Italy. and Lebanon. None of these nations. it should be noted. is in the Asia and Pacific areas. and all but Lebanon are In Europe. It Is clear. then. that any political refugee in flight from a Communist country who tries to enter the United States by way of any Asia or Pacific area will be barred from admission to this countryunless he somehow reaches one of these seven countries. Mr. President. this interpretation. to me. is a clear violation of the spirit of the Immigration Reform Act. which the Congress passed in 1965. and which the administration so strongly supported for the very reason that it would eliminate racial discrimination from our basic Immigration law. What we have eliminated by law in 1965 is being restored by administrative decree. This is most unfortunate and smacks of racism. I deplore it in the strongest terms. I have therefore this day urgently requested the Secretary of State to add the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong on the Chinese mainland. and another country in Southeast Asia--perhaps Thailand. or Singaporeto the list of areas through which political refugees from Communist countries may be granted entry into the United States. By doing this. we would be putting into practical effect one of the primary purposes of the Immigration Reform Act of 1965. And it would also be a humanitarian gesture of great import in a world torn by strife. Mr.
Keywords matched
Immigration refugee refugees