DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Immunophenotypically proven B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia Relapsed at least once following standard induction chemotherapy M1, M2, M3 No CNS disease (including clinical signs of CNS disease) OR Immunophenotypically proven B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Refractory or resistant disease following up to 3 prior courses of combination chemotherapy Relapsed following bone marrow transplantation No CNS disease No AIDS-related or HTLV-1 associated lymphomas NHL must be one of the following types: Small lymphocytic lymphoma (consistent with chronic lymphoblastic leukemia) Follicular small cleaved cell lymphoma Follicular mixed cell lymphoma Follicular large cell lymphoma Diffuse small cleaved cell lymphoma Diffuse mixed cell lymphoma Diffuse large cell lymphoma Immunoblastic large cell lymphoma Diffuse small noncleaved cell lymphoma Must have greater than 20% CD19 antigen positive blasts in the bone marrow, peripheral blood, or biopsy (for NHL) at first diagnosis or relapse (non-T cell ALL with CD19 positivity pending allowed) Patients who have relapsed after bone marrow transplantation are eligible (no active acute or chronic graft versus host disease involving more than the skin)