The groups urged congressmen to back a letter requesting the Bush administration to grant the status to 100,000 Colombians who have left their country because of the civil war, seeking temporary refuge in the United States.
Many entered the United States with six-month tourist visas that have expired, meaning they could be deported. The U.S. Justice Department can single out a country for temporary protection status if the conflict poses a serious threat to personal security for returning nationals.
Jennifer Bailey, who works with the Jesuit Refugee Service, said: «We think that at present there are no proper security guarantees for Colombians who are expatriated from their country.»
