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Indochina Refugees - President's Advisory Committee: Report
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Indochina Refugees - President's Advisory Committee: Report
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The original documents are located in Box 12, folder "Indochina Refugees - President's
Advisory Committee: Report" of the Theodore C. Marrs Files at the Gerald R. Ford
Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 12 of the Theodore C. Marrs Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
THE PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REFUGEES
FINAL REPORT
TO
THE PRESIDENT
GERALD FORD LIBRART
January 30, 1976
THE OF 0: THE
Establishing the President's Advisory Committee on Refugees
Since the arrival of the first settlers on our eastern seaboard nearly 400 years ago, America
has been a refuge for victims of persecution, intolerance and privation from around the world.
Tide after tide of immigrants has settled here and each group has enriched our heritage and
added to our well-being as a nation.
For many residents of Southeast Asia who stood by America as an ally and who have lost
their homeland in the tragic developments of the past few weeks, America offers a last, best
hope upon which they can build new lives. We are a big country and their numbers are pro-
portionately small. We must open our doors and our hearts.
The arrival of thousands of refugees, mostly children, will require many adjustments on
their part and considerable assistance on ours. But it is in our best interest as well as theirs
to make this transition as gracious and efficient as humanly possible.
I have determined that it would be in the public interest to establish an advisory com-
mittee to the President on the resettlement in the United States of refugees from Indochina.
NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
statutes of the United States, and as President of the United States, it is ordered as follows:
SECTION 1. Establishment of a Presidential Advisory Committee. There is hereby estab-
lished the President's Advisory Committee on Refugees, hereinafter referred to as the Com-
mitted. The Committee shall be composed of such citizens from private life as the President
may, from time to time, appoint. The President shall designate one member of the Committee
to serve as chairman.
S.c. 2. Functions of the Advisory Committee. The Committee shall advise the President
and the heads of appropriate Federal agencies concerning the expeditious and coordinated
resettlement of refugees from Southeast Asia. The Committee shall include in its advice, con-
sideration of the following areas:
(a) Health and environmental matters related to resettlement;
(b) the interrelationship of the governmental and volunteer roles in the resettlement;
(c) educational and cultural adjustments required by these efforts;
(d) the general well-being of resettled refugees and their families in their new American
communities; and
(c) such other related concerns as the President may, from time to time. specify.
The committee shall also seek to facilitate the location. solicitation, and channeling of private
resources for these resettlement efforts, and to establish lines of communication with all con-
terned governmental agencies, relevant voluntary agencies. the Vietnamese-American commu-
aity and the American public at large. The Committee shall conclude its work within one year.
SEC. 3. Assistance, Cooperation, and Expenses:
(a) All executive departments and agencies of the Federal government, to the extent per-
mitted by law, are directed to cooperate with the Committee and to furnish such information,
facilities, funds, and assistance as the Committee may require.
(b) No member of the Committee shall receive compensation from the United States by
reason of service on the Committee, but may, to the extent permitted by law. be allowed travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law (5 U.S.C. 5703).
Sec. 4. Federal Advisory Committee Act. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other
Executive order, the functions of the President under the Federal Advisory Committee Act
(5 U.S.C. App. 1), except that of reporting annually to Congress, which are applicable to
the advisory committee established by this Order, shall be performed by the Secretary of Health,
Education, and Welfare.
Gerall R. Ford
THE WHITE HOUSE,
May 19, 1975.
PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REFUGEES
Ambassador John Eisenhower
Mr. Philip Klutznick
Chairman
Honorary President
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
B'nai B'rith, Suite 4044
875 North Michigan Avenue
Honorable Joseph Alioto
Chicago, Illinois
Mayor of San Francisco
San Francisco, California
Mr. William Kuhfuss
President
Reverend W. Sterling Cary
American Farm Bureau Federation
United Church of Christ
225 Touhy Avenue
302 South Grant Street
Park Ridge, Illinois
Hinsdale, Illinois
Mr. George Meany
Mr. Ashby Boyle
President
1758 Michigan Avenue
AFL-CIO
Salt Lake City, Utah
Washington, D. C.
Mr. Edgar Kaiser
Mr. Clarke Reed
Chairman of the Board
P. O. Box 894
Kaiser Industries
Greenville, Mississippi
300 Lakeside Drive
Oakland, California
Dr. Malcolm Todd
American Medical Association
Mrs. Gaetana Enders
535 N. Dearborn Street
3328 Reservoir Road
Chicago, Illinois
Washington, D. C.
Honorable Maurice Ferre
Honorable Dan Evans
Mayor of Miami
Governor of Washington
Miami, Florida
Olympia, Washington
Mr. Minor George
Elder A. Theodore Tuttle
9119 Brookpark Road
First Council of Seventy
Parma, Ohio
50 East North Temple
Salt Lake City Utah
Mr. John Denver
P. O. Box 1587
Reverend Joseph L. Bernardin
Aspen, Colorado
Archibhsop of Cincinnati
(Resigned September 12, 1975)
Cincinnati, Ohio
Mr. Roger D. Semerad
Executive Director
White House
Washington, D. C.
PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REFUGEES
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The final report of the President's Advisory Committee
acknowledges the magnificent efforts of the voluntary
resettlement agencies and the cooperation and support
provided by all of the member agencies of the Interagency
Task Force on Refugees.
In support of the direct resettlement efforts of the
operating agencies, members of the President's Advisory
Committee visited the various resettlement camps and
processing centers, participated in and organized regional
meetings and conferences, undertook numerous speaking
engagements, and served as contacts for individual case
work problems.
The resettlement of the Indochinese refugees will not
be fully completed until all of the refugees are able
to survive independently of their sponsors and of
governmental assistance. This process will take addi-
tional time but the dedicated efforts of the voluntary
and governmental agencies have eased the way to permit
the refugees to fully participate in American life.
The refugee resettlement program has evoked a sense of
community spirit, generosity, fellowship and selflessness
on the part of all who participated. The completion of
this task marks a moment in our history in which we all
can justly take pride.
PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REFUGEES
FINAL REPORT
The final meeting of the President's Advisory Committee
on Refugees took place on the 17th of December 1975.
At that meeting it was the determination of the Com-
mittee that the preliminary placement of the refugees
from Indochina had been completed. Accordingly, the
Committee resolved to terminate operations and submit a
final report.
In the Interim Report the Committee acknowledged the
extraordinary efforts of the Department of Defense in
providing for the physical needs of the refugees. No
less important have been the efforts of the other
agencies, Department of State; Department of Health,
Education, and Welfare; Department of Justice; Immigra-
tion and Naturalization Service in attending to the
welfare of the refugees. The swift resettlement of the
refugees throughout America was facilitated by the
dedicated efforts of the private voluntary resettlement
agencies (VOLAGS), who brought their considerable
experience and resources to this refugee resettlement
program.
The Interagency Task Force, initially organized within
the Department of State, and later moved to the Depart-
ment of Health, Education, and Welfare, has served well
in focusing the constructive efforts of the Federal
establishment. Despite the problems of staffing and
operations inherent in the operation of an ad hoc
group, Ambassador Dean Brown and Mrs. Julia Taft have
performed admirably in maintaining the momentum of the
resettlement program. Great credit is due them and
their staffs for their efforts.
While criticisms have been made about the efforts of
the Federal Government, particularly in the areas of
health care for refugees and aid to school districts
with major enrollments of refugee youth, the over-all
performance of the resettlement program has been
positive and praiseworthy. Even in the areas in which
there has been significant criticism, it is important
to recall that many of the problems and social distor-
tions predicted by some critics of the resettlement
program have not materialized.
The President's
Advisory Committee
on
Refugees
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
January 1976
THE PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REFUGEES
FINAL REPORT
TO
THE PRESIDENT
GERALD LIQUEST FORD
January 30, 1976
OF
THE VITED THE 10
Establishing the President's Advisory Committee on Refugees
Since the arrival of the first settlers on our eastern seaboard nearly 400 years ago, America
has been a refuge for victims of persecution, intolerance and privation from around the world.
Tide after tide of immigrants has settled here and each group has enriched our heritage and
added to our well-being as a nation.
For many residents of Southeast Asia who stood by America as an ally and who have lost
their homeland in the tragic developments of the past few weeks, America offers a last, best
hope upon which they can build new lives. We are a big country and their numbers are pro-
portionately small. We must open our doors and our hearts.
The arrival of thousands of refugees, mostly children, will require many adjustments on
their part and considerable assistance on ours. But it is in our best interest as well as theirs
to make this transition as gracious and efficient as humanly possible.
T have determined that it would be in the public interest to establish an advisory com-
mittee to the President on the resettlement in the United States of refugees from Indochina.
NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
statutes of the United States, and as President of the United States, it is ordered as follows:
SECTION 1. Establishment of a Presidential Advisory Committee. There is hereby estab-
lished the President's Advisory Committee on Refugees, hereinafter referred to as the Com-
mitted. The Committee shall be composed of such citizens from private life as the President
may, from time to time, appoint. The President shall designate one member of the Committee
to serve as chairman.
Sec. 2. Functions of the Advisory Committee. The Committee shall advise the President
and the heads of appropriate Federal agencies concerning the expeditious and coordinated
resettlement of refugees from Southeast Asia. The Committee shall include in its advice, con-
sideration of the following areas:
(2) Health and environmental matters related to resettlement;
(b) the interrelationship of the governmental and volunteer rules in the resettlement;
(c) educational and cultural adjustments required by these efforts;
(d) the general well-being of resettled refugees and their families in their new American
communities; and
(e) such other related concerns as the President may, from time to time, specify.
The committee shall also seek to facilitate the location, solicitation, and channeling of private
resources for these resettlement efforts, and to establish lines of communication with all con-
cerned governmental agencies, relevant voluntary agencies, the Vietnamese-American commu-
nity and the American public at large. The Committee shall conclude its work within one year.
SEC. 3. Assistance, Cooperation, and Expenses:
(a) All executive departments and agencies of the Federal government, to the extent per-
mitted by law, are directed to cooperate with the Committee and to furnish such information,
facilities, funds, and assistance as the Committee may require.
(b) No member of the Committee shall receive compensation from the United States by
reason of service on the Committee. but may. to the extent permitted by law. be allowed travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence. as authorized by law (5 U.S.C. 5703).
SEC. 4. Federal Advisory Committee Act. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other
Executive order, the functions of the President under the Federal Advisory Committee Act
(5 U.S.C. App. 1), except that of reporting annually to Congress, which are applicable to
the advisory committee established by this Order, shall be performed by the Secretary of Health,
Education, and Welfare.
Gerall R. Ford
THE WHITE HOUSE,
May 19, 1975.
PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REFUGEES
Ambassador John Eisenhower
Mr. Philip Klutznick
Chairman
Honorary President
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
B'nai B'rith, Suite 4044
875 North Michigan Avenue
Honorable Joseph Alioto
Chicago, Illinois
Mayor of San Francisco
San Francisco, California
Mr. William Kuhfuss
President
Reverend W. Sterling Cary
American Farm Bureau Federation
United Church of Christ
225 Touhy Avenue
302 South Grant Street
Park Ridge, Illinois
Hinsdale, Illinois
Mr. George Meany
Mr. Ashby Boyle
President
1758 Michigan Avenue
AFL-CIO
Salt Lake City, Utah
Washington, D. C.
Mr. Edgar Kaiser
Mr. Clarke Reed
Chairman of the Board
P. O. Box 894
Kaiser Industries
Greenville, Mississippi
300 Lakeside Drive
Oakland, California
Dr. Malcolm Todd
American Medical Association
Mrs. Gaetana Enders
535 N. Dearborn Street
3328 Reservoir Road
Chicago, Illinois
Washington, D. C.
Honorable Maurice Ferre
Honorable Dan Evans
Mayor of Miami
Governor of Washington
Miami, Florida
Olympia, Washington
Mr. Minor George
Elder A. Theodore Tuttle
9119 Brookpark Road
First Council of Seventy
Parma, Ohio
50 East North Temple
Salt Lake City Utah
Mr. John Denver
P. O. Box 1587
Reverend Joseph L. Bernardin
Aspen, Colorado
Archibhsop of Cincinnati
(Resigned September 12, 1975)
Cincinnati, Ohio
Mr. Roger D. Semerad
Executive Director
White House
Washington, D. C.
PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REFUGEES
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The final report of the President's Advisory Committee
acknowledges the magnificent efforts of the voluntary
resettlement agencies and the cooperation and support
provided by all of the member agencies of the Interagency
Task Force on Refugees.
In support of the direct resettlement efforts of the
operating agencies, members of the President's Advisory
Committee visited the various resettlement camps and
processing centers, participated in and organized regional
meetings and conferences, undertook numerous speaking
engagements, and served as contacts for individual case
work problems.
The resettlement of the Indochinese refugees will not
be fully completed until all of the refugees are able
to survive independently of their sponsors and of
governmental assistance. This process will take addi-
tional time but the dedicated efforts of the voluntary
and governmental agencies have eased the way to permit
the refugees to fully participate in American life.
The refugee resettlement program has evoked a sense of
community spirit, generosity, fellowship and selflessness
on the part of all who participated. The completion of
this task marks a moment in our history in which we all
can justly take pride.
PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REFUGEES
FINAL REPORT
The final meeting of the President's Advisory Committee
on Refugees took place on the 17th of December 1975.
At that meeting it was the determination of the Com-
mittee that the preliminary placement of the refugees
from Indochina had been completed. Accordingly, the
Committee resolved to terminate operations and submit a
final report.
In the Interim Report the Committee acknowledged the
extraordinary efforts of the Department of Defense in
providing for the physical needs of the refugees. No
less important have been the efforts of the other
agencies, Department of State; Department of Health,
Education, and Welfare; Department of Justice; Immigra-
tion and Naturalization Service in attending to the
welfare of the refugees. The swift resettlement of the
refugees throughout America was facilitated by the
dedicated efforts of the private voluntary resettlement
agencies (VOLAGS), who brought their considerable
experience and resources to this refugee resettlement
program.
The Interagency Task Force, initially organized within
the Department of State, and later moved to the Depart-
ment of Health, Education, and Welfare, has served well
in focusing the constructive efforts of the Federal
establishment. Despite the problems of staffing and
operations inherent in the operation of an ad hoc
group, Ambassador Dean Brown and Mrs. Julia Taft have
performed admirably in maintaining the momentum of the
resettlement program. Great credit is due them and
their staffs for their efforts.
