Speech #900012281

ROBERT W. KASTENMEIERwho journeyed with me to this council session as congressional advisers. and demonstrated once again the deep interest and dedication that the Committee on the Judiciary and the Congress has in the purpose and objectives of ICEM. On December 5. 1951. representatives of 16 Western European and Latin American governments convened in Brussels and adopted a resolution to create an international organization for the purpose of providing assistance in finding a solution of the European refugee and population problems. as well as contributing. through immigration. to the alleviation of economic difficulties of the developing countries. Since ICEM commenced its operations on February 1. 1952. the organization has moved close to 11/2 million people to new opportunities. Of this number. 669.550 were refugees and the remainder were national migrants. The 25th session of the Council was of particular significance because it was demonstrated that ICEM has successfully passed through a transitional period. While the general complexion of the refugee has in the main changed from that desperate. frightened. unfortunate who crawled through mineflelds and over barbed wire. and suffered an agonizing existence in a refugee camp. let us not forget for one instant that this type of refugee still exists. As long as totalitarian regimes attempt to compress minds of men. man will escape and seek asylum in free countries. Today. however. the greater number of refugees who come to asylum countries arrive with exit permits or are scooped up and expelled by governments that no longer want them. During the last 4 years ICEM has moved at a steady rate from 31.000 to 35.000 refugees a year and there is every indication that the number of refugees seeking asylum will Increase during 1967. These refugees are actually invisible refugees because they do move with legal documents. they do not erode in refugee camps. they are more often than not contributing to their own existence. and they are moved to immigration countries as swiftly as legal procedures permit. ICEM has adjusted to the need of this new refugee and continues to provide much needed assistance and transportation. but primarily as a lending agency with a minimum of aid through direct grants. By virtue of contributions from member nations. as well as funds repaid by persons already moved. ICEM has established revolving funds and with the assistance of voluntary agencies. ICEM now will lend money to the refugees and the migrants. for their movement. from the special funds with the promise that the money will be later repaid and thus be reusable for future movements. The handicapped persons. the Council agreed. should be moved without the repayment requirement. Included within the anticipated movement of refugees are the increasing numbers of foreign workers who have been part of the labor market of Europe. particularly Germany. and who. now that the economic boom is beginning to level off. are part of a new surplus labor force. Since a residence permit is contingent upon a work permit. the surplus foreign workers find themselves unwanted in their host country. as well as their own country. We can envisage a reopening of refugee camps to accommodate these people until they can be sent to immigration countries which need and seek their muscle and brain. Another important project of ICEM is the Latin American program. This program serves a dual purpose by relieving the pressures that are caused by surplus workers in Europe and by bringing much needed skills to the underdeveloped lands in South America which are so abundant with natural resources. Through the migrant adjustment fund. ICEM is in a position to guarantee to skilled persons a standard of living in Latin America comparable to that which they had had in Western Europe. The costly travel expenses. outlay of money to establish new homes. as well as adjustment to the cost of living. can now be prepared through use of the funds so that there will be a greater incentive for skilled people to migrate to Latin America.