United Ukrainian American Relief Committee. Inc. In their letter to President Eisenhower these groups said: May we respectfully call to your attention the present situation with reference to the refugee relief program? The present rate of security clearance and of visa issuance in some countries is not now sufficient to complete the processing of the registered applicants who now have assurances nor of those applicants who. we believe. will receive assurances through our agencies during 1956. In Germany. for example. the visa rate of 265 vias per week for the last 10 weeks needs to be increased immediately to more than 373 visas per week through December 31. 1956. to cover all refugees now in processing. Among the proposals submitted to the President by these groups were the following: First. Concerning the transportation of refugees: Under the Refugee Relief Act the Secretary of State is authorized to make arrangements for transporting refugees to this country by ship or plane. This has been done in Europe. but similar provisions have not been made for refugees coming from the Near and Far East. Let me read the recommendation of the committee on the refugee relief program of the American Council of Voluntary Agencies for Foreign Service: The same provisions for ocean transportation which have been made for refugees from Europe should also be made available to refugees. including orphans. from the Near and Far East. In the absence of such provision there is serious discrimination against such persons. causing difficult problems for agencies and sponsors of persons already visaed but for whom no Refugee Relief Act transportation arrangements are available. Fortunately. the law authorized the Secretary of State to make such arrangements (see sec. 8). The estimates of the number of persons who may need such transportation have been in the Department of State since August.
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Refugee visa visas refugees refugee