While criticisms have been made about the efforts of
the Federal Government, particularly in the areas of
health care for refugees and aid to school districts
with major enrollments of refugee youth, the over-all
performance of the resettlement program has been
positive and praiseworthy. Even in the areas in which
there has been significant criticism, it is important
to recall that many of the problems and social distor-
tions predicted by some critics of the resettlement
program have not materialized.
It would be impractical to list the specific individual
contributions or projects of the Committee members.
Some Committee members will be mentioned in connection
with specific major projects but it should be noted
that each member of the Advisory Committee contributed
to the refugee resettlement effort both as a member of
the Committee and as a private citizen.
Members of the Advisory Committee (see Annex A) visited
the various resettlement camps and processing centers,
participated in and organized regional meetings and
conferences, undertook numerous speaking engagements,
and served as contacts for individual case work problems.
In some cases where local governments or organizations
adopted or enforced policies inimical to the resettle-
ment program, Committee members served as advocates in
an effort to secure a change.
Members of the President's Advisory Committee have
dedicated their best efforts as private citizens and as
leaders of various political, church, professional,
business, trade or labor organizations to the refugee
resettlement program. This combination of personal and
organizational involvement has been of particular
benefit in easing potential sponsorship problems and in
eliminating problems associated with a lack of com-
mitment to a particular governmental program by any
large organization.
The following presents a comprehensive summary of the
activities, program reviews, and recommendations of the
President's Advisory Committee on Refugees. Abstracts
of Advisory Committee meetings may be found at Annex A.
A copy of the Interim Report to the President dated
August 15, 1975 may be found at Annex B.
A.
Sponsorship by State and Local Governments
In response to the letter from President
Ford, the various mailings to the Governors
(see Annex C) and the regional seminars
conducted under the auspices of the Inter-
agency Task Force, a number of state and
local governments initiated sponsorship
programs. Of particular interest is the
first governmental sponsorship program
2
that was initiated by Committee member
Governor Dan Evans of Washington. A com-
prehensive review of the State of Washington
sponsorship program may be found at Annex D.
In all cases the sponsorship programs were
accomplished with minimal disruption or
impact on the other functions of the govern-
ment. It was unfortunate that additional
units of government did not participate in
the sponsorship program. Perhaps a greater
effort to provide information on sponsorship
programs at the Mayors' Conference and at the
Conference of Governors would have been
beneficial.
Two examples of community involvement par-
ticularly worthy of mention are the efforts
of the City of Dubuque, Iowa and the Town of
Salem, Oregon. Both of these communities
received sizeable numbers of refugees and
made a commitment to welcome and assist those
who have resettled in their communities.
At the June meeting of the National Associa-
tion of Counties a resolution was adopted
supporting the refugee resettlement effort
and urging that the counties participate in
the sponsorship of Indochina refugees. (see
Annex E)
B.
Liaison With Public Groups
At its second meeting the Committee instructed
the staff to organize a meeting between the
leaders of labor and management. The purpose
of this meeting was to secure from these
national organizations an endorsement of and
support for employment opportunities for
Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees. Such
support was deemed essential to help create
opportunities for employment that otherwise
might not have been available. The meeting
would also attempt to counter any bad pub-
licity or resentment directed at the refugees.
3
The meeting took place on June 24, 1975 in a
White House conference room. Representatives
of the following management organizations
attended: The United States Chamber of
Commerce, the National Alliance of Business-
men and the National Association of Manu-
facturers. The following labor organizations
were represented: AFL/CIO, the National
Brotherhood of Teamsters, the United Auto
Workers, and United Mine Workers. In addi-
tion, a representative of the Grace Founda-
tion attended as an observer. A complete
list of those attending is furnished in Annex
F.
As a result of this meeting, the Chamber of
Commerce sent a letter to all of their local
chapters in cities with an unemployment rate
of 9% or less. It was requested that affil-
iates contact local units for the purpose of
coordinating and developing employment
opportunities for refugees.
At the same time, Leo Perlis of the AFL/CIO,
who served as Mr. George Meany's alternate on
the President's Advisory Committee on Refugees,
sent a letter to all labor affiliates in the
targeted cities advising them of the Chamber
of Commerce letter and requesting their
cooperation in the employment effort. Copies
of the Chamber of Commerce letter, the letter
from AFL/CIO, and other documents pertaining
to this project may be found at Annex F.
As a specific result of the Labor/Management
meeting, the Advisory Committee's project in
Houston for resettlement of refugees was
developed.
C.
Houston Project
Committee member Gaetana Enders organized a
meeting in Houston which was hosted by the
Chamber of Commerce during the latter part of
July. The Mayor and representatives of the
following organizations attended this meeting:
4
The Texas Employment Commission, DHEW Regional
Office, Houston Department of Education,
Houston Department of Human Resources,
AFL/CIO, local Red Cross Chapter, and vol-
untary resettlement agencies. The meeting was
conducted in the offices of the Chamber of
Commerce. A full presentation was made of
the resettlement and sponsorship program.
After an extended discussion the decision was
made "by the community leaders" to partici-
pate in a sponsorship project. Houston was
an ideal choice as a sponsoring community
because it had low unemployment and a vig-
orous community spirit.
The most significant aspect of this project
was that all activities were closely coordi-
nated. These included:
a.
Initial contact with the resettlement
camps furnished through the voluntary
agencies.
b.
Development of job requirements, numbers
and availability and industry needs.
C.
Coordination of housing requirements.
d.
Sponsorship listings including preferences.
e.
School and language training.
f.
Close coordination of public informa-
tion and media programs.
g.
Coordination of social services system.
h.
Dissemination of information on Medicaid
programs.
i.
Uniform counseling of sponsors including
a briefing of available community
services.
As a result over three hundred refugee
families were sponsored and resettled in the
Houston metropolitan area.
5
The success of the Houston project amply
demonstrated that significant numbers of
refugees could be placed through local
ad hoc alliances of public and private
agencies and interested citizens. It is the
view of the Committee that the rejection of
the alternative placement method outlined
earlier constituted a deficiency in the
Government's management of the resettlement
program.
D.
Vietnamese/Cambodian Volunteer Group
One of the goals of the Advisory Committee
was the development of ways to ease the
assimilation of the refugees into our society.
To gain a clearer perspective of the dif-
ficult aspects of resettlement which faced
the Vietnamese/Cambodian refugees, the
Advisory Committee directed that an ad hoc
volunteer group of Vietnamese/Cambodians be
organized to provide recommendations and
comments on ways to facilitate the assimila-
tion process. Two full day meetings of the
volunteer group were held and substantive
recommendations were presented to the Advisory
Committee. (See Annex G) These recommenda-
tions were:
a.
Follow-up assistance by the VOLAGS.
b.
Standardized assistance from VOLAGS.
C.
Service in the Armed Forces.
d.
Civilian employment opportunities.
e.
Language and skill training for profes-
sionals.
f.
Toll-free Telephone Information Service.
The discussions of the volunteer group and
the deliberations and endorsement of the
Advisory Committee served to focus attention
on these specific areas.
6
The Advisory Committee reviewed these recom-
mendations and directed the staff to transmit
these suggestions to the Interagency Task
Force and other appropriate organizations for
consideration.
a. Follow-up Assistance by VOLAGS: The
Interagency Task Force initiated a procedure
whereby additional information on the refugee
placement would become available SO that the
results of the voluntary agency placement
program could be evaluated. Additionally,
the voluntary agencies assumed the respon-
sibility for follow-up action in the event
that the original sponsorship match failed.
b. Standardized Assistance From Voluntary
Agencies: The interest in providing uniform
assistance from the various participating
agencies stemmed not from a substantive
difference or disagreement as to levels of
assistance provided but from the common
perception by the refugees that there were
different levels of assistance being provided
by each of the voluntary agencies.
The suggestion was put forward that the
voluntary agencies standardize assistance
programs so that the differences in pocket
money, travel funds, and post-placement
financial assistance be eliminated.
C. Service in the Armed Forces: The Inter-
agency Task Force stated that single refugees
between the ages of 18 and 30 who had served
in the Vietnamese or Cambodian Armed Forces
were among the most difficult categories of
refugees to sponsor and resettle. The Task
Force estimated that there were 8,000 single
males in this category. The Committee
directed its staff to explore the opportuni-
ties which the Indochinese refugees may have
in entering the United States Armed Forces.
The Interagency Task Force and Department of
Defense were queried as to this possibility.
7
It was determined that individuals admitted
as permanent residents would be eligible for
enlistment in the regular and reserve forces
and for appointment as officers in reserve
forces.
The Department of Defense advised that former
members of Cambodian and Vietnamese Armed
Forces who had been trained by the American
military and who met current service enlist-
ment standards, including immigration status,
would be given enlistment preference over
other applicants who had not previously been
trained by the American military.
In summary, there were extremely limited
opportunities available to refugees to enter
the United States Armed Forces.
The Interagency Task Force requested modifica-
tions in legislation so as to permit refugees
to achieve a priority status in entering the
Armed Forces. The Department of Defense did
not concur since well qualified United States
citizens were unable to find a place in the
all volunteer Armed Forces.
The Committee considered and concurred with
the position of the Department of Defense.
It is the view of the Committee that legisla-
tive initiatives should be directed at
permitting the refugees an earlier transfer
from "parolee" to "resident" status. At the
December meeting, the Committee endorsed an
Interagency Task Force proposal to seek early
Congressional action on this matter. Addi-
tionally, the emphasis should also be directed
toward civilian training for refugees to make
them better able to compete for either civilian
or military employment. (see Annex H)
d. Civilian Employment Opportunities: The
Committee directed that employment opportuni-
ties in the civilian sector be explored with
particular emphasis on any opportunities
within the Federal Civil Service.
8
In general, only a United States citizen or
one who owes permanent allegiance to the
United States may be appointed in the com-
petitive civil service.
It is apparent that with a very few excep-
tions there are minimal opportunities for the
refugees for employment with the Federal
Government. (see Annex I)
e.
Language and Skills Training for
Professionals: The Advisory Committee
sought assistance from the American Medical
Association, the American Nurses Association
and other national health organizations in
developing programs to aid refugees in
resuming careers in these fields. The
American Association of State Colleges and
Universities offered its services in helping
to establish the academic credentials of
refugees.
The American Anthropological Association
presented a proposal on how to deal with the
Vietnamese refugee resettlement situation in
the most effective manner possible. The
Association of American Geographers, the
American Historical Association, the American
Psychological Association and the American
Sociological Association are also cooperating
to aid wherever necessary in the process of
refugee resettlement.
f.
Toll-Free Telephone Information Service:
The Department of Health, Education, and
Welfare awarded a six-month contract to the
Center for Applied Linguistics. The Center
has been acting as a national clearinghouse
in providing information to the Indochinese
refugees in the areas of language, culture,
and education. The information collected,
analyzed and disseminated by the clearing-
house demonstrated a highly professionalized
effort on behalf of the refugees.
Additionally, the Department of Health,
Education, and Welfare awarded a grant to a
Georgetown University to operate a telephone
FORD
9
GERALD
"Hotline". This national information center
is staffed by Vietnamese and Cambodians to
answer questions on post-secondary education
opportunities by use of a toll-free telephone.
These two grants have proven to be effective
ways of resolving some of the educational and
cultural confusions cited by the volunteer
group members in their meetings.
E.
Project FRIENDSHIP
Committee member Ashby Boyle proposed a
national youth program to aid in the assim-
ilation of refugee youth. The intent of this
program, entitled Project FRIENDSHIP, was to
coordinate the efforts of 40 national youth
organizations concerned with the Indochinese
young people. Youth groups were asked to
extend a hand of friendship to these new-
comers and help them in adjusting to their
new surroundings and culture. Significant
events in Project FRIENDSHIP have been a
press conference at Camp Pendleton on youth
resettlement, and participation in the
Vietnamese Catholic Students Association
Conference in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Various national youth groups have supported
this program through the inclusion of articles
on Project FRIENDSHIP in monthly magazines,
adoption of resolutions to institute Project
FRIENDSHIP and person-to-person contact in
the communities where refugee families were
located.
President Ford endorsed the efforts of
Project FRIENDSHIP and a copy of his letter
has appeared in many youth-oriented publica-
tions. (see Annex J)
F.
Sponsorship of Student Nurses
In mid-June the President's Advisory Com-
mittee on Refugees became aware of a serious
problem associated with Vietnamese student
nurses in training in the United States under
the sponsorship of the Department of Defense
10
(Military Assistance Program Funds). These
student nurses were to be reclassified as
refugees on June 30, 1975 and removed
from their courses of study and escorted to
the nearest refugee resettlement center
unless valid sponsors could be found for
them.
Through the intercession of Committee member,
Dr. Malcolm Todd, the American Nurses Associa-
tion (ANA) accepted the responsibility for
the sponsorship of the refugee student
nurses. All of the student nurses were
sponsored prior to the June 30 deadline and
funds were authorized for the remainder of
their training.
G.
Sponsorship Information Campaign
During the second meeting of the Committee,
a full discussion of the need for a public
information program was conducted. It was
the view of the Committee that to ensure the
successful completion of the refugee resettle-
ment effort, a comprehensive and innovative
public information program should be initiated
in the media. The Committee endorsed a
proposal to take an active role in explaining
the requirements for sponsorship, the need
for additional group sponsors and other
public information activities. It was felt
that the public information function was a
most appropriate activity for the Committee.
Since several of the members of the Advisory
Committee were national figures, it was
thought that an appeal by such public figures
would be very helpful.
The Committee staff completed preliminary
review of the proposed work with the National
Advertising Council. Proposals were requested
from the Advertising Council and from private
contractors. After a review of costs and
qualifications, preliminary commitments were
made with an outstanding group of professional
writers and photographers. The required
funds were to be secured from the Department
11
of Health, Education, and Welfare. By June 30,
1975, the main contract arrangements had been
agreed upon.
Although this program of public information
was to be conducted in close coordination
and with the assistance of the Interagency
Task Force, this proposal was ultimately
rejected and funding withheld by the Director
of the Interagency Task Force for reasons
with which the Committee did not concur. It
was the opinion of the Interagency Task Force
that the sponsorship mechanism could best be
facilitated through the Voluntary Agencies
and participating government agencies at the
state and local levels and that the proposed
public information campaign would misdirect
the public.
