Elian Gonzalez Case: Negotiations Resume Today; Juan Miguel Gonzalez Expected to File for Visa to U.S.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Now for the latest on the Elian Gonzalez situation: another deadline is at hand in this case. About an hour from now, lawyers for the boy's Florida relatives and federal immigration officials will try again to negotiate an end to the impasse. Meanwhile, the family's attitude toward Elian's father may be changing. They initially wanted Juan Miguel Gonzalez to have supervised visits with his son. This morning, though, on CNN, a lawyer for the family said that Elian's father can stay at the relatives' house.</s>ROGER BERNSTEIN, GONZALEZ FAMILY ATTY.: From the very first day, when Juan Miguel asked Lazaro Gonzalez to take care of his boy, it has been extremely clear that they would welcome Juan Miguel into their home.</s>KAGAN: For more now on the negotiations, let's check in with our Mark Potter, joining us live now from Miami. Mark, good morning.</s>MARK POTTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. We're at the U.S. attorney's office, where, as you said, about an hour from now, the attorneys for Elian's relatives in Miami and government officials will resume their negotiations. This is the third day of negotiations; the first two last week failed to produce an agreement. Now, at issue are government demands that the family agree to turn Elian over to the boy's father, if the father comes to the United States or if the relatives lose their appeals in federal court. Looming over all of this, of course, is news today that Juan Miguel Gonzalez may soon file for a visa today at the U.S. intrasection in Havana. He's applying to come to the United States. Last night on Cuban television, President Fidel Castro read a letter from Juan Miguel Gonzalez, saying that he would come to the U.S. today alone if he could get a guarantee that he could take his boy back immediately to Cuba. Now, barring that likely -- unlikely scenario, he would then apply for visas for himself, his family, a group of medical specialists, teachers, even 12 of Elian's classmates, to come live with Elian until the appeals are completed.</s>PRES. FIDEL CASTRO, CUBA (through translator): It should be understood that it is my right to create the minimum conditions required and to receive the support of Elian's classmates and teachers and a highly qualified people of my full confidence to help me in this task and my whole mission in America. Otherwise, such a trip would be senseless.</s>POTTER: Now, in returning for Juan Miguel Gonzalez says before he agrees to come to the United States, he wants a guarantee that he will be able to take custody of his son. The INS, the U.S. government and the Justice Department are all in favor of that. But the attorneys for the Miami relatives are opposed to it, claiming it could emotionally harm the boy, such a quick transfer to the father. They are asking that an independent psychologist make the determination of what's best for the boy, of whether he should be transferred to the father's custody. An attorney for the father says Juan Miguel Gonzalez has no problem with discussions over how best to effect a transition in a humane and sensitive way, but he ultimately wants a guarantee before agreeing to come to the United States, that he will get custody of his son. This the Mark Potter, CNN, reporting live from Miami.</s>BILL HEMMER: Well, we thought at the end of last week we might have some movement in the case; hasn't happened. We'll see, maybe, possibly within 24 hours. Search CNN.com CNNSI.com CNNmoney.com The Web