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

DATE: FRIDAY, August 19, 1994                   TAG: 9408190088
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                 LENGTH: Medium

U.S. TO HOLD FLEEING CUBANS

The Clinton administration said Thursday night it will immediately start detaining Cubans arriving in Florida in an effort to stem an increasing flow of refugees.

Attorney General Janet Reno, who announced the new policy at the White House, did not indicate how long the refugees would be held.

Except for suspected felons or those believed to be carrying communicable diseases, Cubans arriving in Florida have been released to the custody of relatives or other sponsors since 1966 under the Cuban Adjustment Act.

Because of a steadily increasing flow of refugees the past week, the administration has been under pressure to stem the tide.

The Coast Guard has rescued 2,592 Cuban refugees from the Florida Straits this month. Earlier Thursday, Gov. Lawton Chiles declared a state of emergency, saying the influx was ovewhelming state agencies' ability to provide shelter and services to the newcomers.

Reno said the new policy was being undertaken ``to make sure we did everything we could to discourage people from risking their lives making this trip.''

Chiles had demanded federal help to cope with the largest surge of Cuban refugees since the 1980 Mariel boatlift. He authorized the Florida National Guard to help deal with the ragtag flotilla making a perilous 90-mile crossing of the Florida Straits.

Fidel Castro apparently is carrying out his threat to open Cuba's ports after the worst rioting of his 35-year communist rule. Cuban journalists said refugees were setting off openly from beaches and harbors around Havana with no interference.

The Coast Guard has rescued more than 1,600 Cuban refugees in the past week, including 547 Wednesday, the biggest single day since the 1980 exodus of about 125,000.

Castro's hands-off attitude toward people ready to take enormous risks to escape his rule contributed to the sudden surge. So did the U.S. law that gives Cubans unique status among refugees.

The Coast Guard believes the number will peak at 1,500 a day and then drop off, limited by the number of available boats and bad weather expected from Tropical Storm Chris, a government source said.

by CNB