The Committee believes this was an unfor-
tunate decision since no substitute public
information program was developed by the
Interagency Task Force. The need for such a
program has been demonstrated by the number
of regional sponsorship information efforts
and the great interest of the Public Broad-
casting System in developing a variety of
programs dealing with all aspects of refugee
resettlement. However, the Committee felt
that a comprehensive public information
campaign organized and conducted by the
Committee during the months of July, August
and September would have greatly increased
public awareness of the problem and thereby
hastened the resettlement and assimilation of
the refugees into American society.
In our Interim Report, the Committee cited
this turn of events as an unfortunate develop-
ment since it terminated what might have been
the Committee's most effective public relations
function. This situation highlighted the
problems of the relation of this Committee
with the Interagency Task Force.
A memorandum for the record concerning this
question may be found at Annex K.
12
H.
Expanded Sponsorship
In our Interim Report the Committee noted
that an effort to provide expanded sponsor-
ship roles for organizations such as the Red
Cross and the United Way had not been suc-
cessful. At that time it was the view of the
Committee that alternative sponsorship arrange-
ments beyond the existing voluntary agency
organizations would be necessary to bring the
resettlement program to an expeditious
completion.
This suggestion was transmitted to the
Interagency Task Force and was in no way
intended as a criticism of the voluntary
agencies' efforts.
The Committee knew that the voluntary agencies
were doing an excellent job, yet the Com-
mittee considered it wise to encourage
additional participation to provide support
to the voluntary agency efforts and to serve
as a standby placement system in case of
specific problems or requirements. The
difficult placement cases - single men and
very large families - were so far removed
from the ordinary placement programs of
the voluntary agencies that unique arrange-
ments had to be made in virtually every case.
The failure to expand the sponsorship network
made the placement of these problem groups
more difficult.
I.
Organization and Administration
The President's Advisory Committee on Refugees
was fortunate to have the support of a fine
professional staff, under the direction of
Roger D. Semerad, which was most responsive
to the needs and direction of the Committee
members. Effective staff management was made
possible by the dedication and energy of its
personnel.
The staff was recruited during the latter
part of May and early June 1975. Staff
13
members included career civil servants,
Schedule C appointees, and volunteers. Staff
members were acquired from Department of
Defense, Housing and Urban Development,
Veterans Affairs, Treasury Department,
Department of Interior and Department of
Health, Education, and Welfare. (See Annex A)
In addition to the responsibilities asso-
ciated with providing information and admin-
istrative support to the members of the
Committee, the staff dealt with White House
inquiries and correspondence on refugee
matters and organized or participated in
numerous conferences and meetings throughout
the nation. Staff members were assigned to
the President's Advisory Committee for
periods ranging from 30 to 90 days.
Because the individuals selected were normally
involved in priority projects for their
agencies and absence from their normally
assigned positions would result in the loss
of some degree of management capability,
there was some reluctance on the part of
these agencies to detail the selected employees
to the Committee. The limited duration of
some details presented unnecessary staff
management problems.
In the future, in order to assure the assign-
ment of staff for duty with activities or
committees such as the President's Advisory
Committee on Refugees, increased emphasis
should be placed on initial longer term
personnel assignments.
By agreement between the President's Advisory
Committee on Refugees, Interagency Task
Force, and Health, Education, and Welfare,
arrangements were made to administer the
$60,000 allocated for Committee operations
and expenses. The staff at HEW was most
cooperative in providing the technical
assistance necessary to ensure that all legal
14
requirements of the Federal Advisory Com-
mittee Act were fulfilled. The State Depart-
ment performed as comptroller and purchasing
agent for the Committee. With the assistance
of Dr. Ted Marrs and Dr. David Hoopes, a
workable arrangement was established within
the White House staff.
In reviewing the activities of the President's
Advisory Committee it becomes apparent that
the limitations on role of the Committee in
the policy or advisory process can best be
explained in terms of the placement of the
Committee within the Executive Office of the
President.
The President's Advisory Committee was
organized and positioned within the Executive
Office of the President, and with the excep-
tion of some administrative logistical require-
ments, was independent of both the White
House decision-making apparatus and the
several Cabinet agencies charged with resettle-
ment responsibilities.
This organizational choice denied the Advisory
Committee clear lines of authority within the
White House for refugee matters and at the
same time divorced the day-to-day activities
of the operating agencies from those of the
Advisory Committee.
Should a similar situation develop, it is
suggested that consideration be given to a
different organizational framework. Specifi-
cally, we would recommend either of the
following alternatives be considered in the
organization and placement of such an advisory
committee within the Executive Branch.
a.
An advisory committee can be established
within an operating agency or inter-
agency task force and yet serve essen-
tially as a Presidentially appointed
board of directors. Such an arrangement
15
would have the advantage of making very
clear the responsibility on the part of
any operational department to seek the
guidance and counsel of the committee on
policy questions. It would have had the
advantage of unifying both the advisory
and operational functions. Included
within this option would be the require-
ment that the director of the operational
element also serve as the executive
director of the committee.
b.
Such a committee could be organized
within the White House with overall
management responsibility and serving as
the focal point to receive reports to
the President and through which the
President could make his wishes known to
any of the Federal agencies on any
specific matters. This alternative
would present a clear identification
with the President and at the same time
serve to promote a unity in reporting,
planning and management. This role was
assumed by the Office of Management and
Budget several months into the project.
The President's Advisory Committee on Refugees
was not well positioned and as a consequence
the advice and counsel of the Advisory Com-
mittee was not sought on a regular basis.
The inability of the Committee to make more significant
contributions to the various programs and policies
stemmed from the fact that there were no clear pro-
cedures by which the Advisory Committee's advice should
have been sought. Nor were there any methods by which
this advice could have been authoritatively presented.
An informal communication process was developed so that
suggestions from the Advisory Committee were communicated
by memoranda and interstaff arrangements with the
Interagency Task Force. The Committee believes a
formal channel of communications would have enhanced
its effectiveness. There was no responsibility on the
16
part of the Interagency Task Force or of any Federal or
voluntary agency to act in accordance with Committee
advice.
It has been urged that the Interagency Task Force
should have dealt with operational matters dealing with
refugee resettlement while the Advisory Committee
should have dealt with non-operational questions of an
advisory nature. In practice the problems and time
limitations prevented such easily defined roles. A
purely deliberative advisory role in such a rapidly
changing program would have effectively denied any
significant role to the Advisory Committee.
If the Advisory Committee were dealing with the develop-
ment of policies that were to take effect at some time
in the future, then such a deliberative, non-operation
role, might have been feasible. However, in this case
such a time lag was not available between policy con-
siderations and implementation.
In summary, it would be fair to say that the lack of
clearly defined organizational position diminished the
potential impact of the Advisory Committee on the
refugee resettlement effort.
Throughout its deliberations, the Advisory Committee
has consistently sought to offer advice that would aid
in maintaining the cultural identities of the Vietnamese
and Cambodian refugees in the American society. The
influx of this relatively small number of people into
our society has had no adverse effects on the current
economic situation. Nor have most of the fears some
Americans voiced at the original news of the refugee
resettlement become realities. Rather, the entire
effort has brought about a sense of community spirit,
fellowship and selflessness on the part of Americans.
Individuals and groups alike have assisted in the
resettlement process. Major organizations that were
contacted by the Committee were also very responsive.
(see Annex L)
The Advisory Committee realizes that resettlement will
not be accomplished until all refugees are able to
function independently of their sponsors. This process
17
will be longer in coming than the initial placement but
hopefully the path that the refugees have chosen will
ensure their opportunity to fully participate in
American life.
The refugees are faced with the challenging problems of
functioning within a different culture. It has been
the goal of the Advisory Committee to help ensure that
this new culture is not a hostile one. But, this
adjustment has been and will continue to be one in
which America, with its long tradition of acceptance of
refugees and immigrants, can be justly proud.
For the Committee
Jhn John S. SD D. Eisenhower, Chairman
ANNEX A
EXHIBITS
Staff of the President's Advisory Committee on Refugees
Abstracts of Committee Meetings
Fort Chaffee Visit, May 20, 1975
May 23, 1975
June 3, 1975
June 25, 1975
July 23, 1975
December 17, 1975
PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REFUGEES
STAFF
ROGER D. SEMERAD, Executive Director
Domestic Council
White House
WALTER V. KALLAUR, Deputy Director
Federal Disaster Assistance Administration
Department of Housing and Urban Development
JAMES J. DELANEY II, Deputy Director
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Department of Defense
NOEL C. KOCH, Special Consultant
Volunteer
FRANK W. DANIEL, Associate Director
Department of Treasury
LINDA S. SMITH, Staff Assistant
Department of Interior
CAROLYN AKIN, Administrative Assistant
Veterans Affairs
White House
MARIE DENE, Secretary
United States Air Force
Department of Defense
MAUDE A. BOWIE, Secretary
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
JEAN RICE, Secretary
Federal Energy Administration
NINA GUTHRIE, Secretary
Volunteer
D. DAVID MORIN
White House Summer Intern - 1975
SARAH MASON
White House Summer Intern - 1975
Abstracts of Committee Meetings
Fort Chaffee Visit, May 20, 1975
May 23, 1975
June 3, 1975
June 25, 1975
July 23, 1975
December 17, 1975
EISENHOWER REPORT TO PRESIDENT ON COMMITTEE VISIT
TO FORT CHAFFEE
MAY 20, 1975
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 21, 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR:
THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
JOHN EISENHOWER
SUBJECT:
Presidential Advisory Committee
on Refugees Visit to Fort Chaffee,
Arkansas, May 20, 1975
The Advisory Council visited Fort Chaffee, Arkansas on
Tuesday, May 20, 1975 to observe firsthand the accommodations
and processing system established at Fort Chaffee for.
approximately 24,000 Vietnamese refugees. The Committee
was accompanied by Ambassador Dean Brown and representatives
of the Interagency Task Force who have provided the Committee
extensive briefings on the current refugee relocation
activities.
The Committee was impressed by the close cooperation
between the U.S. Army and the Interagency Task Force officials
providing the management and administrative support to this
effort. The voluntary assistance of the surrounding Arkansas
community was very much in evidence and certainly represented
the best of American hospitality.
The Refugee resettlement of our Center at Fort Chaffee,
Arkansas, has three major tasks:
A. To receive the Vietnamese refugees and to complete
the processing which will enable them to be authorized for
resettlement;
- 2 -
B. To run a small city of 24,000 individuals; and
C. To facilitate the careful placement of 24,000
refugees throughout the United States. Currently 25,814
refugees have arrived and had initial processing. 18,500
have completed processing with approximately 2,500 having
been released to bona fide sponsors. Commitments for
over 6,000 placements have already been made.
The Advisory Committee observed refugees at the various
administrative steps including: preliminary processing,
comprehensive medical evaluation, immigration and naturaliza-
tion screening, social security registration, Social
Rehabilitation Services, final processing from the Immigra-
tion and Naturalization Service including security clearance
and the departure services provided by the Department of
Health, Education and Welfare. These administrative
activities appear to be proceeding in an efficient, well-
organized manner with initial security clearance delays
now being diminished as the computerized refugee records
are becoming more available. The participating federal
agencies are attending to their areas of responsibility
in a most cooperative and outstanding fashion.
Through the cooperation of the military and civilian
organizations the administration of this "City" encompasses
all the usual logistical requirements and problems of
- 3 -
community management. To facilitate a local government
each of the 236 barracks groups has elected a representative
to a Council which meets nightly. They have elected a
Vietnamese "Mayor" who meets in council each evening and
have formed a subcommittee structure which works closely
with the voluntary agencies in providing the various services
to the refugee population. For example, the education
committee has 16 buildings set aside for school: Presently
over 234 classes being conducted each day enrolling 7,000
children. The school system is being run by the Southern
Baptist Conference and includes the Vietnamese and the
civilian teachers and ranks as the 12th largest school
system in the State of Arkansas.
A Vietnamese newspaper is being prepared and circulated
daily with the help of the military Public Affairs unit.
There is a 15 minute daily broadcast in the Vietnamese
language which informs them of news of the world as well
as notice of particular matters of immediate importance to
them.
It is interesting to note that there has been no major
crime problem with only a few misdemeanors requiring action.
The placement function is the primary responsibility of
10 major American voluntary agencies which historically
- 4 -
have facilitated the resettlement of millions of displaced
persons. These voluntary agencies are under preliminary
contract with the Federal Government to effect these
placements in a responsible and compassionate way. Their
dedication and expertise is impressive and they stress that
the primary criteria for placement in an American community
is the impact on that community, the individual sponsor's
capability and understanding of the obligations. which they
are incurring, the availability of jobs for those refugees
requiring work and of course the health and welfare of the
refugees. It is interesting to note that the Department of
Labor Employment Service will have ten specialists working
with the voluntary agencies to avoid placement of these
individuals in communities with extraordinarily high unem-
ployment rates or with no probable utilization of the refugees'
skills. Careful screening of sponsors through a network of
community volunteer agencies is the critical activity. Each
voluntary agency has a social service structure which attends
to all the needs and problems of the individual refugee or
family unit. It was recommended that the Advisory Committee
could provide invaluable assistance in providing the civic
clubs throughout the United States with concrete instructions
and procedures for sponsorship and identify the local
- 5 -
participating voluntary agencies for channeling the
legitimate requests for sponsorship through the organiza-
tional network to the respective relocation centers. It
is important to continuously re-emphasize that resettlement
is primarily and most appropriately a local function.
We must make every possible effort in avoiding any
prolonged encampment of the refugees which will further
delay their assimilation into the American community.
Those refugees who wish to return to Vietnam are coming
forward as they are assured that that is possible and will
be handled compassionately. In the approximate 100 cases
Fort Chaffee the refugees are predominantly men wishing to
search for or rejoin their families who could not escape
with them.
Our conclusion after reviewing the refugee resettlement
center at Fort Chaffee would indicate that the proper
mechanisms have been set in motion by both federal agencies
and the private sector which address the special needs of
the refugees and the concerns of the communities. receiving
them. Within very rigid time constraints the refugees'
personal welfare is being well attended to and their natural
anxieties are being abated as they learn that we do have
a place for them and that the system for effecting their
- 6 -
ultimate move into the community is working in their best
long term interest.
Under your leadership, the efforts of this Committee,
the Interagency Task Force and the voluntary agencies;
continued education of the American community will help
disspell most of the public misconceptions and apprehensions
regarding acceptance of refugees in our society. We will
be developing in the days to come ways to better facilitate
the work of the voluntary agencies, civic groups, and
government agencies which minimize any negative aspects
of this entire Vietnamese refugee resettlement effort.
We will also be addressing some of the longer term problems
and determining countermeasures to them.
