Speech #960236551

Mr. Speaker. the stream of refugees fleeing from Cuba to the United States is forcing this Congress to develop a refugee immigration policy which recognizes two important. yet contradictory responsibilities. On the one hand. we are confronted with the compelling humanitarian responsibility to provide support for people fleeing from political repression. On the other. we have the responsibility to maintain the social order and minimize the economic social. and political burdens resulting from an "open arms" immigration policy. More than 35.000 Cuban refugees have arrived in the United States during the last 3 weeks. Current estimates indicate that arrivals will continue at the rate of 3.000 to 4.000 people per day. Over 40 percent of the newly arriving refugees already have relatives in the Miami area. Most have been .trying for years to escape the shackles of Castros communism and to reunite with other members of their families. The desire of the Cubans to come to the United States is a great tribute to our country. We are still perceived as the land of freedom and opportunity. characteristics that should make us all proud. The mass exodus of refugees vividly demonstrates to the world the ineffectiveness of communism and the doctrines inability to solve Cubas problems. However. we must recognize reality and admit that we cannot accept all the people of the world who wish to come to the United States and at the same time maintain our social order. As the number of Cuban refugees growsestimates of the total number eventually coming to the United States range from 50.000 to 1 millionwe will be confronted by increasing demands for a fair. equitable. immigration policy. Americans who are unemployed and overtaxed will react with increasing bitterness against Government immigration policies and the refugees themselves. People from around the world who have been denied access to the United States will resent Americas open arms policy toward the Cubans. The refugees themselves will feel betrayed as the resources of our Government prove inadequate to provide the anticipated "good life." The administrations present policy is disorganized and confused. moreover. it reflects little planning for the future. I believe that Congress should act immediatelybefore a greater crisis envelops usto adopt a policy relating to the Cuban refugee issue that is based on compassion and commonsense. First. we must develop plans to limit and screen the number of Cuban arrivalg. just like we do with immigrants of other nationalities. In doing so. we must recognize the difference between political refugees fleeing oppression and economic refugees seeking the "good life." The former should have preference over the latter. Second. we must bring order to the current crisis by restricting the free flow of private American vessels to and from Cuba. Third. we must "internationalize" the issue by asking our Latin American friends and our European allies to share in our humanitarian cause by providing political sanctuary to those Cubans who are persecuted. just like many nations did in helping the Cambodian and Vietnamese "boat people." I welcome the Cubans who are already here. I hope those who are politically oppressed will be freed so that they can come to this country. And I trust that we in this Congress will develop an immigration policy which meets our responsibilities to our Nation and the people of the world.*