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The original documents are located in Box 12, folder "Indochina Refugees - Status
Reports" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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
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APR 28 1975
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
GERALD R. FORD LIBRARY PLEASE
ADDRESS REPLY TO
AT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536
April 28, 1975
AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.
CO 212.28a-P
VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #14
1. Associate Commissioner E. F. O'Connor was dispatched to Guam on Saturday,
April 26, 1975 to coordinate INS activities there. The assistant to
Mr. Powell, Supervisory Inspector Gullage has been sent to Wake Island
with a detail of 8 persons to set up an immigration inspection operation
at that location. Mr. O'Connor will be responsible for liaison activi-
ties in Guam with the press, post officials and agency representatives.
2. A World Airways flight arrived at Honolulu on April 26, 1975. Five
orphans were removed and taken to the hospital for treatment. Four
U. S. citizens also deplaned. The plane then proceeded to Oakland,
California, where 196 orphans, 11 adult Vietnamese attendants and one
British doctor were admitted as transits without visas. The group was
taken to the Presidio and when physically able to do so will be moved
forward by World Airways to Denmark. Thirty five additional Vietnamese
(five. singles and 30 family member groups) all undocumented, were placed
in deferred inspection status and housed in the Sadler Motor Inn in
Hayward, California at the request of and expense of World Airways.
There were a total of 252persons involved in this flight. It is of
interest to note that the orphans involved are the surviving members
of the Montagnard tribe of Vietnam. The ultimate plan is that Denmark
will return them to Vietnam when conditions permit.
3. On April 27, 1975, Mr. Jack Ryder, Washington representative of World
Airways requested permission to move the 110 aliens in deferred inspec-
tion status at Los Gatos, California Christian Church to the Sadler
Motor Inn noted in Item 2. This undocumented group was previously
brought to the United States by World Airways. Permission was granted
with the understanding that World Airways would continue responsibility
for the group and pay all expenses.
4. As of 7PM, April 28, 1975, 4,023 persons had been processed by our
officers on Guam. About 25 percent of these have been identified as
United States citizens. The remainder were aliens of the relative
group. The Air Force has advised our officers that they are running
about 2,000 behind in removing those processed to Mainland United States.
To expedite the movement of the group that has been processed, Mr. Powell
was authorized to waive security clearances until later for immediate
relatives and preference eligibles. In addition, Mr. Powell was authorized
to clear in his discretion, the parents and brothers and sisters of permanent
residents if consular records brought to Guam from Saigon showed that the
Digitized from Box 12 of the Theodore C. Marrs Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
- 2 -
individual had been checked with the CIA and had a negative record in
the consular file.
5. There are 39 officers and 32 clerks now on duty in Guam. Also, 5
officers and 4 clerks are in Wake. Eleven additional personnel are
en route.
Nreen James F. Greene
Deputy Commissioner
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
PLEASE ADDRESS REALY P.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536
May 1, 1975
AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.
CO 212.28a-P
VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - - #17
1) At the close of business on May 1, 1975, there were 27,640 evacuees
on Guam and 4,576 on Wake Island. There are a reported 40,000
evacuees en route to Guan by ship.
The following were cleared by INS on May 1, 1975:
FORD is LIBRARY
USC
Aliens
Wake
123
511
Guam
104
4,775
Total
227
5,286
The total number of evacuees who have been cleared by INS and still
remain on Guam is 8,097.
2) Evacuees began arriving in Camp Pendleton on April 29, 1975. Through
April 30, 1975, 2,728 had arrived and 1,263 had been processed and
departed from the base for final destinations in the United States.
97 were held for further processing.
3) Advance teams of immigration officers and clerks are at Camp Chaffee
and Camp Eglin. Camp Chaffee will become operational on May 2 and
Camp Eglin on May 3. These two camps will be long term operations
as compared to Camp Pendleton which will be a very short term
facility.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536
AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.