COMMITTEE MEETING #1
Friday, May 23, 1975
Dr. Theodore C. Marrs, Special Assistant to the
President, opened the first Committee meeting by
discussing the distinct phases of refugee processing
procedures in addition to providing the members
with a statistical update. He made special mention
of the President's appreciation of the Committee
members' promptness in accepting their new responsi-
bilities.
Committee members were sworn in at this time.
Chairman Eisenhower discussed the future meeting
schedule and then opened a discussion about a
draft report to be sent to the President on the
Committee's trip to Fort Chaffee the previous day.
He requested comments on the roles and objectives
of the Committee. The concensus seemed to be a
need for guidelines when talking to the public
about the refugee resettlement program in addition
to a need for detailed information on the responsi-
bilities of a sponsor. These comments were useful
in identifying the role the Committee should
assume in the overall refugee program. Chairman
Eisenhower summed them up as follows: To inform
the President of things that come to the Com-
mittee's attention and to stress public relations,
public knowledge and public understanding with
emphasis on resettlement.
The Committee members placed particular emphasis
on the proper maintenance of communication with
the Voluntary Agencies. The efforts of the
Voluntary Agencies were commended and it was
stressed that they should be invited to participate
actively in each Committee meeting.
Meeting was adjourned and next one scheduled for
June 3, 1975.
COMMITTEE MEETING #2
Tuesday, June 3, 1975
Committee members and their alternates were present.
Dr. Theodore C. Marrs, Special Assistant to the
President, and Julia V. Taft, Acting Director of
the Interagency Task Force, were present as guests.
Also present were representatives of the Voluntary
Agencies (VOLAGS).
Chairman Eisenhower, in his opening remarks,
reiterated the role and mission of the Committee,
stressing the importance of working closely with
the VOLAGS.
Mrs. Taft reported on the activities of the Inter-
agency Task Force and reviewed the major problem
areas. After quoting weekly statistics and
explaining the computer data system, Mrs. Taft
stressed the need to both generate widespread
interest in the resettlement program and to
increase the number of sponsorship offers. She
discussed the need to bridge the cultural gap and
made reference to some of the operation materials
available now and in the future for this purpose
for both the refugees and their sponsors.
Mr. John E. McCarthy of the U.S. Catholic Conference,
Acting Chairman of the Committee on Refugees and
Migrants for the American Council of Voluntary
Agencies, presented a report on the activities of
the VOLAGS. He expressed confidence that the
VOLAGS will be able to successfully accomplish the
job of effective resettlement through a sponsorship
effort. He introduced each VOLAG representative,
to give a brief report on the activities of his
particular organization.
Dr. Marrs raised the issue of the lack of informa-
tion from the refugees themselves in the resettle-
ment program. He suggested that a volunteer
group, comprised of appropriate Vietnamese and
Cambodian representatives, be formed.
Committee member, Ashby Boyle, offered his services
in cocrdinating a national youth project to enlist
the support of young people in the resettlement
process.
The major concern of the meeting was sponsorship
and employment. Chairman Eisenhower strongly
urged each Committee member to view his role as
that of a catalyst in encouraging sponsorship
nationwide.
The meeting was adjourned and the next one scheduled
for June 25, 1975.
(
2
COMMITTEE MEETING #3
Wednesday, June 25, 1975
Committee members and their alternates were
present in addition to four representatives of the
Vietnamese/Cambodian Volunteer Group.
In his opening remarks, Chairman Eisenhower
provided all attendees with a brief report on the
status of refugee resettlement. He voiced concern
over the lack of sponsors and felt this neces-
sitated increased publicity. He also felt that
more emphasis should be placed on group sponsor-
ship to alleviate some of the strains placed on
individual sponsors. He requested clarification
of new regulations concerning medicaid and welfare
payments to refugees.
There were numerous questions and various requests
for clarification. Mr. Kelly, Associate Director
for Refugee Resettlement, provided this pertinent
information according to recent DHEW policy
statements. It was mentioned that the major
health organizations were examining methods to
sponsor physicians, dentists and various health
professions. Of particular note was the coopera-
tion of the American Nurses Association who
arranged sponsorship for those Vietnamese student
nurses in this country.
Committee member, Ashby Boyle, explained the goals
of Project FRIENDSHIP, our efforts to coordinate
the major national youth organizations in pro-
moting programs of awareness and direct assistance
to young refugees. The Committee unanimously
approved the project.
Mr. Leo Perlis of the AFL/CIO reported on a Labor/
Management Meeting which took place June 24, 1975.
The unanimous recommendations resulting from the
meeting was that management and unions work
jointly to make available jobs for the refugees.
He explained plans for the Chamber of Commerce to
send a letter to cities with low unemployment to
encourage a similar labor/management meeting at
local levels in order to find the best manner to
help refugees.
Chairman Eisenhower complimented Governor Evans of
the State of Washington on the State's accomplish-
ments as a VOLAG. Governor Evans stressed that
the program was not intended to replace the efforts
of the VOLAGS, rather it was suited specifically
to what Washington as a State could do within its
governmental structure. After describing in
detail his State's program and providing back-
ground material, we agreed to send a letter to all
Governors informing them of the actions of the
State of Washington.
The first meeting of the Vietnamese/Cambodian
Volunteer Group was explained and four representa-
tives of the group gave short presentations.
These members voiced concern over the policy on
refugee enlistment in the United States Armed
Forces, lack of educational information and
opportunities, lack of standardized information
and assistance, Medicaid and insurance and need
for additional English lessons and textbooks to
aid in this learning process.
The meeting was adjourned and the next one scheduled
for July 23rd.
COMMITTEE MEETING #4
Wednesday, July 23, 1975
Committee members, their alternates, Vietnamese/
Cambodian Volunteer Group representatives and
staff members were present.
Chairman Eisenhower noted that the responsibility
of the Task Force's operation had been transferred
from the State Department to the Department of
Health, Education and Welfare and that Mrs. Taft
had been appointed permanent Director of the Task
Force. He explained that funding in the amount of
$225,000 for a public information campaign to
boost sponsorship had been blocked by the Task
Force.
For reasons of convenience and expenses involved,
the Chairman did not endorse the suggestion to
hold the September meeting at a refugee camp. He
did suggest, however, that a vote be taken at that
time to determine whether or not to terminate the
activities of the Committee at a specific time
this year once the resettlement efforts have been
completed. Mr. Semerad noted that if the Committee
1
has done an effective job by the projected termination
date, he saw no reason to continue operations.
Dr. Marrs conveyed a brief message of appreciation
from the President to Chairman Eisenhower and Mrs.
Taft. Mrs. Taft commended the Committee members
and the VOLAGS for their contribution and provided
a statistical update of the total resettlement
program. She discussed recent efforts to expand
sponsorship, including state and local governments,
Federal regional councils and the military sponsorship
program. She felt that the public media campaign,
proposed by the Committee, wouldhave resulted in
increased single sponsorships. She announced the
scheduling of ten regional conferences to coordinate
the activities of voluntary agencies, state and
local officials and community leaders and workers.
Mr. John McManus, of the AFL/CIO, announced that
labor leaders from nine states have been invited
to visit Indiantown Gap to discuss initiation of
sponsorship programs. He informed the attendees
that both the AFL/CIO and the Chamber of Commerce
have urged community groups and members of organized
labor to participate in relocation activities.
Four representatives of the Vietnamese/Cambodian
Volunteer Group explained the recommendations
resulting from their last meeting. The recom-
mendations were: establishing cultural centers,
setting up a national toll-free number for refugee
counseling and guidance on a non-profit basis and
setting up a program whereby resettled refugees
return to the camps to talk informally with their
fellow refugees to advise them of what to expect
once they are resettled. The Committee voted
unanimously to endorse the national toll-free
telephone number and the establishment of cultural
centers in addition to endorsing the continuation
of the group and the authorization of such staff
assistance as required and payment of related
travel.
Mr. Semerad suggested the possibility of. the
Committee and its staff playing somewhat of an
ombudsman role, where informal meetings could be
arranged to discuss problem areas with various
organizations. He also discussed the proposed
interim report to the President.
It was announced that the National Association of
Counties passed a resoltuion urging county govern-
ments to assist in the resettlement effort in any
way possible. The difficulties of enlistment in
the U.S. Armed Services was explained briefly. It
was also reported that Civil Service restrictions
dealing with the competitive service limit entry
in the competitive service to American citizens.
It was noted that the national youth groups have
demonstrated much interest in participating in
Project FRIENDSHIP.
2
There was a concensus among VOLAG representatives
that more information must be made available as to
what assistance is available to a refugee. This
widespread lack of information results in less
sponsors coming forth because of lack of awareness
of available governmental support.
3
COMMITTEE MEETING #5
Wednesday, December 17, 1975
Prior to the scheduled final Committee meeting, Com-
mittee members, their alternates and the staff attended
a meeting with the President in the Cabinet Room at the
White House.
The regular committee meeting in the New Executive
Office Building proceeded as scheduled. Chairman
Eisenhower asked Mrs. Julia Taft to provide the Com-
mittee members and all present with an overview of the
refugee resettlement program. Mrs. Taft commended the
President's Advisory Committee on Refugees and the
American people for their help, particularly in this
period of economic uncertainty. She discussed various
problems still facing the refugees, but announced that
the Task Force would be closing down its operations on
December 31, 1975. Primary responsibility for the
follow-up will be with Health, Education and Welfare,
where the refugees and resettlement program will be
monitored and coordinated with the voluntary agencies.
The meeting then turned to a discussion of the final
report to the President, its contents, submission to
the National Archives and its potential usefulness to
future committees. The historical importance and the
practical usage of this document were of principal
concern throughout the discussion, and the Committee
members requested additional time to review the draft
report and submit comments.
Certificates of Appreciation, signed by the President,
were presented to the staff by Chairman Eisenhower.
Archbishop Bernardin suggested that the President's
Advisory Committee on Refugees endorse an early adjust-
ment of the status of the refugees. Mrs. Taft sup-
ported this position and indicated that she planned to
recommend that the Administration take action on this
question. All members present were unanimously in
favor of this recommendation.
Chairman Eisenhower thanked the members of the Com-
mittee and staff and adjourned the final meeting of the
President's Advisory Committee on Refugees.
ANNEX B
Interim Report to The President
THE PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REFUGEES
INTERIM REPORT
TO
THE PRESIDENT
(
August 15, 1975
THE PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REFUGEES
INTERIM REPORT/EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In accordance with the expressed wishes of President
Ford and consistent with the Committee Charter, The
President's Advisory Committee on Refugees has under-
taken activities in a great number of areas. To meet
the urgent problems of refugee employment, the Advisory
Committee has organized meetings between representatives
of various union and employer groups. A Vietnamese/
Cambodian subcommittee has been organized under the
sponsorship of the Advisory Committee to provide informa-
tion on the reaction of refugees to the resettlement
program. To help resolve problems encountered in
refugee resettlement and encourage sponsorship, Com-
mittee members and staff have served in a liaison
capacity with many national public and private groups.
Where appropriate, the Committee referred problems or
concerns to the Interagency Task Force for consideration.
Additionally, the Committee has endorsed a program
called Project FRIENDSHIP to encourage the participation
of American youth groups in establishing early communi-
cation with refugee youth.
To insure a successful conclusion to the refugee
resettlement effort, an aggressive public information
program should be instituted, and additional organi-
zations may need to become involved with the sponsor-
ship program. More significant participation by state
and local governments will be required in the areas of
direct refugee sponsorship and in making available the
various private and public resources that will facili-
tate resettlement and cultural adjustment.
It is the view of the Committee that while much has
been accomplished, significant problems remain in the
resettlement of the refugees from Indochina. In a
period of declining national interest, the successful
resettlement of the refugees still in camps and of
those yet to arrive from other countries, may involve
the identification and resolution of a different order
of complex issues. The expedient measures adopted to
place the first groups of refugees may well be inade-
quate to complete the entire rescttlement program on a
timely basis.
THE PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REFUGEES
INTERIM REPORT
The President's Advisory Committee on Refugees has met on
six occasions. In addition to the organizational meeting of
May 19 and the trip to Fort Chaffee on May 22, the President's
Advisory Committee has met on May 23, June 3, June 25, and
July 23. At these meetings members of the Advisory Com-
mittee have reported on their visits to the refugee resettle-
ment camps in the United States and in Guam, and a great
number of individuals and organizations have presented
reports or suggestions dealing with the refugee resettlement
program.
The following presents a comprehensive summary of the
activities, program reviews, and recommendations of The
President's Advisory Committee on Refugees:
A.
Performance of the Department of Defense
The Advisory Committee wishes to commend the
Department of Defense for its excellent work in
arranging for the reception, care, and movement of
the refugees from the Pacific to the United
States. Members of the Advisory Committee who
have visited the refugee camps in the United
States have reported very favorably on the efforts
of the military in providing for the physical
needs of the refugees. The efforts of the Depart-
ment of Defense which are continuing to this day,
reflect great credit upon the military establish-
ment and clearly deserve special recognition.
B.
Refugee Sponsorship
1.
Public Information
The Advisory Committee discussed and endorsed
a proposal to take a role in explaining the
requirements for sponsorship, the need for
additional sponsors, and other such public
information activities. The Committee
FORD
GERALD
believed that the public information function
was a most appropriate activity for the
Committee, particularly since several of the
members of the Advisory Committee were
national figures, and that an appeal by such
public figures would be very effective.
Although this program of public information
was to be conducted in coordination with the
Interagency Task Force, it did not meet with
the approval of the Acting Director of the
Interagency Task Force and was unilaterally
rejected.
The Committee believes this decision to have
been most unfortunate in that no substitute
public information program has been imple-
mented by the Interagency Task Force. It is
the view of the Committee that even at this
late date there exists a requirement for an
aggressive public information program dealing
with sponsorship.
2.
Expanded Sponsorship Verification
The Advisory Committee urged that the Inter-
agency Task Force explore an expanded role in
refugee sponsorship by reputable national
social organizations. This was done in the
belief that additional agencies and organiza-
tions needed to become involved in sponsor
identification and verification in order to
place the maximum number of refugees within
the shortest possible time.
This suggestion was not intended as a criticism
of the voluntary agencies' efforts. The
Committee recognized that the voluntary
agencies were doing an excellent job within
the limits of their resources, yet wished to
encourage additional participation in this
area in order to provide support to the
voluntary agency efforts and to serve as a
standby placement system in case of specific
problems or requirements. A number of organi-
zations, most notably the American Red Cross
and the United Way, indicated an interest in
participating in such an effort, in addition
to discharging their other responsibilities.
