An estimated 14.000 deserters are still at large. and some 110.000 former servicemen live with the stigma of absenteeism discharges. Certainly. only some of these men acted out of conscienceand undoubtedly. many refused to serve or deserted out of fear. for reasons of personal hardship. or for other motives. But let us look for a moment at those whom the Senate has welcomed and will vote to support as refugees from the tragedy in Indochina. Many of those now arriving in the United States come under the auspices of prearranged. formal evacuation procedures. A substantial number of others. however. simply managed at the last hour to get themselves into a position to be evacuated or rescued. without prior qualification. screening. or plan. We cannot know their motives. their background. or their previous records. and we do not demand to know these things. Our assistance to these people is not conditioned upon their prior loyalty to the United States. nor upon their honorable military service to Saigon. Their qualifications for refugee status are not determined on a casebycase basis. nor will they be subject to legal action in this country. We can and must do no less for our own citizens. Just as we have agreed to welcome all who have made it from Vietnam and Cambodia to our shores. so should we welcome the return of our draft evaders and military deserters.
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refugee refugees