Speech #960256026

These case- must not become a burden of the indi. vidual States. Related to this. of course is concern that adequate preventive medicine procedures be implemented tc safeguard the local communities. * The national leadership. in handling this "unforeseen emergency Cuban situation." has been less than satisfactory both on the national and international fronts. Locally. this lack of leadership was most obvious in the seeming inability of administrative officials to give authority to the Army to see that tne refugees stay on Fort Chaffee grounds. After several unfortunate incidents this matter was finally resolved by the executive branch. It should go without saying that security assurances are essential for the peace of mind and wellbeing of area residents. As an example of the problems created due to financial constraints the local sheriff is having difficulty maintaining 24hour patrols. With the influx of refugees it is felt that such patrols are necessary and Federal financial assistance is needed. Also. based on our previous experience. it can be expected that most of the other police departments in the area will be subjected to additional demandsall presently at a cost to the local governments concerned. In fact. I have received reports from Sebastian County. claiming over $13.000 in overtime payments for the sheriffs office and Fort Smith is putting in a claim of over $9.000 for police services during the period May 8 to June 5. I do not have the estimated amount of expenditures made by the State of Arkansas to support the Presidents Cuban policy. but I have seen a figure of $50.000 needed to reimburse our State police department for just their added logistical costs. It is my understanding that this d- amendment in no way establishes a new category of refugee. It is clearly not the er intention of this amendment to grant !e. the influx of Haitian and Cuban refuse gee status rather than applicants for Ln asylum. It does insure that when a forid eign national has fled his or her coun.s. try. funds will be available to aid ree- settlement as the President may deterot mine regardless of the exact legal status 1- of the person involved. These additional funds could help correct an inconsistent d- federal policy which allows a foreign )- national to come to our shores. but does v- not in all cases provide for funds to )t finance necessary State and local servL- ices. When this relief effort began. no one n could predict that Castro would start to empty his jails and mental hospitals and I would not want to do anything if which would create a new category for those Cuban troublemaker asylees t which might jeopardize prompt exclu- sion and/or deportation. However. this .1 amendment is not designed to do that. - it was drafted to ease the spiraling cost y to State and local governments who have r shouldered the initial burden of this influx. Since the President has opened his _ arms and the flood gates to the Cubans. - the Federal effort has not been compred hensive in dealing with the various public safety. health. and humanitarian burdens which this explosion of Cuban arrivals has placed on American citizens. I know. and my colleagues should all realize that it is well beyond the financial capacity of municipal. county. and State government agencies to bear the brunt of Federal immigration policies without comprehensive reimbursement. Again. this action will not have any effect on the actual status of the Cubans who have arrived in this country to date. This amendment simply provides funds for reimbursement to government entities to be used for persons who are in the United States having fled their own country and for whom assistance is not available through any other channel. I would urge my colleagues to recognize the responsibility that they have to those areas of the Nation which have been severely impacted by Federal immigration decisions and approve the Lehman amendment.