The United Way has become active in encouraging
the participation of local organizations in
the sponsorship program. The Red Cross
offered to assume a larger role in the sponsor-
ship effort. However, following some preliminary
discussions between the representatives of
the Task Force and the Red Cross, the Task
Force rejected the Red Cross' offer. This
was a particularly discouraging development
in that the Red Cross was the major secular
agency with strong local identification that
could have served as the focus of an effort
to expand the sponsorship program.
The wisdom of the decisions to neither initiate a
program of greater information concerning sponsor-
ship nor to broaden the sponsorship mechanism
remains to be seen.
C.
Liaison With Public Groups, National Organizations
The Advisory Committee has coordinated a number of
meetings between the representatives of the
National Alliance of Businessmen, the National
Association of Manufacturers, the Chamber of
Commerce, the AFL/CIO, the International Brother-
hood of Teamsters, the United Auto Workers, the
United Mine Workers Union, and other public groups
concerned with employment. The purpose of these
meetings has been to secure from these national
organizations a widespread endorsement and support
for employment opportunities for Vietnamese and
Cambodian refugees. This type of support was
considered essential to create opportunities for
employment that otherwise might not have been
available.
In response to these efforts the Chamber of
Commerce has completed a mailing to all of its
local chapters in cities with an unemployment rate
of 98 or less, asking that these chapters contact
the unions for the purpose of coordinating and
developing employment opportunities.
3
Concurrently, Mr. Leo Perlis of the AFL/CIO, Mr.
Meany's alternate, has sent out a letter to all
AFL/CIO member organizations advising them of the
coordination role to be assumed by the Chamber of
Commerce and requesting that all AFL/CIO affili-
ates cooperate in the employment search.
D.
Voluntary Agencies
It should be noted that the voluntary agencies who
have performed the bulk of the placement work,
have been the targets of much criticism.
The isolated and broadly publicized cases of
sponsorship breakdowns, problems or abuses should
be considered within the context of the thousands
of placements that have been made, and with the
understanding that these voluntary agencies have
important programs other than the resettlement of
refugees from Indochina. It is to the great
credit of the voluntary agencies that the instances
of breakdowns and problems have been few in number.
The principal concern expressed by the Advisory
Committee in regard to the efforts of the volun-
tary agencies is that it may be to the detriment
of the government resettlement program to rely
almost exclusively on these voluntary agencies.
E.
Liaison Activities
The Advisory Committee has also acted in a liaison
capacity with various public groups, professional
organizations, ethnic groups and ad hoc committees
who offered their services in the refugee resettle-
ment program but were not able to identify or to
assume a role within the formal governmental
mechanism of the Interagency Task Force. The
Committee staff has also been able to discourage
less capable organizations and charlatans attracted
to this program for questionable reasons.
F.
Victnamese/Cambodian Refugee Advisory
Group
One of the initial criticisms of The President's
Advisory Committee on Refugees was the absence
4
therein of Vietnamese and Cambodians. Recognizing
the validity of this criticism and wishing to draw
information from the groups most clearly concerned
with the refugee resettlement program, the Committee
has established an advisory group of Vietnamese
and Cambodian nationals for the purpose of pro-
viding the Advisory Committee information and
recommendations on the resettlement program. The
Advisory Group is composed equally of refugees who
have been processed through the resettlement
program and of Vietnamese and Cambodians who have
resided in the United States over a period of
years.
The deliberations and recommendations of the
Vietnamese/Cambodian Refugee Advisory Group have
been particularly useful to the Committee in that
they have provided a source of immediate informa-
tion on the refugee reaction to the government's
resettlement program. In some areas the comments
of the Advisory Group have been in praise of the
efforts of the government, the military and the
voluntary agencies. In other cases, there have
been rather strong, but constructive, criticisms.
Very briefly, the major subjects discussed by the
Advisory Group and the recommendations are out-
lined here.
1.
Follow-up Assistance by the Voluntary Agencies
The Advisory Group pointed out that in some
cases a family that had been placed with a
sponsor was not provided with counseling or
follow-up assistance by the voluntary agency.
Accordingly, minor maladjustments or problems
have resulted in a breakdown of the sponsor-
ship effort. The Refugee Advisory Group
recommended that the voluntary agencies be
encouraged to provide follow-up assistance in
all cases rather than only in those cases
where an actual breakdown or serious sponsor-
refugee problem has developed.
2.
Standardized Assistance From Voluntary Agencies
The Refugee Advisory Group was particularly
critical of the lack of uniformity in the
5
types of assistance offered by the various
voluntary agencies. The most immediate and
most readily identifiable lack of uniformity
was in the amounts of pocket money made
available to the refugee upon departure and
the financial assistance during the period
following placement. The Advisory Group
recommended that every effort be made to
standardize the assistance to preclude the
problems that arise from such variations.
3.
Service in the Armed Forces
The Advisory Group noted that a great number
of young unmarried males were present in the
camps. This group of refugees has been
identified by the voluntary agencies as one
of the groups that will pose very difficult
placement problems. Generally these men were
members of the armed forces of Vietnam and
Cambodia and escaped alone and not as members
of any family group.
Since these individuals will be very dif-
ficult to place in a conventional sponsorship
arrangement, the voluntary agencies have sug-
gested that an alternative to sponsorship for
these individuals could be service in the
U.S. Armed Forces. This alternative could
only be possible if the various legal bar-
riers to military service by parolees could
be waived and appropriate legislation passed.
The Task Force has requested the Department
of Defense to prepare legislation to permit
the enlistment of refugees in the Armed
Forces.
This question has been discussed with rep-
resentatives of the Department of Defense and
it would seem that since each branch of the
Armed Forces is in a reduction posture both
in enlisted and officer ranks, service in the
Armed Forces for the refugees under any
exemption category is unlikely in the near
future.
6
4.
Language and Skill Training for Professionals
The Advisory Group noted that remedial
language training would be necessary for many
individuals in order for these individuals to
resume their professional careers in the
United States. Committee staff reviewed this
question and determined that programs of
training and language education were avail-
able to all Americans and that any expanded
opportunities for Indochinese refugees must
necessarily be at the expense of others who
were also attempting to establish their
professional credentials in the private
sector.
5.
Return Visits to Camps
The Advisory Group noted that an increasing
number of refugees were apprehensive about
leaving the apparent security of the refugee
camps and attempting to establish themselves
in the American society. These fears were
due in part to misinformation and rumors that
refugees had been maltreated upon departing
the camps. To reassure the refugees still in
camps, it was decided to endorse a program by
which sclected refugees who had been processed
through the resettlement camps and had been
placed with a sponsor, could return to the
camps to explain what had happened in the
period of time since they had left camp. It
was felt that former refugees who had been
processed through the resettlement camps
would be the most credible spokesmen on this
subject.
6.
Toll-Free Telephone Information for
the Refugees
It was recommended that the toll-free informa-
tion services be expanded to include Victnamese
7
and Cambodian operators, who would be able to
answer questions from refugees throughout the
country. This particular resource would be
very valuable since it would provide an
authoritative source of information available
both to sponsors and refugees and might
preclude a significant number of problems.
7.
Cultural Centers
The Committee endorsed a proposal by the
Refugee Advisory Group to encourage the
establishment of cultural centers in areas
with major concentrations of refugees.
The President's Advisory Committee has found the
Advisory Group to be particularly useful in deter-
mining the views and reactions of Vietnamese and
Cambodians involved in the resettlement effort.
Information on the deliberations of the Advisory
Group and any attendant endorsements by the
President's Committee, have been transmitted to
the Interagency Task Force. Of necessity, the
evaluation of these proposals or suggestions and
any subsequent implementation has been left to the
Interagency Task Force.
G.
Letters to Governors
On June 27, 1975, I wrote to all of the Governors
encouraging them to follow the example of the
State of Washington, and offering whatever assist-
ance necessary in order to permit state governments
to effect this form of sponsorship. I am disappointed
to report that only a few Governors have expressed
an interest in establishing sponsorship programs
similar to that of Governor Evans of Washington.
H.
Project FRIENDSHIP
Committee Member, Ashby Boyle, proposed, and the
Advisory Committee endorsed, a program to establish
direct contact between American youth groups and
E
the refugee youth. Mr. Boyle has written to
various youth groups and national organizations
soliciting their support and asking that these
youth groups make a concerted effort to identify
refugee youth in their communities and make every
effort to include these refugees in the various
activities of the clubs or groups. The response
from the various national organizations has been
very encouraging.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
As of the date of this report, over half of the refugees who
were evacuated from Southeast Asia have been resettled. In
general, those who have been resettled were relatives or
friends of American citizens, or possessed language or other
skills and could be readily integrated into American society.
When compared with those who have already been resettled,
the refugees remaining in camps are at a significant dis-
advantage. Thus, while much has been accomplished, much
more remains to be done. It is far too early to offer
congratulations or commendations.
With reference to potential problem areas, there is no
assurance that difficulties will not develop for some of the
refugees who have already been placed. The commitments of
the voluntary agencies to continue placement efforts for
refugees who might suffer an initial sponsorship breakdown
could significantly delay the departure of those refugees
still in the camps. Thousands of refugees are in other
countries and their status has not been decided. A great
number will be admitted into the United States and these
refugees will pose an additional burden on the existing
placement program.
Accordingly, it would seem reasonable to expect that the
placement of refugees will slow down to some extent and
greater difficulty will be encountered in placing those
refugees who are still in camps. In a period of declining
national interest, the placement of these refugees will pose
significant problems.
It would seem useful from both an administrative and public
information standpoint to focus on the possible problems and
orient the planning to a worst case approach, rather than
project program completion as though few, if any, problems
9
will develop. The expedient measures adopted to place the
first groups of refugees may well be inadequate to complete
the entire resettlement program on a timely basis. Optimistic
predictions as to the rapidity with which this resettlement
can be accomplished can only damage the credibility of the
resettlement effort and reflect unfavorably upon the praise-
worthy efforts of your administration.
John John S. D. Eisen lown Eisenhower, Chairman
ANNEX C
John Eisenhower's letter to Governors
EISENHOWER LETTER TO GOVERNORS
THE PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REFUGEES
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20506
AMBASSADOR JOHN EISENHOWER
June 27, 1975
CHAIPMAN
MR. ROCER D. SEMERAD
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
MAYCH Joseph ALIOTO
(202) 456.7034
ARCHIESHOP JOSEPH BERNARDIN
MR. ASHPY BOYLE
DR. W. STERLING CARY
MR. Joan DENVER
MRS. GIFTANA ENDERS
GOVERNOR DANIEL EVAN-
MAYON MASHICF FERRE
Mr. MINOR GEORGE
MR. ECCAR KAISER
Dear Governor Carey:
Mr. Provide KLUTZNICK
MR. WILLIAM J. KUHFUSS
On May 19, 1975, President Ford appointed a
MR. Greese MEANY
Mr. CLINKS RECD
seventeen member advisory committee to assist
DR. MALCOLM TODD
him in resettling the Indochina refugees.
ELDER 2. T-COCORE TOTYLE
These families are presently located at
military camps here and on Guam. Most have
arrived with little more than the clothes on
their backs.
The task of resettlement must not and need
not be an occasion for prolonging the fear,
uncertainty and despair which have clouded
the lives of these people for so long. Their
number is small, their needs are minimal.
But if the job is to be done, it will depend
upon the good will of all Americans, and the
direct assistance of some.
In order to move these refugees out of the
camps and into our national life, it will be
necessary to obtain sponsors for them.
Families, civic groups and institutions may
all sponsor refugee families. The burden of
sponsorship can be eased, however, if State
and local agencies are committed to assist in
this endeavor.
I am enclosing the details of the resettlement.
program undertaken by Governor Dan Evans of
Washington. It is simple, comprehensive,
easily implemented, and effective. Obviously,
New York would have to tailor a plan to fit
its own unique administrative structure and
its resources.
If you wish, Governor Evans' Office of Emergency Services is
prepared to assist your designated representative in any way
you may require. Their number is (206) 753-5255.
I am also enclosing a policy instruction of the Department
of Health, Education and Welfare, which details Federal
assistance available to State and other agencies engaged in
refugee resettlement. Included with this policy instruction
is information pertaining to the availability of medical
assistance for the refugees.
I am confident that the President can count on you and the
people of New York for your help in the resettlement effort.
Sincerely,
John S. D. Eisenhower
Chairman
President's Advisory Committee
on Refugees
Honorable Hugh L. Carey
Governor of New York
Albany, New York
Enclosures
Identical letter sent to the following:
Governor George Wallace - Alabama
Raul Castro - Arizona
David Pryor - Arkansas
Edmund G. Brown, Jr. - California
Richard D. Lamm - Colorado
Ella T. Crasso - Connecticut
Sherman W. Tribbitt - Delaware
Reubin Askew - Florida
George Busbee - Georgia
George R. Ariyoshi - Hawaii
Cecil D. Andrus - Idaho
David Walker - Illinois
Otis R. Bowen - Indiana
Robert D. Ray - Iowa
Robert F. Bennett - Kansas
Julian Carroll - Kentucky
Edwin W. Edwards - Louisiana
James B. Longley - Maine
Marvin Mandel - Maryland
Michael S. Dukakis - Massachusetts
William G. Milliken - Michigan
Wendell R. Anderson - Minnesota
William L. Waller - Mississippi.
Christopher S. Bond - Missouri
Thomas L. Judge - Montana
J. James Exon - Nebraska
Mike O'Callaghan - Nevada
Meldrim Thompson, Jr. - New Hampshire
Brendon T. Byrne - New Jersey
Jerry Apodaca - New Mexico
James E. Holshouser, Jr. - North Carolina
Arthur A. Link - North Dakota
James A. Rhodes - Ohio
David Boren - Oklahoma
Robert W. Straub - Oregon
Milton J. Shapp - Pennsylvania
Philip W. Noel - Rhode Island
James B. Edwards - South Carolina
Richard F. Kneip - South Dakota
Ray Blanton - Tennessee
Dolph Briscoe, Jr. - Texas
Calvin L. Rampton - Utah
Thomas P. Salmon - Vermont
Mills E. Godwin - Virginia
Arch is. Moore, Jr. - West Virginia
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
Patrick J. Lucey - Wisconsin
Ed. C. Herschler - Wyoming
ANNEX D
State of Washington
Vietnamese Refugee Resettlement Program
STATE OF WASHINGTON -- REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM
THE
STATE OF WASHINGTON
OFFICE or 1116 GOVERNOR
OLYMPIA
DANIEL J. EVAND
GOVERNOR
VICTHAMESE REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM
In late April, Governor Daniel Evans was contacted by the United
States State Department about the possible relocation of up to 500 Victnamese
refugees in the State of Washington. The refugees were among several thou-
send being temporarily housed at Camp Pendleton, California, The Governor
had previously indicated the state's willingness to participate in the
resettlement effort and, at & scheduled news briefing on May 8, 1975,
Andounced his intention to bring the refugees gradually into the State of
Mashington.
