Speech #830161017

Robert C. Alexander. Assistant Administrator for Refugee Relief. REPORT Based upon these inquiries I report to the House as follows: First. The Refugee Relief Act of 1953 provides for the issuance of 209.000 nonquota visas through December 31. 1956plus 5.000 visas for adjustment of status of aliens in the United Statesof which 186.000 may be issued to refugees and escapees from Communistdominated countries in both Europe and Asia55.000 to German expellees and 35.000 to escapees in West Germany. 10.000 escapees in NATO countries. 2.000 Polish War Veteran refugees. 45.000 Italian refugees. 15.000 Greek refugees. 15.000 Dutch refugees. 2.000 Chinese refugees. and 2.000 Arab refugees4.000 may be orphans adopted by American families. 19.00015.000 Italian. 2.000 Greek and 2.000 Dutchmay be emigrants entitled to preference under the Immigration and Nationality Act to join families in the United States and who are over quota of Italian. Greek and Dutch nationality and will have to wait a long time. By H. R. 8193 which has passed the House and is now pending in the Senate. authority is granted to redistribute the aggregate nonquota visas available under the Refugee Relief Act between refugees and escapees and emigration preference cases making for bilateral availability of visas for persons coming under the Italian. Greek and Dutch nationality classifications. The demands for H. R. 8193 reflect some of the problems which have been encountered in the administration of the Refugee Relief Act of 1953. Immigration preference cases pending as of March 31. 1954. aggregated 40.332 of Italian nationality and 3.110 of Greek nationality. on the other hand. the allocation of 45.000 visas for Italian refugees and 15.000 for Greek refugees appeared likely to remain undersubscribed. conversely. the demand for immigration preference visas under the Netherlands allotment was small with only 405 preference cases while a greater apportionment was needed for Dutch refugees from Indonesia and from the 1953 flood disaster. Second. Operations under the act. The latest report which I have been able to get. as of April 5. 1954. is that 12 visas were granted in March under the act and 50 visas have been granted to date even including these 12. The Immigration and Naturalization Service has *a record of only 8 arrivals under the act. It is expected that with the staff which is in the field and steadily moving into overseas positions. the optimum load. for example. will be the issuance of 150 visas a day in each consulate in Italy. It is expected that 10.000 visas will have been granted under the act by the end of this fiscal year. June 30. 1954. This figure is revised from 15.000 which was the estimate a short time ago.