TNAG-1970-FCO40-2803-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation-1989 — Page 109

CONFIDENTIAL

0275

MDHIAN 4 7

FAXED TO SEAD AND MCAD. IN BRIEF IT PROVIDES FOR:

(I)

GREATLY INCREASED BORDER PATROLS

(II) QUICK ADJUDICATION OF ASYLUM REQUESTS BY IMMIGRATION OFFICERS. FOR THOSE WHOSE APPLICATIONS ARE GRANTED, ONE YEAR'S ASYLUM IS GIVEN ON THE SPOT.

(III) IN THE CASE OF THOSE WHOSE APPLICATIONS ARE REJECTED, DETENTION PENDING DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS BEFORE AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE (APPLICANTS CAN RESUBMIT THEIR ASYLUM CLAIMS TO THIS JUDGE: THERE IS ALSO A PROVISION FOR RELEASE ON BOND). DESPITE INCREASED NUMBERS OF IMMIGRATION OFFICERS AND OTHER STAFF AT THE BORDER, PROCESSING OF ASYLUM APPLICATIONS AND DEPORTATION ORDERS IS TAKING SOMETIME. THE INS HAVE THEREFORE SET UP DETENTION CENTRES, INCLUDING SOME TENTS ON THE COMPOUND OF

A MINIMUM SECURITY PRISON. THIS HAS BEEN DESCRIBED BY CATHOLIC BISHOPS IN TEXAS AS QUOTE THE CREATION OF THE LARGEST CONCENTRA- TION CAMP ON US SOIL SINNE THE INCARCERATION OF JAPANESE AMERICANS DURING WORLD WAR II UNQUOTE. THE RATE OF REJECTION OF ASYLUM APPLICATIONS IS LIKELY TO BE HIGH: ON THE FIRST DAY 233 APPLICATIONS WERE PROCESSED, AND ONLY 2 NICARAGUANS WERE GRANTED

ASYLUM

6. EARLY INDICATIONS SUGGEST THAT THE MAIN EFFECT OF THESE MEASURES HAS BEEN TO DRIVE THE FLOW OF IMMIGRANTS UNDERGROUND. THE NUMBERS OF THOSE FILING APPLICATIONS FOR ASYLUM AT THE BORDER POSTS HAS DROPPED BY 90 PER CENT THIS WEEK. IT IS WIDELY ASSUMED THAT MOST WOULD BE IMMIGRANTS ARE NOW TRYING TO CROSS THE BORDER ILLEGALLY.

7. THERE HAS NOT SO FAR BEEN MUCH REACTION TO THE INS PLAN FROM CONGRESS, WHICH IS PREOCCUPIED WITH OTHER ISSUES. THERE MAY IN ANY CASE BE RELUCTANCE ON THE PART OF MANY CONGRESSMEN TO CRITICISE THE ADMINISTRATION'S MEASURES TOO SEVERELY, GIVEN THE GROWING PUBLIC UNEASE AT THE PROSPECT OF A FLOOD OF CENTRAL AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS. BUT LEGAL CHALLENGES TO THE NEW PROCEDURES ARE LIKELY.

8. IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO MAKE USE OF THE US EXPERIENCE IN COPING WITH THEIR CENTRAL AMERICAN REFUGEES TO URGE THEM TO TAKE A MORE CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACH TO THE PROBLEMS FACED BY HONG KONG OVER VIETNAMESE REFUGEES. ON THIS SEE MIFT (NOT TO ALL).

ACLAND

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