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NO. 179
The Panel's report is a comprehensive document, with some
forty-four specific recommendations. One of its main points is
that U.S. admissions for Indochinese should move forward along
two tracks: a refugee program for those continuing to flee the
Indochinese states to escape persecution; and an immigration
program for those seeking to come to the United States on the
basis of their family relationships. Close to 800,000
Indochinese have come to the United States as refugees since
1975. By the end of last year, 46,073 of them had been
naturalized as U.S. citizens. They are compiling a remarkable
record of achievement in our country and many are in a position
themselves to aid their relatives wishing to come here.
In cooperation with the Immigration and Naturalization
Service (INS) we are focusing on the Panel's recommendations to
help guide us to maintain an adequate program for refugees from
Indochina, and at the same to time assist those qualifying
through family ties to seek admission through established
immigration channels.
A report on our progress in this process
is included in the documents presented to you as part of this
consultation.
In reviewing these subjects we have maintained close
consultations with the Congress, with the first-asylum
countries of the region, with the other countries continuing to
offer significant levels of resettlement (among whom Australia
and Canada play the greatest role), and with the concerned
international agencies.
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