Mr. Speaker. the October 15 edition of the Washington Post contained an item which revealed the news that the Government of Belizea country wedged between Guatemala and Mexicos Yucatan Peninsulahad informed officials representing the United States in January that it would welcome 1.000 refugees from Haiti and 1.000 from Vietnam. as long as they are willing to farm. The article goes on to say that the Belizean officials are surprised that they have received no reply from Washington. Well. I am surprised too. Refugees from Haiti have been streaming into the United States at a rate topping 1.000 per month and officials estimate that nearly 50.000 Haitians are now here illegally. Since 1975. more than half a million refugees have entered the United States from South East Asia. This past September alone. about 20.000 refugees from South East Asia entered the United States. For several years. the United States has been stressing the importance of international participation in resolving the refugee crisis. Until this time. however. few nations have stepped forward to offer assistance. Mr. Speaker. this country has a serious refugee problem. We cannot afford to sit on creative solutions. Good faith efforts. such as that offered by Belize. should be encouraged and recognized by the State Department.
Keywords matched
Refugees refugee refugees