Speech #1000105443

HATFIELD. and Mr. GRAHAM) proposed an amendment to the bill supra. as follows: At the appropriate place in the bill add the following: That (a) on and after the date of enactment of this Act. consular officers of the Department of State employed in the United States interest section in Havana. Cuba. and appropriate officers of the Immigration and Nationalization Service shall. in accordance with the procedure applicable to such cases in other countries. process any application for admission to the United States as a refugee from any Cuban national who was imprisoned for political reasons by the Government of Cuba on or after January 1. 1959. without regard to the duration of such imprisonment. except as may be necessary to insure the orderly process of available applicants. (b) For purposes of this section(1) the term "process" means the acceptance and review of applications and the preparation of necessary documents and the making of appropriate determinations with respect to such applications. and (2) the term "refugee" has the same meaning as is given to such term by section 101(a)(42) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. SEC. 2. On and after the date of enactment of this Act. consular officers of the Department of State. wherever situated. shall issue immigrant visas under section 203(a) or 202(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to Cuban nationals(1) without regard to section 212(f) or 243(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (relating to the refusal to accept the return of nationals). (2) whether within or outside Cuba. in such cities as immigration visas may be issued to Cuban nationals. (3) without regard for the date of departure from Cuba of such applicants in the case of applications for such visas outside Cuba.