---

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, January 23, 1992                   TAG: 9201230118
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

---

RULING MAY DENY REFUGEES ASYLUM

Young men who flee their war-torn countries after rebel attempts to coerce them into military service are not entitled to asylum as political refugees, the Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.

By a 6-3 vote, the justices said such men are not eligible for legal U.S. residency.

The refugee decision could deprive thousands of men from Central America the chance to remain in this country.

Led by Justice Antonin Scalia, the court ruled against Jairo Jonathan Elias Zacarias, who fled Guatemala in 1987.

---