August 28, 1980 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 23731 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS CUBAN AND HAITIAN REFUGEES Second, the Refugee Act of 1980 ex­ Federal refugee policy will not impose presses the will of Congress regarding undue burdens upon them. Honestly HON. SHIRLEY CHISHOLM equitable principles, benefit eligibility, classifying Cubans and Haitians as ref­ OF NEW YORK and Federal fiscal responsibility for ugees is also in the national interest in the cost of refugee resettlement. If the order to distinguish legitimate policy IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES integrity of the act is to be upheld, for refugees from U.S. policy for aliens Thursday, August 28, 1980 Cubans and Haitians must be brought who, on the basis of objective facts, do e Mrs. CHISHOLM. Mr. Speaker, on within its terms. not fall within the 1980 act's defini­ June 20, 1980, after weeks of uncer­ Third, refugee policy is set by the tion of refugees. In this regard, tainty and delay, the administration Federal Government and the financ­ Cubans and Haitians who arrive in the announced its intended policy regard­ ing of refugee policy and resettlement future should also be presumptively ing Cuban and Haitian refugees. A leg­ assistance is a Federal responsibility. classified as refugees. islative package was sent to Congress States and localities extraordinarily Over the past 20 years, the United in early August. Many knowledgeable impacted by resettlement of signifi­ States has granted political refugee observers agree, however, that the ad­ cant numbers of refugees should be re­ status to over 800,000 Cubans who ministration's proposal does not ade­ lieved, to the greatest extent possible, have fled their homeland. Many of quately address the issues presented, of social and financial burdens associ­ these refugees have settled in south and that it is therefore necessary to ated with refugee resettlement. There­ Florida. They have enjoyed full access propose an alternative approach. fore, consistent with past policies and to virtually all Federal benefit pro­ I am also concerned with indications practices and the Refugee Act of 1980, grams. The Federal Government has that the administration's proposal will for the first 3 years of their residence assumed virtually full responsibility be rejected by the relevant congres­ Cuban and Haitian refugees should be for financing these programs and sional committees, and that the cur­ fully eligible for Federal benefit pro­ other resettlement services. As a rently untenable situation will contin­ grams with 100 percent Federal fi­ result, Cuban retJ.Igees have been able ue indefinitely. I believe that the des­ nancing of these programs. quickly to become active members of perate needs of the Cuban and Hai­ Fourth, the Federal Government our society. They have made signifi­ tians refugee populations, and the should reimburse at a 100-percent rate cant contributions to the social and costs incurred by States and localities economic revitalization of Miami and fiscal and social needs of State and arising prior to passage of the pro­ local communities impacted by these other communities. Increases in local posed legislation from the presence of taxes or cutbacks in services available refugees, must be immediately and Cuban and Haitian refugees in their fully resolved. communities. to citizens were avoided which would To this end, I am convinced that the have been inevitable absent full Feder­ if, SUMMARY OF JUSTIFICATIONS FOR LEGISLATION al financing of resettlement and other national interest will best be served TO GRANT REFUGEE STATUS TO HAITIANS AND as expeditiously as possible, Congress CUBANS essential service needs. And, by grant­ enacts legislation authorizing the The United States has admitted mil­ ing refugee status to the Cubans the granting of political refugee status to lions of refugees in the last 20 years. United States demonstrated its com­ up to 120,000 Cubans who entered the The vast majority of these persons mitment to providing sanctuary to United States after April 21 and date have fled Communist dominated re­ those fleeing oppression. of enactment, and up to 30,000 Haitian gimes, and are not persons of color. The administration, however, has boat people who entered the United In enacting the Refugee Act of 1980, announced a proposed policy which re­ States in Florida after January -of · Congress recognized this country's hu­ jects the positive accomplishments of 1972 and date of enactment. Today I manitarian responsibilities to provide 20 years of Cuban refugee policy. No am introducing legislation which refuge to persons who have a well­ justification is offered and no reasons would provide that these persons are founded fear of persecution if re­ are given to explain why 800,000 political refugees within the meaning turned to their homeland. Congress Cubans have been admitted as refu­ of the