Mr. President. as chairman of the Subcommittee on Refugees. Escapees. and Expellees. I am again presenting the figures from the Department of State statistical report dated May 27. 1955. showing the status of visa applications under the Refugee Relief Act of 1953. Public Law 203. 83d Congress. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that 1.267 visas have been issued between the period May 20 to May 27. 1955. and the Department of State advises that this is the greatest number issued in any single week since the act has been in operation. The report dated May 20 shows the total issuance as 30.652. The report dated May 27. 1955. shows the total to be 31.919 and the distribution to be as follows: Country: Totat issued Italy ---------------------------- 19. 702 Greece ---------------------------5. 296 Netherlands ---------------------- 566 Germany ------------------------2.382 Austria -------------------------- 2. 639 Par East ------------------------- 772 Others --------------------------- 63 Last week when I made my report certain Senators were interested in knowing how many people had actually been admitted. I was not prepared to give those figures then. but I am now. As of May 20. 1955. of a total of 30.652 visas issued. 21.792 people had actually come into the country. As of May 27. 1955. of a total of 31.919 visas issued. 22.301 persons have actually come to our shores. In all fairnes. to the Administrator of the Refugee Relief Act. I point out that once a visa is issued his responsibility ceases. He has nothing to do with when. if ever. the visa is used. Let me give a few statistics relating to orphans. As Senators know. under the act there are to be issued 4.000 orphan visas. On May 20. 1955. 1.055 orphan visas had been issued and 732 orphans had actually been admitted. As of May 27. 1955. 1.086 orphan visas have been issued and 750 orphans have come to their adoptive parents in the United States. Mr. President.
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Refugees Refugee visas visa