The community benefits from the doctor and the doctor is permitted temporarily to practice his profession. However. other States have displayed reluctance. inflexibility and shortsighted stubbornness in this matter. Rather than permit the talents and experience of many Cuban refugees to go to waste when an urgent need exists. I have supported this legislation. It is a matter of economicsthe Cubans should be permitted to use their skills and professional training and our country should be able to profit from their work. As I explained on this floor previously. I was also hesitant to support this legislation because of the possible foreign policy implications inherent in the Cuban refugee program. We pray for the day these people will be able to return to their native land. It is our continuing goal and strong desire that Cuba shall be freed from Communist domination and shall return again to the free world family of nations. I do not want Castro or anyone else to think for one minute that passage of this bill means that we accept the Castro regime as a permanent fixture. We have been assured by the Department of State and the Justice Department that the policy of opposition to the Communist regime in Cuba remains unchanged. The OAS countries. the free world. and Castro should understand that this special help to Cuban refugees is given for purely humanitarian and practical reasons and in no way reflects any change in our attitude or lessening in our determination. My third reason for reluctance is that the executive branch has reported no progress whatsoever toward securing the release of the 800 or more U.S. citizens in Cuba. A total of at least 2.700 persons. including spouses and children. languish in Cubamany in dungeonswhile our Government pours millions into the care and training of Cuban refugees. With approximately 300.000 Cubans welcomed to this country since 1959 and $214 million spentwith 4.000 more coming each monthwith at least 250.000 to 300.000 Cubans waiting their turn to comewhy cannot our Government free its own citizens? I do not begrudge the aid and support we are giving to the unfortunate Cuban refugeesbut it is a question of priorities. And I happen to believe our own citizens should be our first concern. The more we do to help Castro rid his country of those who do not support his regime. the more we weaken our bargaining position with respect to release of our own U.S. citizens from Cuba.
Keywords matched
refugeesbut refugee refugees