Mr. Chairman. I join with my colleague from Florida in the question of the refugees coming expressing considerable concern about from Cuba to the United States as a result of Castros most recent proposal and the Presidents indicated interest In considering such a proposal as he announced at the Statue of Liberty in New York. where I had the privilege of being in attendance. when he signed the immigration bill. Mr. Chairman. I think it is quite obvious that no one knows. according to the hearing record. exactly what the eventual cost or the present cost of this program will be. partially because no one knows exactly how many refugees are going to be permitted to come into this country. although the figure of 45.000 is used in the hearings. I think it is quite obvious that no one knows because the negotiations presently underway indirectly. supposedly through the Swiss Embassy. have not been finalized and apparently the suggestions of the United States have not been accepted. according to the most recent morning Washington Post newspaper article that I have in hand of October 14 in which the article clearly Indicates the United States has suggested that second preference should go to political prisoners. the second group of immigrant refugees from Cuba should be political prisoners. the first group being close relatives of those refugees already in the United States. Mr. Chairman. as I understand it Castro has not commented or agreed to that second category preference.
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immigrant immigration refugees