Before making the Cormal public announcement, Governor Evans appointed
Tom Pryor, director of the State Department of Emergency Services, overall
coordinator of the newly created Washington State Vietnamese Refugee Re-
settlement Project. A Victnamese Assistance Center was immediately es-
tablished in the Comp Hurrey National Guard Amory near Tacoma, Washington.
Temporary Hving units for the refugees were made available At the National
Cuard facility by refurbishing 10 cottages. designed to house à maximum of
100 refugees, 00 the 300-acre site. Within days after the Governor's
Announcement to the people of the State of Washington, the Victnamese
Assistance Center WAS prepared to house the first group of refugees from
Carp Pendleton.
Three Reshlugton State agencies become directly Involved in the re-
-2-
the responsibility for maintaining and coordinating activities at the
Victnamese Assistance Center and the cluster of cottages that became the
refugee camp. The Department of Social and Health Services WAS desig-
nated to recruit, screen and assign American sponsors to each refugee
family. and DSHS personnel were temporarily assigned to the center to
determine the specific social and economic needs of each refugee family
85 well. The Department of Employment Security Has called upon to inter-
view the head of each refugee household for complete employment history
ovaluation and possible job placement once housing was secured.
L. Dean Brown, director of the President's Indochina Interagency
Task Force, informed the Governor by telegram that all costs to the state
for resettlement, to include health. income maintenance and social serv-
ices, would be reimbursed by the federal government.
Washington State Department of Emergency Services
Once the formal announcement of refugoe resettlement was made by
the Governor, Pryor detached a staff representative from his office and
& representative from the Department of Social and Health Services to
Camp Pendleton to assist in the processing of the 500 refugees that
would gradually be arriving in the state. An invitation was issued by
the state's representatives to refugees quartered in one of the eight
"tent cities" established at Camp Pendleton. Within 1v0 hours well over
1.000 refugees applied for persunent placement in Washington State. The
selection. of 500 of the 1,000 applicants hils made at random and trans-
portation plans were made to bring Usem to the state in groups of 100.
(more)
-3-
Personnel from Emergency Services, working in cooperation with
the Office of the Governor, the Salvation Army, Washington National
Guard, American Red Cross and other community agencies, supply the
refugees temporarily housed at Camp Murray with food, laundry facill-
ties, recreation equipment, transportation, security, staff support,
medical assistance and general resettlement counseling.
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
Each Victnamise family receives an American sponsoring family
or organization before its departure from Camp Hurray. Sponsors are
being recruited to neet specific needs of adjustment for the Vict-
namase as they sottle parmanently in the state. Social and Health
Services personnel in public assistance offices were alerted to pro-
cess inquiries for sponsorship from individuals and organizations
(church, comunity and civic groups).
The types of sponsorships needed are as follows:
1. Those that provide complete support; i.e., subsistence.
housing assistance and employment;
2. Noral support -- taking the role of a friend in helping
to locate employment, housing and community resources;
3. Contributions of specific goods and/or services.
Refugees with insufficient incomes or resources to meet their
needs can apply for direct assistance (financial, medical and related
secial services) in the Vistatuese Center st Comp Hurray. Once the
refuged family is placed with a spensor, all records are transferred.
to the public assistance office nearest their PAW personent be " and
sponsor. Each office has also designated a caseworker to work with
sponsors and refugee families throughout the resettlement process.
In all cases it has been made very clear that a sponsor has no legal
responsibility for the refugee. Sponsors may also designate a time
frame during which sponsorship will be assumed. A significant majority
of the refugees currently at the camp and those who are awaiting trans-
fer from Camp Pendleton are skilled administrators, craftsmen, pro-
fessionals and clerical support personnel. It is not anticipated
that they will remain on assistance for an extended period of time.
Vashington State Department of Employment Security
Refugees who were employed while in Vietnam are being thoroughly
interviewed by Employment Security counselors assigned to the Assistance
Center during the resettlement program. A complete history is developed
for each refugee interviewed to determine past employment experience
and specific job skills. Counselors at the center also assist refugees
with professional backgrounds in compiling resures and help them pre-
pare for job interviews.
Kinority employment organizations, such as the Asian Placement
Service, and volunteers are soliciting employers for jobs. Employment
Security counselors are making every effort to match refuged skills
with existing job listings and encouraging industrial employers to
make positions available to qualified refugees.
Imployment Security staff representatives entitute that approxi-
may 90 JOBS will be needed to support the 500 refuges reaing to the
state.
5
Washington State Victnamese Refugee Resettlement Progress
From May 20 to June 7 there have been 40 Victnamese families
(150 refugees) placed in communities across Rashington State. As a
general rule, a family is placed in close proximity to another Vict-
namese family for comfort and security. The news media have been
particularly cooperative in the recruitment or potential sponsors and
employment for the refugees through public service announcements and
news coverage.
111
UP DATE AS OF 6/19
75 in camp
338 placed w/sponsors
413 total arrivals
ANNEX E
Refugee Sponsorship Resolution
Adopted by
National Association of Counties
of_counties
1735 new york avenue, n.w., washington, d.c. 20006
(202) 785-9577
REFUGEE SPONSORSHIP
RESOLUTION
ADOPTED BY
NACo MEMBERSHIP
June 25, 1975.
Honoluly, Hawaii
The recent evacuation of large numbers of refugees from Indochina
and their resettlement in the United States. should be completed
as rapidly as possible to minimize the disruption of their lives.
County governments can assist in this effort by acting as sponsor-
ing agencies for coordinating the placement of refugees through
local voluntary community organizations.
Similarly, since county governments must bear a large share of the
direct and indirect costs of refugee resettlement, they must be
actively involved in any federal decisions respecting reimburse-
ment.
Accordingly, the Health Steering Committee urges NACo to:
(1) recommend that counties, on a voluntary basis, partici-
pate in the sponsorship of Indochina refugees, working
through their local community organizations for their
placement.
(2) request that the federal government seek meaningful in-
put from county officials, acting through NACo, into
federal decisions on the determination of local costs
and the method of reimbursement by the federal govern-
ment for these costs.
ANNEX F
EXHIBITS
1.
List of Attendees - Labor Management
Meeting on the Resettlement and
Employment of Indochinese Refugees.
2.
Letter dated July 22, 1975,
Leo Perlis, AFL/CIO.
3.
Letter dated July 22, 1975,
Richard L. Lesher, Chamber of Commerce.
MEETING AND CORRESPONDENCE ON LABOR-MANAGEMENT
EFFORTS ON REFUGEE EMPLOYMENT
LABOR-MANAGEMENT MEETING
ON THE RESETTLEMENT AND EMPLOYMENT OF
INDOCHINESE REFUGEES
June 24, 1975
Dr. Theodore Marrs
Special Assistant to the President
Leo Perlis
Director
Department of Community Services
AFL-CIO
Donald J. Kroes
Group Manager
Human and Community Resources Group
Chamber of Commerce
Thomas P. Walsh
Associate Director
Education and Manpower
Chamber of Commerce
Major General John C. Condon
President
National Alliance of Businessmen
Forest I. Rettgers
Senior Vice President
Policy Program Division
National Association of Manufacturers
Frank E. Fitzsimmons
General President
International Brotherhood
of Teamsters
Walter J. Shea
Administrative Assistant
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Stephen Schlossberg
General Council
United Auto Workers
John J. McManus
Assistant Director
Department of: Community Services
APL-CIO
Charles Bradford
Executive Director
Human Resources Development
Institute
AFL-CIO
John R. Woodrum
Administrative Assistant
to the President
United Mine Workers
Mr.' William B. Seebeck
Grace Co.
Roger D. Semerad
Executive Director
President's Advisory
Committee on Refugees
James J. Delaney
Deputy Director
President's Advisory
Committee on Refugees
July 22, 1975
Dear Sir and Brother:
Here is a copy of a letter from the U. S. Chamber of Commerce
to their local organizations.
This letter was sent to communities with an unemployment
rate of 9 percent and less.
At a recent meeting in the White House of labor and manage-
ment representatives, the Chamber was asked to initiate this move,
nationally and locally.
The reason is that the heart of the Vietnamese refugee
resettlement program is jobs - and jobs are the responsibility of
management.
We can help, of course. We hope, therefore, that you will
participate in developing a community coalition to find jobs for
the refugees. Lists of available jobs and skills will be matched
so that resettlement efforts can be expedited.
You will be invited by the Chamber to attend a meeting for
this purpose and we hope that you and your representatives will
attend.
I am asking our John McManus to follow through.
-With all good wishes,
Sincerely and fraternally
Leo Periis, Director
Department of Community Services
FORD & LIBRARY
LP:ma
Attachment
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
1615 H STREET, N.W.
DR. RICHARD L. LESHER
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20062
PRESIDENT
July 22, 1975
202/659-6207
x
Dear Mr.
I am sure you will agree that success in finding employment for
Victnamese refugees depends on the support of the business community.
This letter is to ask your leadership in working with your members and
other organizations to help these refugees find their way in our society
and economy.
Specifically, I would like to ask you to get in touch with local
government officials, labor union leaders, and other business leaders to
consider organizing an informal labor-management-government committee as
a means of developing a cooperative approach to this problem now affect-
ing many communities.
I make this request following a White House meeting sponsored by
The President's Advisory Committee on Refugees. The meeting consisted of
spokesmen for the National Association of Manufacturers, National Alliance
of Businessmen, AFL-CIO, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, United
Auto Workers, and the United Mine Workers. These organizations are urg-
ing their local leaders to cooperate with you in such an effort, if at
all possible.
We are aware that many Americans cannot find suitable employment.
The refugees will be seeking, for the main part, entry-level jobs or
other positions which often 60 unfilled, or have high turnover rates.
These positions are, therefore, frequently available, even in areas of
rather high unemployment.
It may be helpful to understand the size of this task on a
national basis. There were originally 131,000 persons to be resettled.
Some are professional people, such as doctors and nurses, who are in
demand and need no special help. About 5,000 will return to Victnam.
Some are expected to enlist in the U. S. military service. And over 60
2
percent of the refugees are women and children. This breakdown means,
according to the President's Advisory Committee on Refugees, that only
about 35,000 persons must have help in finding employment. This works
out to about 10 jobs for each county though, of course, some counties
will receive more families than others. Even so, it is expected that
finding jobs will be a major problem primarily in areas of severe unem-
ployment, and efforts are being made to locate families in more favorable
areas.
I am enclosing material provided by President Ford's Inter-Agency
Refugee Task Force, and hope that you will make this information available
to your business leaders and leaders of other organizations. You will
notice on pages 1 and 2 a list of the national voluntary agencies parti-
cipating in this effort. These agencies are assuming primary responsi-
bility for locating American families that will house Vietnamese families
for the first few months. For additional information, you may want to
call any of these national organizations, or their state or local chapter,
or the toll-free number listed. You may also want to call your governor's
office to learn which state government department is working with the vol-
untary agencies.
A question often asked is the status of Vietnamese with respect to
affirmative action and other EEOC requirements. The Department of Labor
has officially declared the Victnamese as Oriental and, therefore, their
employment may be in furtherance of an affirmative action program.
The AFL-CIO has asked its local councils to try to find employment
for the refugees, but arrangements will have to be worked out on an indi-
vidual basis by labor and management representatives. This can be one task
of a labor-management-government committee.
Please let me know if there is more we can do to assist you from
here. I will be interested in learning of your successes and problems.
Sincerely,
Richard L. Lesher
Enclosure
ANNEX G
EXHIBITS
1.
Report of Vietnamese/Cambodian
Volunteer Meeting in June 1975.
2.
Report of Vietnamese/Cambodian
Volunteer Meeting in July 1975.
REPORT OF VIETNAMESE/CAMBODIAN VOLUNTEER MEETING
JUNE 19, 1975
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 24, 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR:
CHAIRMAN EISENHOWER
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
FROM:
ROGER D. SEMERAD
The
SUBJECT:
REPORT OF THE VIETNAMESE/CAMBODIAN
ADVISORY GROUP MEETING, JUNE 19, 1975
The purpose of the Victnamese/Cambodian Advisory Group meeting
was to acquaint the Committee with the observations and recom-
mendations of a representative cross section of the Victnamese
and Cambodian population in the United States. of the seventeen
Victnamese and Cambodian participants at the meeting, nine had
been processed through the Stateside refugee camps; the others
had either departed in advance of the mass evacuation or were
long-term residents of the United States. Fifteen of the par-
ticipants were Victnamese and two were Cumbodian.
The participants were fluent in English and would be characterized
as members of the professional class. The group was concerned
that the needs of the poorer and less well educated refugees must
also be considered and suggested the broadening of the social
base of the advisory group.
This report presents an abstract of the discussion by the Advisory
Group of each particular problem or issue, followed by the solu-
tion recommended by the Advisory Group. Where appropriate, the
recommendation also indicates Committee staff comments.
Copies of this report, minutes of the Advisory Group meeting, and
any decisions or instruction of the Committee will be transmitted
to the Interagency Task Force.
I. Refugee Processing/Camp Life
Discussion
The Vietnamese/Cambodian advisory group indicated an area in need
of immediate attention concerned the initial phases of resettle-
ment. There was general agreement that there was an overall
lack of coordination and insufficient information available for
3
II. Volunteer Agencics/Sponsorship
Discussion
It was noted that numerous refugees who had sponsors were still
in camps because of problems in security clearances, health
checks, etc. In some cases the sponsorship offers have been
pending for weeks.
The participants were concerned about the lack of uniformity in
terms of the processing and procedural standards of the various
volunteer agencies, the types of assistance afforded to the
refugees, and the dollar amounts expended on behalf of the refugees.
Lack of follow-up by the volunteer agencies subsequent to place-
ment was noted. This follow-up would involve additional work
on behalf of the refugee and the sponsor that is not specifically
requested by either the refugee or the sponsor. Knowledge of
this lack of follow-up or "sponsor guarantee" has led to reluctance
on the part of some refugees to accept sponsorship.
