Present and Projected Needs Worldwide for 1992

Note: All figures represent cases

Average number of persons per case this group is 3

OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

2027 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20036, Telephone (202) 265-2000, FAX (202) 462-4664

September 26, 1991

The Honorable Edward Kennedy

Senate Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Affairs

520 Senate Dirksen Office Building Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Kennedy:

The American Jewish Committee always has maintained a deep interest in refugee rescue and resettlement. As the consultation between Congress and the Administration, mandated by the Refugee Act of 1990, proceeds on how many refugees to admit to the U.S. in fiscal year 1992, we wish to make the following recommendations on next year's acceptance levels.

We are now in a delicate and complex moment in U.S. refugee resettlement. Public and official recognition of the plight of refugees around the world has risen; authorized admissions last year reached over 130,000, up from a level of about 70,000 during most of the 1980's. Yet, at the same time budget constraints have limited the capacity of the nation to realize fully its humanitarian desire to take in more refugees.

For FY 1992, we need a policy that both meets U.S. international obligations and expresses our humanitarian values, yet takes into account budget realities. Accomplishing these goals will require maintaining most numbers from last year, with some additions for particularly compelling cases.

For the Soviet Union, we support a continuation of 50,000 refugee admissions, with 40,000 for Soviet Jews and the balance for Evangelical Christians, Armenians, Ukrainian and Orthodox Catholics and other ethnic minorities. The increased movement out of the Soviet Union in recent years is in large measure a triumph of U.S. diplomacy. We have properly followed up on this achievement by accepting a significant number of Soviets in recent years. We have been joined in this effort by other democratic nations, especially Israel which has taken in a truly extraordinary number and has demonstrated its commitment to continue to do so. U.S. admissions remain a critical component of the effort to resettle Soviet refugees. As the Communist system deteriorates, an unstable mix of forces, including nationalism and long-standing anti-Semitism, ́ may find new expression. It is vital to maintain U.S. acceptance of Soviet refugees for fiscal year 1992.

refugee admissions in FY 1991 were not used. These slots should continue to be made available to Soviet refugees in addition to the 50,000 planned for next year.

We also need to maintain our commitment to Southeast Asia. A combination of the plight of the "long-stayer" population in refugee camps, the threat of deterioration of first asylum (including push-offs of boats carrying refugees and continued flight despite grave dangers from Vietnam) require a modest increase to about 25,000 in acceptances from first asylum locations. At the same time, we must continue the orderly departure program, especially assuring its more speedy response to former "reeducation camp" prisoners whose need to leave is pressing.

The United States could perform an especially significant humanitarian act by admitting as refugees 200 Tibetans now in India, whose persecution in their homeland is severe. Added to the 1,000 Tibetans admitted in the Immigration Act of 1990, these refugees would demonstrate a strong commitment to a population in great need now beginning to establish itself in our country.

We also believe it necessary to continue the momentum of last year by adding 2000 slots over last year's allocation to refugee admissions from Africa, where the largest proportion of refugees live and where civil strife and violence continue to produce mass dislocations. While African nations continue to provide remarkable assistance to this population, U.S. admissions could offer a permanent solution to the plight of a small, although significant, number. As in past years, it is necessary to stress that these admission numbers should be not merely allocated but also used, since shortfalls in actual admissions have taken place in recent years.

We also support modest increases to respond to recent upheavals in Eastern Europe, the Near East and Latin America. A humanitarian refugee policy must have the flexibility to provide rescue for people caught up in events that are changing the face of these regions.

Taken together, these changes should result in an overall FY 1992 admissions level of about 150,000. We believe that this figure would continue this nation's traditional commitment to saving lives and preserving freedom.