Refugee Act of 1980, and are also explicitly established that U.S. gees, but suddenly the most recent ar­ thereby eligible for rights and benefits refugee policy must be free of racial, rivals are to be denied refugee status. accorded the Indochinese, Soviet Jews, ideological, and geographic bias. The Further, virtually all affected parties and other refugees. The legislation Refugee Act further recognizes that agree that the administration's pro­ would also provide for Federal assist­ refugees are particularly in need of re­ posal portends human, social, and ance to States and localities pursuant settlement assistance, and that full fiscal disaster for these newly arrived to the provisions of the 1980 Refugee refugee access to social services is nec­ Cuban refugees and the communities Act. essary to accelerate assimilation and into which they resettle. Problems mount day by day as the self-sufficiency and minimize long­ In contrast to the success of a 20- status of the Cubans and Haitians re­ term social and fiscal costs. The act year policy of granting refugee status mains unresolved. I, therefore, which also establishes that refugee policy is a to Cubans, the tragedy of south Flor­ to stress my hope that this legislative Federal responsibility and that the ida's Haitian refugees represents a initiative can be considered and en­ costs of resettlement and social serv­ shameful experience. As is eloquently acted prior to congressional adjourn­ ices for refugees should be borne 100 described by U.S. District Judge James ment on October 4, 1980. percent by the Federal Government Lawrence King in a 180-page opinion PRINCIPLES WHICH SHOULD GOVERN U.S. REFU­ during the first 3 years of a refugee's issued on July 2, 1980, in Haitian Ref­ GEE POLICY AND THE RESOLUTION OF THE residence in the United States. ugee Center versus Civiletti, the Hai­ CUBAN /HAITIAN REFUGEE PHENOMENA As described below, the record estab­ tians and south Florida have suffered I believe that appropriate resolution lishes that Cubans and Haitians are greatly as a result of the Federal Gov­ of the Haitian/Cuban refugee situa­ true political refugees within the ernment's intentional racial and na­ tion should be guided by the following meaning of the Refugee Act. The pro­ tional otigin discrimination. Moreover, principles: posed legislation is necessary to pre­ after considering evidence from both First, U.S. refugee policy must be serve the integrity of this newly en­ the Haitians and the State Depart­ consistent, based upon objective fact acted legislation and preserve the con­ ment regarding political conditionS in and free of racial or ideological bias. fidence of States and localities that Haiti, Judge King made findings of e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by the Member on the floor. 23732 EXTENSIONS OF REMARK~ August 28, 1980 fact which established beyond doubt incurred by States and localities prior give well-deserved recognition to this that the Haitians are true political ref­ to the granting of refugee status. great American: ugees. As his opinion states: The foregoing benefit and fiscal LEGLEss, HE WoRKs A FIVE DAY WEEK, AsKs This case has forced the court to confront pack: ge for Cuban and Haitian refu­ No HANDOUTS a profound set of questions: Why have so gees is a critical component of the pro­ TALLAHASSEE.-James R. Robh!Son sits on many taken such great risks? What do they posed legislation. As past policies and a pile of rubble at the base of the state's flee? Why do they fear to return? the Refugee Act recognize, refugees new 22-story Capitol eight hours a day, five In reaching its conclusion the court has have extraordinary service needs days a week, the sun beating down on his listened to a wealth of ... testimony. Much nearly hairless head and the dust of the of the evidence is both shocking and brutal, which must be met to facilitate reset­ rubble pile coating his thick, graying mous­ populated by the ghosts of individual Hai­ tlement and accelerate self-sufficien­ tache like snowflakes. tians-including those who have been re­ cy. Thus, in contrast to the adminis­ Occasionally, he takes a respite from the turned from the United States-who have tration's program for Cubans and Hai­ sun by maneuvering into an adjacent lean­ been beaten, tortured and left to die in Hai­ tians, refugees enjoy eligibility for vir­ to fashioned of stacked bricks and corrugat­ tian prisons. tually all Federal programs. Experi­ ed metal. The rubble makes movement diffi­ Returnees, particularly those who claim ence indicates that meeting service cult. Sometimes it's a struggle, especially to asylum abroad, will be greeted with great when his hand slips from a brick and he suspicion upon their arrival. G.iven the Hai­ needs early and fully best insures lurches to the side. tian legal system that status means they avoidance of acculturation problems But he props himself up again and keeps face a substantial danger.