to be reunified? The Council, its member communions and their congregations help to resettle thousands of uprooted people in U.S. communities every year. For example, in 1999, we assisted more than 6,700 newcomers representing more than 30 nationalities. In general, about 80 percent of these cases are ones in which families are reunified. We are concerned for all families everywh
