It was one of the prices we paid for getting the bill. According to statistics for fiscal year 1968. Cuban refugees are arriving primarily by airlift at approximately 4.000 per month. Charging them to the annual allotment of 120.000 quota numbers per year. upon adjustment of status. would effectively reduce the number of immigration visa numbers available for other Western Hemisphere natives. As one who was a member of the Judiciary Committee at the time the Immigration Reform Act of 1965 was considered. I can state that Congress did not contemplate the extent of Cuban immigration. for the Cuban Government did not liberalize its exit policy until after the bill had been passed. Certainly we did not intend that fully such a large portion of this quota should go to a single small country. but neither would we want to bar the Cubans who are essentially political refugees. Accordingly I introduce for appropriate reference. on behalf of myself and the Senator from Michigan a bill to provide that Cuban immigrants be admitted without being charged to the quota.
Keywords matched
Immigration visa immigration immigrants refugees