The question was asked: Could provisions be made for a pass-through
of funds directly to the spensor where there is direct sponsorship
and no voluntary agency participation? Specifically, may the
financial amount authorized to the VOLAG ($500 per individual)
be directly allocated to the refugee family and sponsor in those
cases where there is no direct participation or intermediary
sponsorship or support by the voluntary agencies?
Advisory Group Recommendation
- That VOLAGS streamline their placement programs in order to
avoid delays in those cases in which a sponsor has been
identified.
- That the voluntary agencies be urged to standardize benefits
in terms of what they offer the refugee families.
- That VOLAGS be encouraged to follow-up on all placements.
- That the requirements and duties of sponsorship be more clearly
explained.
Staff Comment
In the past, processing delays had been due in part to delays in
securing security clearances. According to the IATF, security
clearances are no longer a cause of delay. With reference to the
pass-through of funds directly to the sponsor/refugee, a modified
pass-through of funds is contemplated in the Red Cross sponsorship
verification proposal.
4
III. Education/Language/Vocational Training
Discussion
It was noted that the language training and orientation in camps
has been done primarily by American volunteer teachers and that
this instruction has not been sufficient. The language diffi-
culties of the mass of refugees will not be significantly helped
by these generally haphazard voluntary efforts.
The less educated refugees will be faced with the prospect of
an uneasy resettlement unless they are better prepared.
Advisory Group Recommendations
- That a two- or threë-month intensive language program be funded.
- That intensive, professionally-run, English language and
cultural orientation classes be set up to provide:
a) language training for adults to build their confidence
and knowledge for daily living,
b) technical language training for particular occupations, and
c) language training and other appropriate classes for
children who will enter elementary or secondary schools
in the fall.
Also, some special consideration need be given for home economics
type training for mothers and other women in terms of educating
them in pertinent American cultural standards.
- That some of the children be sent to summer camps so that they
may associate with American children and more readily learn
the language and American culture.
- That vocational orientation and training programs be set up
in the camps to provide thorough preparation for resettlement
of less educated and the unskilled.
IV. Legal Status/Employment/Eligibility for Various Governmental
Program/Military Daty/Fanily Reunification
Discussion
There was considerable discussion as to the eligibility of parolees
and permanent resident aliens for numerous governmental programs:
business loans, housing loans, employment assistance, and other
programs,
5
Since employment restrictions are in some cases applicable for
parolees, but not for permanent resident aliens, can anything
be done to accelerate the transition of the refugees to permanent
resident aliens?
It was also noted that significant numbers of the refugees are
unmarried males of military age. These men could face significant
problems in receiving sponsorship and useful vocational training.
Many refugees are concerned about the location and status of their
relatives in other countries.
Advisory Group Recommendations
- That enlistment in armed forces be made available as an alter-
native to current sponsorship procedures.
- That representatives of the Office of Minority Business Enter-
prise, the Small Business Administration (HEW), Office of
Education (HEW), Social Rehabilitation Service (HEW), Social
Security (HEW), Department of Housing and Urban Development,
and the Department of Defense be invited to the next meeting
to be available to answer questions to explain the assistance
that is available to the refugees and that this information be
distributed to both the comps and resettled refugees.
- That information be made available concerning those skill
categories for which there is a demand in the United States.
- That information on the parole status on family members in
third countries, as well as in Vietnam and Cambodia, be made
available to the refugees in U.S. processing centers.
Staff Comment
The suggestion that military service be made available as an
alternative to sponsorship is particularly noteworthy.
V. Other Items
A. Self-Help Programs/Communities
Would there be any governmental financial support available for
any farming or fishing communities or any self-help programs that
could be established to take care of large numbers of refugees?
B. Housing
In terms of housing and the availability of housing, considerable
comments centered around the fact that the Federal and local
governments hold title to numerous housing units. These units
6
are vaçant, non-productive, and may be well utilized as temporary
housing on a rent-free or some other basis by the refugees.
This involves a short-term commitment with the understanding
that the expenses and the costs of upgrading the housing would
be borne by the sponsor or the refugee.
Staff Comment
Both questions are under review by the Committee staff and the
Interagency Task Force.
REPORT OF VIETNAMESE/CAMBODIAN VOLUNTEER MEETING
JULY 17, 1975
THE PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REFUGEES
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20506
July 22, 1974
AMBASSADOR JOHN EISENHOWER
MR. ROGER D. SEMERAD
CHAIRMAN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
(202) 456.7034
MAYOR JOSEPH ALIOTO
ARCHEISHOP JOSEPH BERNARDIN
MR. ASHEY BOYLE
Dr. W. STEALING CARY
MR. JOHN DENVER
Mrs. GAETANA ENDERS
GOVERNOR DANIEL EVANS
MAYOR MAURICE FERRE
MEMORANDUM FOR:
CHAIRMAN JOHN EISENHOWER
MR. MINOR GEORGE
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
MR. EDGAR KAISER
MR. PHILIP KLUTZNICK
FROM:
ROGER D. SEMERAD
MR. WILLIAM J. KUHFUES
THB
MR. GEORGE MEANY
MR. CLARKE RECD
SUBJECT:
REPORT OF THE CAMBODIAN/
Dr. MALCOLM TODO
VIETNAMESE ADVISORY GROUP
ELOCR A. THEODORE TUTTLE
MEETING, JULY 17, 1975
The second meeting of the Vietnanese/Cambodian
Advisory Group focused on the problems of the
refugees after departure from camp. Cultural
adjustment, social problems, employment problems
and eligibility for various Federal assistance
programs were discussed. Representatives of
various Federal Agencies explained and discussed
the scope and cligibility of those governmental
programs pertinent to the resettlement effort.
I. PROBLEMS OF TRANSITION FROM CAMP LIFE
The Vietnamese and Cambodian Advisory Group
identified the lack of information dealing with
what the refugees may expect to encounter upon
release from a camp as a particularly significant
problem. The Advisory Group contended that
refugees are particularly vulnerable to rumors and
misinformation since no authoritative source of
I
information has been identified for the refugees.
Additionally, problems of information are of
greater significance for those refugees who are
not resettled in areas containing concentrations
of refugees.
A. The Vietnmese and Cambodian Advisory
Committee recommended that a partial solution to
the problems of isolation, misinformation, and
cultural adjustment could be made if the
following three courses of action were endorsed by
the Government:
1.
Vietnamese and Cambodian Telephone
Information Hot Line. The Vietnamese/
Cambodian Advisory Group recommended
that a toll-free telephone information
number be established with Vietnamese
and Cambodian operators available to
provide general information concerning
Government programs, other types of
assistance, and contact with the voluntary
agencies. If such à telephone number
were available then any refugee who
was stranded or found themselves in some
manner of trouble would have an immediate
resource to contact in order to find out
what should be done, and possibly preclude
these categories of problems or abuses
which arise from linguistic difficulties.
2. Visits to the Camps. The Victnamese/
Cambodian Advisory Group recommended
that the Federal Government both en-
courage and take an active role in
sponsoring visits to the camps by
refugees who have been resettled. The
fears and apprehensions of those refugees
still in camp may be lessened by contact
with others who have gone through the
rescttlement system, have been well
treated, have found employment, and
have otherwise become established.
3. Cultural Centers. The Vietnamese/
Cambodian Advisory Group recommended
that the Federal Government encourage
the establishment of cultural and
information centers in areas with
significant concentrations of refugees.
(These centers could serve as a focal
point for the exchange of ideas and
information.) It is believed that
contact with other refugees should be
encouraged to minimize the social and
cultural isolation common to any abrupt
change in life.
2
B.
At the conclusion of the session, the
Vietnamese and Cambodian Advisory Group selected
three representatives to represent the Advisory
Group at this meeting of the President's Advisory
Committee. The individuals selected were: Dr.
Tran Dinh De, Miss Le Thi Ahn, and Mrs. Pan Sothi.
II. FEDERAL AGENCY PARTICIPATION.
Representatives of eleven Federal Agencies or
Administrations made presentations to the Vietnamese/
Cambodian Advisory Group concerning the assistance
programs available to resident aliens and parolees.
The Advisory Group was particularly interested in
a number of the programs and indicated that the
presentations of the Federal Agency representatives
were very helpful in understanding what forms of
assistance could be available to the refugees.
The fact-sheets and other documents provided by
the Federal Agencies were made available to the
editors of several of the Vietnamese and Cambodian
periodicals, to be translated and distributed
within the refugee community. Additionally,
arrangements have been made to provide the Inter-
agency Task Force with the same documents and
materials so that an abstract of the various
Federal Agency programs may be prepared for dis-
tribution within the camps.
III. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS
A. That the Committee endorse the continuation
of the Vietnamese/Cambodian Advisory Group and
authorize such staff support as required.
B. That the Committee authorize the payment
of travel and other expenses for Vietnamese and
Cambodian nationals engaged in public information
activities or other appropriate activities, as
directed by the Committee.
3
ANNEX H
Policy Statement on Refugee
Service in United States Military
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE POLICY STATEMENT ON
REFUGEE SERVICE IN U.S. ARMED FORCES
TAB A
Eligibility of Vietnamese and Carbodian Refugees for Enlistment or
Apuointment in the Armed Forces
Eligibility for Enlistment
Regulars
Army
10 U.S.C. 3253(c) -- To be eligible for an original enlistment
in the Regular Army, applicant must be a citizen or lawfully
admitted for permanent residence.
Navy and Marine Corps
No Applicable Statute There is no statute in the Navy requiring
citizenship as a condition for enlistment. Accordingly, under the
law, the Havy could enlist aliens. However, the Secretary of the
Navy by regulation has the same rule as the Army -- i.e., applicant
must either be a citizen or lawfully admitted for permanent residence ---
except with respect to Filipino citizens, who are admitted under an
existing treaty obligation.
Air Force
10 U.S.C. 8253 -- To be eligible for original enlistment in the
Regular Air Force, applicant must be a citizen or lawfully
admitted for permanent residence.
Conclusion: To be eligible for enlistment in the Regular components,
except for the Navy and Marine Corps, applicant must either be a citizen
or lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
Reserves
10 U.S.C. 510 -- Governs all Services with regard to eligibility for
original enlistment in the Reserves. It provides that, in order to be
eligible to enlist as a Reserve of any Service, applicant must either
be a citizen or lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
Eligibility for Appointment As An Officer
Regulars
FORDA & GERALD LIBRARY
Army
10 U.S.C. 3285 -- To be eligible for original appointment in the
Regular Army, except in the Medical or Dental Corps, applicant
must be " citizen.
10 U.S.C. 2004 -- To be eligible for original appointment in the
Navy and Marine Corps
10 U.S.C. 5571 -- To be eligible for original appointment in the
Regular Navy or Marine Corps, including the Medical and Dental
Corps, applicant must be a citizen.
Air Force
10 U.S.C. 8285 -- To be eligible for original appointment in the
Regular Air Force, except medical or dental officers, applicant
must be a citizen.
10 U.S.C. 8294 -- To be eligible for original appointment in the
Regular Air Force as a medical or dental officer, applicant must
be a citizen.
Reserves
10 U.S.C. 591 -- To be eligible for original appointment as a
Reserve officer of any Service, applicant must be a citizen or
lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
Medical end Dental Officers Selective Service Act
Section 5(a) (1) of the Military Selective Service Act, as amended
(50 U.S.C. App. 455(a)(1) ) -- when the draft was in effect, this
provision permitted alien physicians and dentists to be drafted into,
or voluntarily be commissioned in, the armed forces. However, this
provision lest its legal effect along with the authority to induct on
July 1, 1973, and no longer provides authority for aliens to become
doctors in the armed forces (sce attached inemo dated August 21, 1973).
Conclusion: In order to be eligible for original appointment in a
Regular component of any Service, the applicant must be a citizen.
In order to be eligible for appointment as a Reserve officer in any
Service, applicant must either be a citizen or lawfully admitted for
permanent residence.
Commissioning of Alien Medical and Dental Officers
The commissioning of alien physicians and dentists as reserve officers
under 10 U.S.C. 591 is authorized providing they have been lawfully
admitted to the United States for permanent residence.
Section 5 of the "ilitary Selective Service Act did not expire on
July 1. 1973; only the authority to induct, under section 17(c) of the
Act., expired on that date. However, the provision in section 5 allowing
the considesioning of and denticts applied only to persons
who are "lisble for induction under section lo of this title. "Since there
is no longer any authority to induct persors under the Act (except for those
previously deferred under the Act), there are no longer any new people
"liable for induction. A person subject to the Act is liable after July
1, 1975, only for registering, taking his physical, and being classified
(unless he was previously deferred).
Accordingly, with regard to Regular commissioned officers, there is no
longer authority in the Military Selective Service Act or elsewhere to
commission alien medical and dental officers as Regulars. In the absence
of that provision, the permanent statutes in title 10 governing the
qualifications for redical and dental officers in the Regular components
become applicable. Those provisions require, with respect to Regular
commissioned officers in all of the military departments, that the
applicant be a citizen of the United States (10 U.S.C. 3294, 5571, and
8294).
However, there is still authority in title 10 to commission alien
physicians and dentists as Reserve officers. 10 U.S.C. 591 provides
that an applicant for a Reserve commission must either be a citizen
of the United States or else have been lawfully admitted to the United
States for permanent residence under chapter 12 of title 8. Alien physicians
and dentists in the latter category are therefore eligible for Réserve
commissions.
3
ANNEX I
Department of Labor Policy Statement of Licensing
and Certification
EXHIBITS
1. Letter from Roger D. Semerad to William H. Kolberg,
July 14, 1975
2.
Letter from William H. Kolberg to Roger D. Semerad,
July 22, 1975
Civil Service Commission Policy Statement on Refugee
Employment as Federal Civil Servants
EXHIBITS
1.
Letter from John S. D. Eisenhower to Robert E.
Hampton, July 7, 1975
2. Letter from Robert E. Hampton to John S. D.
Eisenhower, July 22, 1975
July 14, 1975
Dear Bill,
This letter is to request information on an issue
concerning the settlement of the refugees from
Vietnam and Cambodia.
At a meeting of The President's Advisory Committee
on Refugees, it was reported that individuals ad-
mitted in the United States as "parolees" are cx-
cluded from employment in a number of industries,
may not receive certain licenses or certifications
and are otherwise prohibitcá from certain career
fields.
If this is true then the bars to employment would
appear to pose an obstacle to the successful inte-
gration of the refugees into American society.
