Relatives of Elian Gonzalez in Miami may be asked to hand over the six-year-old Cuban boy today to the US Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INS), which is threatening to revoke his parole and send him back to his father in Cuba.
The saga, which began last November when Elian was rescued off Florida after spending 48 hours clinging to a rubber tube, appears to be coming to a climax. Cuban exiles have demonstrated in Miami against the boy's return and President Castro has said he fears the exiles might take him to another country.
The boy, whose mother and 10 others drowned attempting to reach Florida, has been allowed to stay with relatives in Miami while the question of custody is ruled on in the courts. His granduncle, Mr Lazaro Gonzalez, has sought political asylum for Elian while President Clinton, the Attorney-General, Ms Janet Reno, and the INS have said he should be allowed to return to his father.
A federal court recently ruled that the INS has the power to make the decision but the case has aroused passions among the exiled Cuban community, which is threatening to prevent Elian being handed over. The relatives have appealed the ruling but have so far refused to sign a pledge that they will hand him over if the higher courts support the ruling.
The INS has said it will today revoke Elian's parole allowing him to stay with the relatives if the pledge is not signed. The appeal hearing has been set for May 8th, so it is not clear if the INS would take any action before then.
Reuters adds: US President Bill Clinton said yesterday that the Miami relatives of the boy must "observe the rule of law". Mr Clinton dismissed the immediate possibility that federal authorities would remove the boy forcibly.
Civil unrest could erupt in the city if the Justice Department took the boy from his Miami relatives and sent him back to his father in Cuba, Miami's county mayor said yesterday.
Mr Alex Penelas accused the federal authorities of provoking the Cuban American community.