The facts are these: All over Latin America the granting of asylum in embassies to political exiles is an established tradition. The United States normally does not grant such asylum in its embassies. Instead the United States has traditionally granted asylum by opening its doors to exiles from Latin America and other parts of the world who meet the requirements set out in our immigration laws. Several thousand Cuban opponents to the Batista Government in recent years found a haven in the United States during their period of exile from Cuba. It might be said at this point that some of these Cuban exiles behaved badly while they had sanctuary in the United States. The newspapers have carried many accounts over the past 2 years of their illegal activities of various kinds in this country. and of seizures by our authorities of arms which certain of these exiles had attempted to smuggle from the United States. It would probably be well to look carefully at any proposed changes in our immigration laws to exclude dictators since the term would be difficult to define. But in any case Batista did not seek asylum here. He could apply for admission now only under our regular immigration laws. Mr. Speaker.
Identified stereotypes
Some Cuban exiles behaved badly while they had sanctuary in the United States.