In order for this question to be discussed and evalu-
ated by the Committee, it is essential that addi-
tional information be made available concerning this
question. For example: How widespread is this prac-
tice? Which industries, occupational groups, pro-
fessional groups, or labor organizations are di-
rectly affected or involved? What is the legal
basis for this practice?
Accordingly, could you explore these questions and
advise me of your findings? If. you determine that
this is a widespread practice, your recommendations,
including any steps that can be taken to correct or
mitigate this practice, would be appreciated. The
next meeting of the Advisory Committee is scheduled
for July 23rd and I would be very grateful of you
could furnish this information in time for that
meeting.
2
In view of the brief period available, perhaps this
information could be in the form of a progress report,
preliminary findings, or even an oral presentation to
the Advisory Committee. I have asked Mr. Walter Kallaur
of my staff to work with your people in this matter.
Your assistance and cooperation will be greatly appre-
ciated.
Warm personal regards,
Sincerely,
Roger D. Semerad
Mr. William H. Kolberg
Assistant Secretary for Manpower
Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue
Washington, D. C. 20210
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR POLICY STATEMENT ON
LICENSING AND CERTIFICATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR MANPOWER
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20210
JUL 22 1975
Mr. Roger D. Semerad
Executive Director
The President's Advisory
Committee on Refugees
Washington, D.C. 20506
Dear Roger:
In response to your letter of July 14, requesting information
regarding the licensing and/or certification for "parolees"
from Vietnam and Cambodia, there is no practical solution to
the problem from a national level.
The problem itself, of course, is nationwide because it crosses
many geographical, technical and professional areas of
licensing such as for doctors, lawyers, health professions and
gets into the trades as well. Each State, however, has
specific and varying regulations and even the community or
municipality may have its own additional code 50 the nation-
wide problem is one of non-uniformity.
Once a refugee parolec has been resettled, the sponsor and
refugee should be working with the local associations of
the professional or trade group for certification or
licensing of the individual refugee. It may be helpful, for
example, for the AMA to become involved and advise member
organizations of the problem. Perhaps they could institute
a program for refugees who are potential members of their
profession. Some doctors have been employed (70 out of Fort
Chaffee) as para-medics, who in many States do not require
licensing as yet. This uses their medical training at least
partially and also exposes them to daily use of the English
language. As with the Cuban refugee program, it takes several
years for many professionals to meet the additional require-
ments for certification, including speaking and writing the
English language, which is also necessary in order to be
certified.
As far as labor organizations are concerned, this again is
a local issue which one of your members, Mr. George Meany,
has addressed several times. Local labor-management
contracts affect the ability of. persons to enter the
apprenticeable trades. Perhaps a study of the question of
- 2 -
permitting special reciprocity for these refugees is one
that your organization could promote with the trade unions.
Enclosed for your additional information are some statistics
regarding occupational skills of the refugees who have been
resettled and have appeared in local employment security
offices for job search assistance.
My staff is willing to help you in any way possible. You
may wish to contact James Klein directly for additional
specific information. His telephone number if 376-6848.
Sincerely,
WILLIAM Bill II. KOLBERG
Assistant Secretary for Manpower
Enclosures
THE PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REFUGEES
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20506
JUL 7 1975
AMBASSADOR JOHN EISENHOWER
MR. Roosa D. SEMERAD
CHAIRMAN
ESECUTIVE DIRECTOR
(202) 456.7034
MATOR JOSEPH ALIOTO
ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH BERNARDIN
MR. ASHEY DOYLE
Dr. W. STERLING CARY
MR. JOHN DENVER
MRs. GAETANA ENDERS
GOVERNOR DANIEL EVANS
MAYOR MAURICE FERRE
Mr. MINOR GEORGE
Dear Mr. Hampton:
MR. EDGAR KAISER
Me. PHILIP KLUTENICK
This letter is to request information on an issue
MR. WILLIAM J. KUHFUSS
concerning the settlement of the refugees from
MR. GEORGE MEANY
Vietnam and Cambodia.
Ma. CLARKE RECD
DR. MALCOLM TODD
ELDER A. THRODORE TUTTLE
At a meeting of the President's Advisory Committee
on Refugees, it was reported that individuals
admitted in the United States as "parolees" are
excluded from employment in a number of industries,
may not receive certain licenses or certifications
and are otherwise prohibited from certain career
fields.
If this is true then the bars to employment would
appear to pose an obstacle to the successful
integration of the refugees into American society.
In order for this question to be discussed and
evaluated by the Committee, it is essential that
additional information be made available concerning
this question. For example: How widespread is
this practice? Which industries, occupational
groups, professional groups, or labor organizations
are directly affected or involved? What is the
legal basis for this practice?
Accordingly, I am requesting that you explore this
question and advise me of your findings. If
you determine that this is a widespread practice,
I request that you also advise of your recom-
mendations, including any steps that can be taken
to correct or mitigate this practice. The next
meeting of the Advisory Committee is scheduled
for July 23rd and I would be very grateful if you
could furnish this information in time for that
meeting.
In view of the brief period available, this information
could be in the form of a progress report, preliminary
findings, or even an oral presentation to the Advisory
Committee. I have asked Mr. Walter Kallaur of the
Advisory Committee staff to work with your agency in
this matter.
Your assistance and cooperation will be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
John John S. D. Eisenhower
Chairman
President's Advisory Committee
on Refugees
Honorable Robert E. Hampton
Chairman
Civil Service Commission
1900 E Street
Washington, D. C. 20415
SERVICE
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION POLICY STATEMENT ON
REFUGEE EMPLOYMENT AS FEDERAL CIVIL SERVANT
THE
UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
IN REPLY PLEASE BLTER to
D
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20415
JUL 22 1975
YOUR BEFERENCE
Honorable John S. D. Eisenhower
Chairman, President's Advisory Committee
on Refugees
Washington, D.C. 20506
Dear Mr. Chairman:
This will confirm information provided to Mr. Kallaur by Mr. "Connor
of my staff, in response to your July 7 letter seeking information
about employment obstacles which Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees
in the United States may encounter.
The Commission can only speak to employment requirements within the
Federal civil service. The Departments of Commerce and Labor would
be in the best position to provide a general picture of employment
requirements in private business and industry. Within the Federal
service, the head of each agency. has general authority to select and
appoint his employees, subject to various statutes and regulations.
When an agency appointing official wishes Lo engloy a national of
Cambodia or Victnam, or any other noncitizen, there are two special
requirements he must consider which do not apply to United States
citizens--a general appropriation act pay restriction and a Civil
Service Commission regulation.
The general appropriation act restriction, recnacted annually since
the late 1930's, prohibits Federal agencies from using appropriated
funds to pay the salaries of noncitizen employees if their post of
duty is in the continental United States. Certain exceptions are
provided to agencies in the appropriation act, for instance, nationals
of countries allied with the United States in the current defense
effort, translators for temporary periods, and emergency appointments
not exceeding 60 days in the field service. Further, provisions in
specific statutes directly grant certain agencies full or partial
exemptions from the general appropriation act pay restriction.
Exemptions include all positions in the Department of Defense,
and expert, scientific, technical, or professional positions in the
Energy Research and Development Administration. Each agency head
is responsible for complying with the appropriation act restriction
and related exceptions.
THE MERIT SYSTEM-A GOOD INVESTMENT IN GOOD GOVERNMENT
2.
The other requirement a Federal official must consider before employing
a noncitizen is the Civil Service Commission's longstanding regulation
which prohibits noncitizens from admission to competitive examinations
and, except in emergencies or other special circumstances, from appoint-
ment to jobs in the cempetitive civil service. The Commission is re-
sponsible for regulating employment in the competitive service, which
comprises over 60 percent of the jobs in the total Federal civil service.
The remainder, called the excepted service, is not subject to the
Commission's employment regulations. Our regulations, including the
one on citizenship, do not apply to the Postal Service, Tennessee Valley
Authority, or other agencies excepted by or under statute from the com-
petitive service. Agencies with positions in the excepted service
determine their own appointing policies subject, of course, to appropria-
tion act pay restrictions. The Postal Service, for example, has decided
to permit its post offices to hire aliens in the absence of qualified
citizens.
Under our regulations, employment of noncitizens is possible if no
qualified citizens are available. Hiring an alien under this authority
temporarily removes the position in which he is placed from the com-
petitive to the excepted service during his occupancy. Under our
regulations, we also can administratively except appointments from the
usual competitive examining requirements when it is not practical to
hold competitive examinations for certain types of employment.
After considering the needs of Federal agencies responsible for directly
assisting the Indochina refugee program, we have authorized an exemp-
tion from competitive examination to permit those agencies to appoint
for up to 2 years noncitizens previously employed by Federal agencies in
Vietnam or Cambodia for work directly assisting the refugee program.
In addition, we are exploring with the Department of Health, Education,
and Welfare that agency's proposal to hire up to 25 Vietnamese physicians
in the absence of qualified citizens.
With one possible exception, I do not anticipate any further change in
the near future in the Commission's policy on employment of aliens in
the Federal competitive service. There is a case, Hampton v. Mona,
which the Supreme Court plans to hear in the fall, concerning the
constitutionality of our citizenship regulation for the competitive
service. An unfavorable decision could significantly affect our
policy. However, the general appropriation act restriction would
remain since it is not at issue in the case.
3.
The circumstances in which aliens can be employed in the Federal civil
service are restricted by law and by regulation; but such employment
is permitted under specific conditions. I hope the answers provided
here will be sufficient to satisfy the Committee's need for information
from the Commission for your July 23 meeting.
Sincerely yours,
Rolut Hunpbn
Robert E. Hampton
Chairman
ANNEX J
Letter signed by President Ford
September 22, 1975
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
September 22, 1975
I warmly encourage the young people of America to
participate in Project FRIENDSHIP by extending ?
hand of welcome to the young refugees from Southeast
Asia who will be your new classmates and neighbors.
These young people need friends to become acquaints d
with America's culture, customs and language. There
is no one better able to help them than you who are in
their age group.
Your assistance will reflect the warmth and friendship
GO typical of America which is known throughout the
world as a Nation of Brotherhood.
Nessel R. Ford
ANNEX K
Record of events pertaining to termination of
President's Advisory Committee on Refugees
public relations program.
RECORD OF EVENTS PERTAINING TO TERMINATION OF
PACR PUBLIC RELATIONS PROGRAM
THE PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REFUGEES
WASHINGTON. D.C. 2050G
AMBAESADOR JOHN EISENHOWER
MR. ROCER D. SEMERAD
CHAINMAN
July 16, 1975
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
(202) 456.7014
MAYOR JOSEPH ALIOTO
ARCHDISHOP JOSEPH RERNARDIN
Mn. ASHEY BOYLE
Da. W. STERLING CARY
Ms. JOHN DENVER
Mrs. GAETANA CNDERS
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
GOVERNOR DANIEL EVANS
MAYOR MAURICE FERRE
Mr. Hinon GEORGE
FROM:
ROGER D. SEMERAD
MR. EDGAR KAISER
MR. PHILIP KLUTZNICK
SUBJECT:
EVENTS LEADING TO CESSATION OF
Six. WILLIAM J. KUHFUSS
THE PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE
P. GEORGE MEANY
ON REFUGEES PUBLIC RELATIONS/TV
Mr. CLARKE REED
WR. MALCOLM TOOO
PROJECT BY INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE
ELOIR A. THEODORE TOTTLE
June 10 Delaney contacted The Advertising Council (TAC)
on a national TV support campaign on sponsor-
ship.
June 11
TAC submitted material and proposal to Delaney.
Campaign would not be ready until mid-September
(most optimistic).
June 25
Motion made and carried by The President's
Advisory Committee on Refugees to implement
TV media spot.
June 26 Request made to the Interagency Task Force for
TV spot funding (Schorad to Ford) -- no reply.
Proposals from Airlic House/ESC/Tampeno (un-
solicited) received.
June 27 Request from Scmerad to R. DuBois, IATF (DOD)
for TV spot funding - no reply.
June 30
(a) PACR staff locate year-end funds at SRS,
DHEW.
(i)) Educational Systems Corp (ESC) selected as
contractor.
(c) ASE, DHSW agreet to Ict contract.
2
(d) All approvals secured and firm fixed price
contract negotiated for $225,000.
(e) Year-end funds changed from S&E to Special
Refugee Appropriation.
July 1
DHEW (Wortman) - Project now requires clearance
by Mrs. Taft. No problems expected.
July 2
Wortman to Semerad and Delaney. Mrs. Taft
still had not cleared contract.
July 3
(a) (Noon) J. Taft and Semerad agree on TV
spot contract. Mrs. Taft will "sign off
on contract on recommendation of PACR."
PACR staff will assume contract responsi-
bility; however, program development and
contract will be closely coordinated with
the IATF.
(b) (6:00 p.m.) Delaney met with J. Taft and
Gordon King (ESC) on the clearance of the
contract. J. Taft requested a detailed
budget and a demonstration of previous ESC
filming accomplishments. J. Taft expressed
concern over coordination with the IATF.
Delancy assured her that this would be done.
July 7
J. Taft informed Semorad that INTF has second
thoughts on contract and requires detailed
budget and demonstration of ESC capabilities.
July 10 IATF meeting with J. Taft, F. Weisner, E. Green,
J. Brady, Sewerad and Delaney at State Depart-
ment. TV spots pushing sponsorship is prenature
per J. Taft. IATF must develop a comprehensive
public affairs plan prior to any P.A. campaign.
ANNEX L
Theodore C. Marrs/Roger D. Semerad letter
to 340 National Service Agencies
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 16, 1975
Dear
I am sure you are supportive of the resettlement of
Southeast Asian refugees. If we are to quickly
assimilate those refugees into the American community,
our National resettlement program will require the
cooperation and assistance of organizations such as
yours.
We are enclosing for your information background papers,
guidelines and questions and answers that the President's
Advisory Committee has prepared. Please disseminate
this material as extensively as your resources permit.
Your support of this important effort is appreciated.
If you wish to serve in a more definite way in the
resettlement effort, please contact the Interagency
Task Force on Vietnam, Operations Center, Department
of State, Room 7516, Washington, D.C. 20520.
Sincerely,
Theodore C. Marrs
Special Assistant to the President
Roger D. Semerad
Executive Director
President's Advisory Committee
on Refugees
Letter sent to 340 service organizations and
related individuals:
AFL/CIO
ALCOA
American Enterprise Institute
American Field Service
Volunteers of America
Women in Community Service
YMCA
Zonta International