Speech #850013709

Mr. Speaker. during the past weeks of this 85th Congress there has been considerable discussion on the pros and cons of the Hungarian refugee program. I think it is very important that we pause and examine the effectiveness of this program and its impact upon American life. Up to the present time. 26.604 Hungarian refugees have entered the United States. This number includes approximately 6.300 who received permanent immigration visas and the balance of approximately 20.000 who entered this Nation as "parolees." Of this number. over 24.000 have been processed through Camp Kilmer and have been adequately sponsored and absorbed by our growing American economy. For the greater part. this wave of Hungarian immigration has given every indication of becoming a very useful and integrated part of our American life. These refugees have found homes. jobs. and for the greater part. a very happy life in America. Of the total number of Hungarian refugees who were processed at Camp Kilmer only 2.490 remain. Most of these were recent entries under the program. The astounding fact in the record is that less than 10 percent of the total program remain to be adjusted in American life. and this entire project nears completion within a period of approximately 90 days. No undertaking of our Government can boast of a greater degree of success. During the hour of critical need the American people have renewed their place in the esteem of the peoples of the world for their generosity and hospitality to the oppressed. At the same time America proved itself a good neighbor to help Austria in an hour of critical need when refugees were overflowing the capacities of that little nation. In this way America has done more than millions upon millions of foreign aid could do. and at the same time America is the gainer rather than the loser for its hospitality. The first wave of immigration in recent years was to provide a haven for the hordes who were oppressed under the dictatorship of Adolf Hitler. the second wave of immigration occurred to provide a haven for those who were oppressed by the dictatorship of Josef Stalin. This third wave was to provide a haven for the oppressed of present day Russian communism. This third wave of immigrants will prove to be just as stable. just as devoted to the American concepts of democracy and liberty as those who came in the first two waves. The processing of Hungarian refugees at Camp Kilmer began with considerable turmoil and confusion. Twentytwo voluntary agencies endeavored to participate in the work. It is to the credit of Leo C.