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PR NO. 196
REAGAN ERA ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN REFUGEE AFFAIRS
When President Reagan took office, the Refugee Act was not yet a year old. The successful implementation of this legislation, which weighs the individual's claim to persecution more heavily that any other factor in refugee determinations, is a significant accomplishment of the Reagan years, and I might say an accomplishment that proceeded with very strong bipartisan support. It's been a very fine program from that among other points of view.
Southeast Asia
Let me first turn to Southeast Asia. Worldwide, our overriding priority in the 1980's has been assisting and resettling Indochinese refugees. We began by processing refugees on beaches as they stepped off boats or swam to shore from sinking crafts. Working closely with our voluntary agency partners, since FY 1981 we have processed and admitted over 400,000 Indochinese refugees
37,000 Highland Lao, 60,000 Lowland Lao, 116,000 Cambodians, and 200,000 Vietnamese.
We recently proposed a comprehensive package of measures designed to dissuade people from the dangers of clandestine departure while preserving the principle of first asylum. A comprehensive solution depends in part on a concerted effort of the Southeast Asian nations, Hong Kong, and the resettlement nations to urge the government of Vietnam to expand further the Orderly Departure Program. The effective operation of legitimate, national screening programs monitored by the UNHCR would ensure that bona fide refugees are recognized and given first asylum. deemed not to be refugees should be cared for by the international community until they can return safely to their
Refugees should have the opportunity to apply for resettlement, and resettlement countries must continue to offer hope for a new life to these victims of persecution through generous resettlement programs. The United States has by far the strongest resettlement commitment to Indochinese refugees. have maintained that steady commitment since 1975, and will continue to do so in the future.
We
In July, I met with the Foreign Ministers of the Southeast Asian nations during the ASEAN ministerial meetings in Bangkok. We discussed the elements of this strategy, and agreed that our common search for a solution to the region's refugee problems would be advanced if we formed a working group composed of first asylum and resettlement countries.
Orderly Departure Program. The Orderly Departure Program gives people the hope for a new life without their having to resort to
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