Mr. Speaker. the purpose of this bill is to relieve certain refugees of their obligations under bonds furnished by them when they entered the United States as nonimmigrants. Many of those who fled to this country after World War 11 and could not. for fear of further persecution. return to their homelands. have since had their status adjusted to that of permanent residents. They either now are. or intend to become. citizens of the United States. It does not seem just that these people whom we have recognized as worthy to remain in this country and to become citizens should be required to make payment under bonds originally furnished by them to assure their departure. H. R. 8439 would allow refugees. as defined in section 2 of the bill. who entered the United States as nonimmigrants between May 6. 1945. and July 1. 1953. to apply to the Attorney General for cancellation of their bonds. According to the testimony introduced at the hearings. this would affect approximately 350 to 400 bonds ranging in amount from $500 to $1.000. The cancellation of most of these bonds will involve simply a forgiveness of an obligation on the part of the Government.
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refugees