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proposed unallocated admissions reserve would give us the flexibility to handle additional admissions should we manage to get ODP operating at full steam.
Over 100,000 people have been able to leave Vietnam under the Orderly Departure Program, nearly half to the United States, The remainder to some 30 other countries. In fact, just last week the 50,000th person left Vietnam for resettlement in the United States under this program. The ODP was established by agreement between the UNHCR and the government of Vietnam to provide a safe alternative to the hazards of flight by sea, We want to see it restored and improved as soon as possible.
Amerasian Children
Vietnam's actions leading to suspension of interviewing for the ODP have resulted most immediately in a halt to the departure of Amerasian children and their mothers from Vietnam. Over 8,500 children of Vietnamese mothers and American fathers and their immediate relatives have come to the United States under this program.
In 1984, I expressed the hope that all the Amerasian children and their close relatives would be able to come in a three-year period. Two years of that have passed and the program has had substantial success, but the majority of the children remain in Vietnam.
At the working-level meeting last month in Hanoi, the Vietnamese produced a long-promised list of Amerasian children and their families numbering some 2,600 people, which we are now reviewing with the hope that interviews for this group can begin soon. Although specific procedures still need to be worked out, we hope the discussions we have had will lead to the early resumption of Amerasian departures from Vietnam.
Political Prisoners
No aspect of the refugee program has caused us greater disappointment than Vietnam's refusal to live up to earlier pledges to release for resettlement in the United States "re-education camp" prisoners, pledges made by their prime minister and reaffirmed by the foreign minister and other senior Vietnamese officials. An estimated 6,000-7,000 of these political prisoners continue to languish in prisons in Vietnam after more than ten years.
Many
Two years ago I announced on behalf of President Reagan our readiness to receive these prisoners and their close relatives. are imprisoned because of their past association with U.S. policies and programs in the region, and we acknowledge a special obligation to work for their release. Since that time only 752 former prisoners and their accompanying relatives have been allowed to leave.
On behalf of the United States I reaffirm to Vietnam President Reagan's offer of two years ago: release the political prisoners and we will take them.
REFUGEE ADMISSIONS FROM OTHER REGIONS
Latin America and the Caribbean
In light of the Cuban release of a number of long-held political prisoners in 1986, and consistent with our deep concern for the welfare of these individuals, the president authorized processing in Havana of long-term Cuban political prisoners and former prisoners. am pleased to confirm that over 100 Cuban political prisoners and their families arrived in the United States yesterday.
I
We have included sufficient numbers in our proposed Latin American ceiling to admit 3,000 Cubans as refugees in fiscal year 1987 should the government of Cuba lift its suspension of the Mariel Migration Agreement. While the United States stands ready to resume its obligations under the agreement, we will not do so until the Cuban government agrees to fulfill its obligation Lo accept the return of the Mariel excludables.
As political turmoil continues to trouble many countries in Latin America, the dministration plans to consider refugee applicants for whom temporary asylum or settlement in the region are not available. To achieve this goal, we have proposed an increased ceiling of 4,000, and will expand the current refugee processing priorities used for the region.
Africa
The continent of Africa suffers from a complex and dynamic refugee situation.
There are some 35 African countries offering
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