TNAG-1537-FCO40-2101-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-resettlement-in-third-countri-1986 — Page 109

- 8

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. The United States should work with the Vietnamese and the UNHCR and other resettlement countries to resolve the "backlog" impasse and to restore the Orderly Departure Program to full operation as soon as possible.

2.

Administration Actions:

o U.S. officials met with representatives of the Vietnamese government, under UNHCR auspices in late August to discuss the steps necessary to get the ODP program back on track. We are hopeful that this meeting will lead to the reinstitution of a viable ODP.

o Prior to the August meeting, the U.S. sent several written messages through UNHCR to the Vietnamese pointing out to the Vietnamese the risk that dangerous clandestine departures will increase because of their unilateral action.

o Senior U.S. officials who have met with high level Vietnamese officials on POW/MIA issues have also urged resumed processing for the ODP and presented to the Vietnamese the text of a Concurrent Resolution introduced in the Congress, calling for a full resumption of the program.

Special efforts should be made to improve arrangements for the departure of Amerasians, immigrant visa holders, and other persons of special concern to the United States.

Administration Actions:

o The ODP Director led a delegation which met with Vietnamese officials in late August in Hanoi. The Administration is hopeful that this will result in

increased departures of Amerasians and their families, as we achieved in FY 1985.

o Repeated written communications through UNHCR to the Vietnamese have informed the Vietnamese that the processing pipeline for Amerasians has run dry and Amerasian departures cannot continue without new interviews.

o The U.S. has transmitted through UNHCR to the Vietnamese a comprehensive list of all beneficiaries of current immigrant visa petitions.

o We are restructuring processing of family reunification applications so that, in the future, reunification applications accompanied by a current immigrant visa

petition will be given clear priority for the U.S. program.