A new development makes the case for this amendment even stronger. On June 16. the Thai Government and the U.N. High Commissioner agreed to begin a program of socalled voluntary repatriation of Khmer refugees to Cambodia. This development gives the Senator from Kansas some concern remembering the thousands of refugees who died in 1979 when Thailand forcibly repatriated more than 40.000 Cambodian refugees. Of course. this new program is said to be voluntary and thus will not be a threat to the refugees. If so. it will begin to test the view that those in the holding centers do not wish resettlement. but an opportunity to return to Cambodia. Yet what of those who do not wish to be resettled elsewhere? It seems to the Senator from Kansas that this new repatriation program is a logical time to let the international asylum nations process the Khmer refugees who are seeking resettlement. All this amendment does is to express the sense of the Congress that these people should be given an opportunity to seek resettlement. The amendment does this by urging our Government to do everything possible to encourage the U.N. High Commissioner and the Kingdom of Thailand to transfer these people from the holding centers to the refugee camps so they may be processed by representatives of the international community. This amendment in no way impugns or undermines the international resettlement effort. It does not require the United States to assume a larger proportion of the refugee resettlement burden. Indeed. in light of the suffering of the Khmer people. some may say this proposal is too mild. The Senator from Kansas believes this to be a moderate gesture. Yet. since this problem is generally out of the hands of Congress. this proposal may be the only immediate remedy available to us. Because this bill under consideration today authorizes funds for the Immigration and Naturalization Service. it is a logical vehicle for this statement by the Congress. This amendment costs the Nation nothing. but is a humane step. meriting the acceptance of the Senate.
Keywords matched
Naturalization Immigration refugee refugees