DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: As I indicated in the letter I Joined in sending you on September 28th from the Judiciary Committee. I generally concur in your recommended admission levels for refugees in 1984. However. I do have serious concerns over the reduction in total numbers and in the drastic cut in refugee admissions for Latin Americadown to only 1.000 from a modest 2.000 ceiling this past year. I do not believe these reductions reflect the priority we should indicate in dealing with growing refugee problems. particularly in Central America. While most refugees in Latin America have found asylum in neighboring countries and there has not been. historically. a need for largescale third country resettlementexcept for Cubansthat trend is changing. Already we have belatedly joined this year with Canada. Australia and Belgium in resettling from El Salvador several thousand political prisoners. According to the Department of States report to Congress. and from material presented during the recent consultations. there may be as many as 3.500 political refugees seeking asylum next year from El Salvador alone. Given the continued need to respond to Cuban refugees. as well as to meet potential refugee problems elsewhere in the region. I do not believe the proposed ceiling of 1.000 admissions for Latin America is realistic. Since there will likely be unused numbers from other regions. particularly from the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
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refugee seeking asylum refugees