May 5, 1975
CO 212.28a-P
VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #19
FORD
At the close of business on May 5, 1975, the following represents the
DERALD
situation on Guam:
Total number of refugees received on Guam to date:
47,728
Total lifted out of Guam
20,433
Number now on Guam
26,743
Cleared by INS and waiting to be transported
(shortage of aircraft)
21,677
Category breakdown for Guam:
May 5, 1975
Cumulative
Category 1 (Relatives)
358
3,724
Category 2 (High Risk)
3,668
24,557
4,026
28,281
Aliens held on Guam with no category eligibility
2,234
Cleared persons staying with ineligibles
531
The latest figures for Wake as of the close of business May 3, 1975
are as follows:
Number of evacuees on Wake
4,318
Processed on May 3, 1975:
USC
Aliens
Wake
6
896
Processed by categories on May 3, 1975:
First (relatives)
119
Second (high risk)
777
896
Number of persons cleared by INS and waiting transportation to Mainland:
Wake
800+
- 2 -
The following represents the situation at Fort Eglin as of 6PM, May 4, 1975:
Cumulative
Arrivals
373
Processed (ready to go)
Aliens
164
Citizens
22
Dependents of USC's
28
Partially processed (no sponsor)
145
359
Not yet processed
14
373
At Fort Chaffee as of May 5, 1975 the following statistics are available:
Cumulative
Arrivals
2,695
Departures
22
Processed
2,045
USC
36
LPR
0
Vietnamese
1,994
Cambodians
5
Other
10
Holds
650
At Camp Pendleton the statistics as of 6AM, May 5, 1975 are as follows:
Daily
Cumulative
Arrivals
3,291
14,750
Departures
926
5,355
Processed:
USC
21
487
- 3 -
Daily
Cumulative
LPR
0
60
Vietnamese/Cambodians
828
4,896
Temporary hold
736
3,948
Other Indochina
0
4
James Aprena Greene
Deputy Commissioner
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536
AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.
May 6, 1975
CO 212.28a-P
VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT -- #20
At the close of business on May 6, 1975, 56,559 refugees had
been received on Guam. Of this number 25,523 had been lifted
out of Guam and the number remaining on Guam was 31,036.
Camp Pendleton has received as of 6AM, May 6, 1975, a total
of 16,651 evacuees. Of this number 5,910 have departed the
camp to relatives or agency sponsors. The remainder are in
various stages of processing.
Fort Chaffee has reported the arrival of 5,016 refugees of
whom 120 have departed and the remainder are in various stages
of processing.
Eglin Air Force Base has reported the arrival of 373 evacuees,
all of whom are in various stages of processing.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Inspections Thomas J. Brobson
was at Camp Pendleton from May 2, 1975 until May 4, 1975 to
oversee the operation there and will be at Fort Chaffee from
May 6, 1975 until May 8, 1975.
FORD
June James Greene
RALD
Deputy Commissioner
1975
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536
AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.
May 8, 1975
CO 212.28a-P
VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #22
At the close of business on May 8, 1975, 74,456 refugees had been received
on Guam. 32,251 had been lifted out of Guam and 42,205 had cleared Immi-
gration and were awaiting transportation. the remainder were in various
stages of processing.
Camp Pendleton has received 22,217 refugees. Of this number 6,735 have
departed and the remainder were in various stages of processing.
Fort Chaffee reports that it has received 9,059 refugees of whom 757 have
departed and the remainder are in various stages of processing.
Eglin Air Force Base has received 373 arrivals of whom 256 have cleared
Immigration.
Deputy Commissioner James F. Greene testified before the House Subcommittee
on Immigration, Citizenship and International Law, May 7, 1975. The authoriza-
tion bill for the program passed the Subcommittee with a minor modification.
FORD
&
GERALD
OFFICE OF RECEIVED THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL
MAY 8 1975
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536
AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.
May 9, 1975
CO 212. 28a-P
VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #23
At the close of business on May 9, 1975, 76,713 refugees had been received
on Guam. 39,275 had been lifted out of Guam and 21,747 had cleared Immi-
gration and were awaiting transportation. The remainder were in various
stages of processing.
Camp Pendleton has received 25,333 refugees. Of this number 6,948 have
departed and the remainder were in various stages of processing.
Fort Chaffee reports that it has received 10,578 refugees of whom 933 have
departed and the remainder are in various stages of processing.
