Child custody has always been a state responsibility. Now, the federal government and the attorney general are trying to all of a sudden take that away, without ever interviewing the child.

We all feel very strongly that Elian's life will be destroyed if he is sent to the custody of Fidel Castro in Cuba. That's what this is about, protecting this child from harm.

INS has asked Lazaro Gonzalez to sign a piece of paper guaranteeing that he'll do anything they tell him to do. No attorney would ever advise a client to sign such an open-ended guarantee.

The Gonzalez family is absolutely willing at any time to peacefully allow the INS, if they feel they must, to come and seize the boy.

We have immediately sent a letter to Attorney General Janet Reno and to the White House, requesting that the attorney general review and reverse this decision; that the attorney general review the process under which it was determined; and that the attorney general and the White House assure Elian Gonzalez of due process of law.

Instead of going after the perpetrators of the massacre, the Uzbek government is trying to deny responsibility and silence witnesses.