States could distribute their total share of funds among cash assistance. medical assistance. and social services programs. Each States allowance was based on the total of its estimates in the need for each of these areas. With the Refugee Act of 1980. we have some fiscal management requirements which are retroactive to October 1. 1979. and thus does not afford the same flexibility for expenditures among the categories as in previous years. Specifically. social services were placed under an authorization ceiling of $200 million separate from cash and medical assistance and administrative costs. The new law requires identification of how much a State is allowed to spend for social services. and we intend to monitor closely individual State spending for these services. On the 3.500 Cuban refugees to be admitted into the United States. an estimated 10.000 Cuban refugees who want to flee Cuba entered the Peruvian Embassy compound in early April. The President announced that the United States would admit up to 3.500 from that group. The first preference for admission is given to those refugees with family members already living in the United States. Little is known about the demographic makeup of this group of refugees. or new arrivals. but State Department officials expect that they represent a cross section of the Cuban population. At this time we cannot make a firm estimate of the costs until we learn more about these refugees. I think that in sum gives you a capsule of what I had. I am looking forward. as our Department is. to working closely with members of this committee and State Department officials to determine an appropriate response regarding the status of Cubans and other groups seeking asylum in this country. Thank you for allowing me to appear. Mr.
Keywords matched
Refugee seeking asylum refugees