Eglin Air Force Base has received 375 arrivals of whom 285 have cleared
Immigration.
General Chapman testified before the Senate Foreign Appropriations Sub-
committee on May 8, 1975.
The authorization bill for the Program which passed the House Subcommittee
on Immigration, Citizenship and International Law on May 7, 1975, passed the
full House Judiciary Committee on May 8, 1975.
FORD
Mar 9 1975
ATTORNEY GENERAL
OFFICE RECEIVED OF THE
THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE
Dr. Ted marro
Rm. 103- EOB
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536
May 12, 1975
AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.
CO 212.28a-P
VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #24
On May 12, 1975, there were 92,495 refugees who had been received on Guam.
63,271 had been processed and 13,521 were awaiting transportation to mainland
camps.
25,834 refugees have been received at Camp Pendleton. 7,253 have departed
and the remainder are in various stages of processing.
Fort Chaffee has received 19,789 of whom 1,145 have departed, with the
remainder in various stages of processing.
Eglin Air Force Base has received 2,777 with 236 departures. The remainder
are in various stages of processing.
General Chapman will testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
at 10AM on May 12, 1975. He is also scheduled to testify before the Defense
Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee at 2PM on May 12, 1975.
Deputy Commissioner James F. Greene accompanied the Task Force group on an
inspection trip to Camp Pendleton on May 10, returning on May 11, 1975.
FORD
GERALD
MAY 12 1975
ATTORNEY GENERAL
OFFICE OF THE
RECEIVED
THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE
Dr. Ted mark
Rm. 103-EOB
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Dr. marrs
PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536
AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.
CO 212.28a-P
May 13, 1975
VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - - #25
As of May 13, 1975, 102,925 refugees had been received on Guam.
53,036 had been lifted out of Guam and 49,889 remain, of which
17,254 have been processed by Immigration.
Camp Pendleton has received 25,834, of whom 7,253 have departed.
Fort Chaffee has received 22,586, of whom 1,290 have departed.
Eglin Air Force Base has received 2,777, of whom 263 have departed.
General Chapman will testify at 9:30 a.m. before the Senate Sub-
committee on Refugees and Escapees and at 2 p.m. before the Senate
Appropriations Committee.
assh Mrs League Schrie Beach
FORD + LIBRARY CERALD
MAY 13 1975
ATTORNEY GENERAL
OFFICE RECEIVED OF THE
D
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536
May 14, 1975
AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.
CO 212.28a-P
VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #26
As of May 14, 1975, 103,813 refugees had been received on Guam.
53,578 had been lifted out of Guam and 50,235 remain, of which 18,751
have been processed by Immigration.
Camp Pendleton has received 25,834, of whom 7,294 have departed.
Fort Chaffee has received 23,617, of whom 1,490 have departed.
Eglin Air Force Base has received 2,777, of whom 266 have departed.
Deputy Commissioner Greene is scheduled to give a briefing at 10:00 a.m. to
Subcommittee Chairman Eilberg and Representatives Fish, Sarbanes, and Cohen.
An Authorization and Appropriation Bill for Vietnamese/Cambodian Refugee
Assistance will be voted on today in the House.
FORD & 07VH2
MAY 141975 1975
ATTORNEY RECEIVED GENERAL
THE WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM
TIME SENT:
WHITE HOUSE
RECEIVED:
SITUATION ROOM
'75 MAY 17 PM 12.12
12:16
LDX NR: 502
PAGES: I
CIA
DIA/G
STATE
Y
DIA/H
NMCC
TREAS
ANMCC
NPIC
NSA
ERDA
X
FROM: VELMA SHELTON 2735
TO: AMB. DEAN BROWN
RM. 7516
FORD i LIBRARA BERALD
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 18, 1975
MEMO TO SITUATION ROOM
Please LDX to
Ambassador L. Dean Brown
Director
Interagency Task Force on Vietnam
Room 7516 - Operations Center
Department of State
Washington, D. C. 20520
Velmo H.Shalter
Velma H. Shelton
Room 103, Old EOB
Ext. 2735
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
MAY AT, 15 OFF TORNEY 1975 OF GENERAL THE RECEIVED
PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536
May 15, 1975
AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.
