Mr. Speaker. recent actions being taken by the Justice Department. the Immigration Service. and the Coast Guard to harass. capture. and confine Cuban refugees in their attempt to carry on the fight against Fidel Castro and his Communist regime in Cuba appear to be clearly Inconsistent with the Attorney Generals own interpretation of the neutrality laws. Two years ago today. at the time of the unsuccessful Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba. Robert F. Kennedy stated to the press: Second. the neutrality laws were never designed to prevent individuals from leaving the United States to fight for a cause in which they believe. There Is nothing in the neutrality laws which prevents refugees from Cuba from returning to that country to engage in the fight for freedom. Nor is an individual prohibited from departing from the United States. with others of like belief. to join still others in a second country for an expedition against a third country. Since there have been no allegations or proof of any raids or supply activities originating on American soil. the effects of the Kennedy administrations present activities is to stop Cuban refugees from doing precisely what the Attorney General has said they have a right to do. No explanation has -been given as to this complete reversal of policy and law. An explanation is long overdue.
Keywords matched
Immigration refugees