Speech #870005054

The bill will be received and appropriately referred. and. without objection. the bill and the analysis will be printed in the RECORD. The bill to provide for the issuance of special nonquota immigrant visas to refugees. and for other purposes. introduced by Mr. KEATING (for himself and other Senators). was received. read twice by its title. referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. and ordered to be printed in the RECORD. as follows: Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. That paragraph (5) of subsection (d) of section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (66 Stat. 188). is amended (1) by inserting "(A)" after "(5)" at the beginning of such paragraph. and (2) by adding the following additional subparagraphs: "(B) (I) As used in this paragraph. the term refugeeescapee means any alien who. because of persecution or fear of persecution on account of race. religion. or political opinion has fled or shall flee (1) from any Communist. Communistdominated. or Communistoccupied area. (2) from any country within the general area of the Middle East. or (3) from other countries or areas in which forces opposed to the free world and free institutions are at work. and who cannot return to such area. or to such country. on account of race. religion. or political opinion. "(ii) Whenever the President shall find that a situation has arisen causing the creation of a class or classes of aliens who fall within the meaning of the term refugeeescape and that it would be in the interests of the United States to permit the prompt entry into the United States of refugeeescapees. he may by proclamation. direct the Attorney General to parole into the United States refugeeescapees selected by the Secretary of State. who are within the limits of any country which is not Communist. Communistdominated. or Communistoccupied and who are not nationals in the area in which they reside. "(C) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act or any other law. any alien who is or has been paroled into the United States by the Attorney General under the authority of this paragraph and has not otherwise acquired permanent residence status in the United States may apply to the Attorney General for adjustment of his status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence. "(D) If it shall appear to the satisfaction of the Attorney General that the alien has remained in the United States for at least two years. is a person of good moral character. and that such action would not be contrary to the national welfare. safety or security. the Attorney General. in his discretion. may record the aliens lawful admission for permanent residence as of the date of the aliens last arrival in the United States. A complete and detailed statement of the facts and pertinent provisions of law in the case shall be reported to the Congress with the reasons for such adjustment of status. Such reports shall be submitted on the first and fifteenth day of each calendar month in which Congress is in session. If during the session of the Congress at which a case is reported. or prior to the close of the session of Congress next following the session at which a case is reported. either the Senate or the House of Representatives passes a resolution stating in substance that it does not favor the adjustment of status of such alien. the Attorney General shall thereupon require the departure of such alien in the manner provided by law. If neither the Senate nor the House of Representatives passes such a resolution within the time above specified. the alien shall be regarded as lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence as of the date of the aliens last arrival in the United States." SEc. 2. (a) In addition to any refugeeescapees paroled into the United States by the Attorney General pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 5 of subsection (d) of section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (66 Stat. 188). or the provisions of Public Law 86648 of the Eightysixth Congress (74 Stat. 504). there are authorized to be issued during the two fiscal years beginning July 1. 1961 a total of forty thousand special nonquota immigrant visas to aliens who are refugeeescapees seeking to enter the United States as immigrants and to their spouses and children. if accompanying them. (b) Notwithstanding any provision of law which would exclude from the United States any alien who (1) has or has had a mental or physical disability. (2) has a physical defect. disease or disability of such a nature that it may affect the ability of the alien to earn a living. or (3) is likely at any time to become a public charge. five thousand of the visas authorized in subsection (a) of this section shall be made available for issuance to nonsettled hardcore refugees. SEC. 3. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of section 2 of this Act. no visa shall be issued pursuant to this title to any alien unless such alien is found to be eligible to be issued an immigrant visa and to be admitted to the United States under the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. SEC. 4. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of section 2 of this Act. any special nonquota immigrant visa authorized to be issued under this title shall be issued in accordance with the provisions of section 221 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. SEC. 5. Notwithstanding any other provision of law. the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to make grants. not to exceed $5.000.000 in the aggregate. to public or private agencies in the United States to be used by such agencies for the purpose of financing the resettlement in the United States. including care and rehabilitation. of any nonresettled hardcore refugees receiving visas under subsection (b) of section 2 of this Act who lack the resources to finance the expenses involved. Such grants shall be made subject to such conditions and limitations as the Secretary of State may deem necessary to impose in the best interests of the United States. SEC. 6. As used in this Act(a) the term "refugeeescapee" means any alien who. because of persecution or fear of persecution on account of race. religion. or political opinion. has fled or shall flee (1) from any Communist. Communistdominated. or Communistoccupied area. (2) from any country within the general area of the Middle East. or (3) from other countries or areas in which forces opposed to the free world and free institutions are at work. and who cannot return to such area. or to such country. on account of race. religion. or political opinion. (b) the term "nonresettled hardcore refugee" means any refugeeescapee listed as a nonsettled hardcore refugee by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. including those who suffer from conditions not responsive to treatment and requiring institutionalization. and (c) the term "child" means any unmarried son or daughter under twentyone years of age. including a stepson or stepdaughter and a son or daughter adopted prior to the date of enactment of this Act. SEC. 7. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.