CO 212.28a-P
VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #27
As of May 15, 1975, 104,535 refugees had been received on Guam.
55,306 had been lifted out of Guam and 49,229 remain, of which 20,120
have been processed by Immigration.
Camp Pendleton has received 25,982, of whom 7,429 have departed.
Fort Chaffee has received 24,329, of whom 1,663 have departed.
Eglin Air Force Base has received 2,777, of whom 276 have departed.
At the request of the House Judiciary Committee, Deputy Commissioner
Greene and other Task Force members were present in the Speaker's Gallery
while the bill for Vietnam/Cambodia Refugee Assistance was being debated.
Regarding today's Washington Post story on the release of high level
Vietnam officials from camp, early directives included the authorization
to release certain highest level Vietnamese officials whose background
and activities were well-known to U. S. Government officials, prior to
the receipt of the results of a security check. This was part of the
effort to reduce the camp populations.
Following discussion with the chairman and ranking members of the House
Judiciary Committee on May 8, INS made a commitment to the Congressman
that all refugees except for close relatives of U. S. citizens and per-
manent resident aliens would be held at the camps until results of the
security check were obtained. At that time the earlier authorization
was rescinded.
The director of Camp Pendleton reports that to the best of his knowledge
only four persons were released under that authorization, and all were
destined to join relatives or other persons who had agreed to be respon-
sible for them.
Since the determination as to who is released and the conditions of release
is solely an Immigration Service responsibility, other agency representatives
are not routinely consulted with on these actions.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 18, 1975
MEMO TO SITUATION ROOM
Please LDX to
Ambassador L. Dean Brown
Director
Interagency Task Force on Vietnam
Room 7516 - Operations Center
Department of State
Washington, D. C. 20520
Velma H. Shelton
Room 103, Old EOB
Ext. 2735
R. FORD
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
5161.51 5261 51 1914
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536
May 15, 1975
AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.
CO 212.28a-P
VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #27
As of May 15, 1975, 104,535 refugees had been received on Guam.
55,306 had been lifted out of Guam and 49,229 remain, of which 20,120
have been processed by Immigration.
Camp Pendleton has received 25,982, of whom 7,429 have departed.
Fort Chaffee has received 24,329, of whom 1,663 have departed.
Eglin Air Force Base has received 2,777, of whom 276 have departed.
At the request of the House Judiciary Committee, Deputy Commissioner
Greene and other Task Force members were present in the Speaker's Gallery
while the bill for Vietnam/Cambodia Refugee Assistance was being debated.
Regarding today's Washington Post story on the release of high level
Vietnam officials from camp, early directives included the authorization
to release certain highest level Vietnamese officials whose background
and activities were well-known to U. S. Government officials, prior to
the receipt of the results of a security check. This was part of the
effort to reduce the camp populations.
Following discussion with the chairman and ranking members of the House
Judiciary Committee on May 8, INS made a commitment to the Congressmen
that all refugees except for close relatives of U. S. citizens and per-
manent resident aliens would be held at the camps until results of the
security check were obtained. At that time the earlier authorization
was rescinded,
The director of Camp Pendleton reports that to the best of his knowledge
only four persons were released under that authorization, and all were
destined to join relatives or other persons who had agreed to be respon-
sible for them.
Since the determination as to who is released and the conditions of release
is solely an Immigration Service responsibility, other agency representatives
are not routinely consulted with on these actions.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536
May 21, 1975
AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.
CO 212.28a-P
VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT -#31
As of May 21, 1975, 104,768 refugees had been received on Guam.
58,432 had been lifted out of Guam and 46,336 remain, of whom
28,997 have been processed by Immigration.
Camp Pendleton has received 26,039, of whom 8,049 have departed.
Fort Chaffee has received 26,214, of whom 2,494 have departed.
Eglin Air Force Base has received 4,494, of whom 413 have departed.
Plans are being completed to open the military camp at Indiantown
Gap, Pennsylvania on May 25, 1975, for the reception of refugees.
