Mr. President. as chairman of the Judiciary Committee I have closely followed the unfortunate developments that have surrounded the recent flow of Cuban refugees into the United States. In fulfillment of our oversight responsibilities in the immigration and refugee field. the committee has conducted two public hearings on the Cuban refugee problem and has held. regular consultations with officials in the executive branch. Over the past many weeks we have attempted to work with the administration in dealing with these and other refugee problems under the terms of the new Refugee Act of 1980 (Public Law 96212). which was signed into law on March 17. Congress passed this act so as to avoid treating each new refugee situation on an ad hoc basis. requiring new authorities to deal with it. and new legislation to provide resettlement assistance to local communities. Regrettably. there has been some confusion over the terms of the new law and how it applies to the current crisis. For the information of my colleagues. I would like to share with you a memorandum prepared by the Judiciary Committee staff on the emergency provisions of the Refugee Act. as well as a letter I addressed to President Carter on May 20. Mr. President. I ask that these materials. and my opening statement at the Judiciary Committee hearing on Cuban refugees on May 12. be printed at this point in the RECORD.
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immigration refugee Refugee refugees