Speech #1000113077

Mr. President. I would like to briefly describe the provision concerning Cuban immigration and political prisoners. and why it is necessary. The provision will eliminate barriers to Cuban entry into the United States that have arisen as a result of the breakdown of the Mariel migration agreement. It directs the Immigration and Naturalization Service to process current and former Cuban political prisoners as refugees for entry into this country when they serve any amount of time in Castros jails. Under our current policy. they must serve more than 10 years. It also directs the Immigration and Naturalization Service to restore normal Cuban immigration from Cuba and third countries to the United States. instead of allowing mnigration only under certain narrow circumstances. By normal immigration. we mean our immigration processes as commonly applied around the world. We also intend that under this provision. all Cuban nationals applying for immigration visas outside of Cuba should be considered Cuban nationals for the purpose of immigration quotas. Mr. President. the need for this bill arises from the breakdown of the Mariel migration agreement. which attempted to resolve immigration problems between the United States and Cuba. In that agreement. Cuba promised to take back 2.746 Cubans who came over from the port of Mariel. Cuba. in 1980 as part of the larger Mariel boatlift. and who were found to be excludable from the United States due to their mental illness or past serious criminal offenses. For its part. the United States promised to process up to 3.000 former political prisoners and their families in fiscal year 1985. with the presumption that the program would continue at that level. It also promised to allow for the restoration of normal migration from Cuba to the United States for various preference category immigrant visas up to the limit of 20.000 persons from any independent country. On May 20. 1985. Cuba suspended the Mariel agreement in reaction to our beginning broadcasts over Radio Marti. In response to Castros action. we instituted a policy of processing only Cuban political prisoners in jail more than 10 years. and we cut off normal Cuban immigration from Cuba and third countries. The provision in the bill would remove the 10year limit. and would reinstate normal immigration of Cubans from Cuba and third countries. Mr. President. our policy of processing only those prisoners who have been in jail for more than 10 years makes no sense and ought to be changed.