Date: Sat, 8 Apr 2000
Elian Gonzalez as state property
Thomas M. Miovas, Jr.
I'm not an expert on either immigration law or child custody
law, but if Cuba is going to take the position that Elian will
be in the custody of the government of Cuba, rather than Elian's
father (even though he is still alive), then hasn't the INS
already lost its case -- i.e. if the INS is going to maintain
that a child belongs in the custody of his parent(s), but Elian
won't be in this case, then what bases at all do they have for
saying it's a child custody case? I certainly hope the relatives
in Florida have a good lawyer, because I think this could be
blasted.
>From Paul Blair
>
>>From today's *Washington Times*
>www.washtimes.com/world/default-200045224416.htm
>
>>Elian 'a possession' of state, Cuba says
>>
>>MIAMI - The Cuban government said yesterday it will take custody of
>> 6-year-old Elian Gonzalez once the Clinton administration turns over
>>the boy to his father, who is preparing to come to the United States.
>>
>>"He [Elian] is a possession of the Cuban government," said Luis
>>Fernandez, a spokesman for Cuba's unofficial embassy in Washington.
>>Once the transfer takes place, he said, "No other entity can remove
>>this."
