FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         OSC
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1995                        (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

                                 
             SALVADORANS' WORK AUTHORIZATION EXTENDED

             Documents valid through January 31, 1996
     

     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Over 200,000 Salvadorans who fled their
country during an extended civil war will be permitted to
continue working in the United States, the Justice Department
announced.  This latest extension will give Salvadorans time to
submit asylum applications asking to stay in the United States. 
     The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) issued an
automatic four-month extension of employment authorization for
Salvadorans registered under the Deferred Enforced Departure
(DED) program.  This work authorization, which was scheduled to
expire on September 30, 1995, is now extended through January 31,
1996.
     Since the INS will not issue new documents, employers need
to be aware that employment authorization documents (EADs)
bearing an expiration date of December 31, 1994, are now valid
until January 31, 1996.  Employers must accept these documents
when verifying employment eligibility.  
     William Ho-Gonzalez, Special Counsel for Immigration-Related
Unfair Employment Practices, noted that DED Salvadorans, like all
other workers, do not have to present an INS-issued document to
establish identity and work eligibility -- they may present any
documents or combination of documents listed on the back of Form
I-9 to establish identity and work eligibility.  The law requires
an employer to accept any documents that appear genuine, such as
a driver's license or a social security card that does not
contain the notation "Not Valid for Employment" or "Valid for
Work Only with INS Authorization."
     Any employers or Salvadoran workers who have questions or
problems related to the DED program and the current extension can
call 1-800-255-7688 or TDD 1-800-237-2515.  In the Washington,
D.C. area, call 202-616-5594 or TDD 202-616-5525, or write:
                    U.S. Department of Justice
                    Civil Rights Division
                    Office of Special Counsel for Immigration
                        Related Unfair Employment Practices
                    P.O. Box 27728
                    Washington, D.C.  20038-7728
          
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