FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                    AG
THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 1994                                    (202) 514-2007
                                                         TDD (202) 514-1888

                 STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO 
                      ON DETENTION OF CUBAN MIGRANTS 

     Again today we have seen a significant number of Cubans take
to sea on unsafe rafts and risk their lives to flee the failing
policies of the Cuban regime.  This exodus is encouraged by the
Cuban government and shows callous disregard for the lives of its
citizens.

     In an effort to deter more cubans from risking their lives,
effective immediately, the Immigration and Naturalization Service
will detain all individuals interdicted.  The detention of these
people will continue pending a determination of how they should
be processed by the INS.


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94-475