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30806005
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Letter from President Gerald R. Ford to Governor Robert D. Ray of Iowa Regarding Indochina Refugee Resettlement
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30806005
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Letter from President Gerald R. Ford to Governor Robert D. Ray of Iowa Regarding Indochina Refugee Resettlement
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White House Central Files Subject Files (Ford Administration)
White House Central Files Subject Files on National Security and Defense
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30806005
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11
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1975-07-11
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7
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1975
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e89556d2405ec310
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July 11, 1975
Dear Governor Ray:
As you know, on May 24, 1975, I signed into law
the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance
Act of 1975 to assist in the resettlement of
Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees who are seek-
ing new homes in the United States. Since then,
I have established an Interagency Task Force on
Refugees to coordinate the resettlement program
and to assure that it is accomplished as humanely
and expeditiously as possible. In addition, I
have appoined a Presidential Advisory Committee
to assist in this effort.
I am pleased to report that as of June 30th, more
than 41,000 of the 130,258 evacuees have joined
their families or sponsors in the United States
and are beginning to contribute to their new
communities. These refugees have been accorded
parole status, making them eligible to remain
in the United States indefinitely and to accept
employment. All refugees, except those few
deemed "self-sufficient", will be assigned
sponsors to assist in the resettlement process.
Sponsors may be individuals, families, service
organizations, churches or other groups. Com-
mitment as a sponsor, while not a legal one,
involves a clear moral obligation to help the
refugee to the best of the sponsor's ability.
FORD : GERALD LIBRARY
2
Many individuals and voluntary agencies are par-
ticipating in the resettlement program by locating
sponsors and facilitating the movement of refugees
from the four reception centers to their new homes.
These voluntary efforts have been exemplary, but
we should not expect that they alone will accomplish
this great humanitarian task as quickly as we would
all wish.
I am encouraged that a number of States and local
governments are developing programs to assist in
expediting the resettlement of the refugees into
their new communities. You have received infor-
mation from the Advisory Committee about one of
these programs which Governor Dan Evans launched
in Washington State. This successful effort has
led to placement of more than 500 refugees with
sponsors throughout the State.
The Interagency Task Force is now prepared to
contract with other States which choose to develop
their own resettlement programs. Funds are
available to support State efforts through
reimbursement of $500 for each refugee placed.
In addition, 100 percent federal reimbursement is
available to all States for Medicaid, financial
assistance, and social services provided to
refugees. Administrative costs related to the
provision of such services will also be reimbursed.
Financial support to help defray emergency costs
incurred by school districts, should they enroll
large numbers of refugee children, will also be
available. These programs are further described
in materials being transmitted to your State
agencies through existing channels.
I have asked the Federal Regional Councils to
assist the Task Force by aiding State and local
governments in the development of programs which
they wish to undertake. You may expect to hear
from a representative of the Federal Regional
Council in the near future.
FORD is LIBRARY 028ALD
3
Whether or not you choose to lead a resettlement
effort in your State, your leadership in assuring
State agency and private organization support of
sponsoring families and individuals will provide
invaluable assistance to this effort.
The responses of thousands of individuals and the
untiring efforts of voluntary agencies have dem-
onstrated again the generosity of Americans toward
others seeking to find homes in our country. I
hope you will consider ways in which your State
may participate in this effort.
Sincerely,
GERALD R. FORD
The Honorable Robert D. Ray
Governor of Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
3
GRF OMB :ah
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
40