RECEIVED
OFFICE OF THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL
MAY 21 1975
FORD
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536
May 20, 1975
AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.
CO 212.28a-P
VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #30
As of May 20, 1975, 104,768 refugees had been received on Guam.
57,759 had been lifted out of Guam and 47,009 remain, of which 27,628
have been processed by Immigration.
Camp Pendleton has received 26,039, of whom 7,832 have departed,
Fort Chaffee has received 25,814, of whom 2,436 have departed.
Eglin Air Force Base has received 4,494, of whom 626 have departed.
MAY 20 1975
ATTORNEY GENERAL
OFFICE RECEIVED OF THE
THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE
Dr. Ted mass
Rm. 103-EaB
Refugees
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO
Fite
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536
AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.
CO 212.28a-P
May 27, 1975
VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT #34
As of May 27, 1975, 107,468 refugees had been received on Guam.
60,419 had been lifted out of Guam and 46,955 remain, of whom
34,996 have processed by Immigration.
Camp Pendleton has received 26,595, of whom 8,998 have departed.
Fort Chaffee has received 27,195, of whom 3,282 have departed.
Eglin Air Force Base has received 5,464, of whom 670 have departed.
President Ford signed the money authorization bill over the weekend.
An intensified program was begun to expedite clearances for refugees
who have sponsors, in order to move them quickly from the reception
centers and make space available for those presently on Guam.
The center at Indiantown Gap is staffed and operational, and expects
the first arrivals tomorrow.
FORD LIBRARK i LIBRAR GERALD
71 1975
OFFICE or THE
RECEIVED
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536
May 28, 1975
AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.
CO 212.28a-P
VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT #35
As of May 28, 1975, 107,468 refugees had been received on Guam.
60,974 had been lifted out of Guam and 46,400 remain, of whom
35,784 have been processed by Immigration.
Camp Pendleton has received 26,595, of whom 9,057 have departed.
Fort Chaffee has received 27,195, of whom 3,573 have departed.
Eglin Air Force Base has received 5,629, of whom 1,822 have departed.
The staff on Guam has been reduced from 80 to 52. OIC Powell ends
his detail on June 1.
The Wake Island staff will be reduced from 5 to 1 by May 30.
Three officers detailed to Hong Kong have returned to Guam.
PLAY 28 1975
ATTORNEY Ct NERAL
OFFICE OF THE
RECEIVED
THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE
Dr. T. Marrs
Cm. 103-ENB
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536
June 3, 1975
AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.
CO 212.28a-P
As of June 3, 1975, 107,964 refugees had been received on Guam.
68,986 had been lifted out of Guam and 38,873 remain, of whom
34,757 have been processed by Immigration.
Camp Pendleton has received 27,910, of whom 12,583 have departed.
Fort Chaffee has received 27,410, of whom 3,118 have departed.
Eglin Air Force Base has received 5,826, of whom 1,464 have departed.
Indiantown Gap has received 5,618, of whom 3 have departed.
Guam will start to receive 250 Vietnamese refugees per day from
Subic Bay and Clark Air Force Base. This should continue until
June 21.
Wake Island will receive 125 per week from Subic Bay.
On Thursday, the Guam force will be reduced to 23 officers and 27
clerks, 12 of the latter being local.
Also on Thursday 2 officers and 2 clerks from Wake will be returning
to their regions. This will leave only one officer. The people have
all had over 30 days on detail so when the New Refugees build up we
will again send officers if necessary. There are sufficient local
clerks to maintain the operation.
of is estimated Susm will have
a census of 10,000 by
FORD LIBRARY is GERALD
JUN 3 1975
ATTORNEY OFFICE RECEIVED ENERAL THE
OF
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536
June 5, 1975
AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.
CO 212.28a-P
VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT # 41
As of June 5, 1975, 108,310 refugees had been received on Guam.
71,704 had been lifted out of Guam and 36,301 remain, of whom
33,544 have been processed by Immigration.
Camp Pendleton has received 28,584, of whom 13,379 have departed.
Fort Chaffee has received 27,735, of whom 3,244 have departed.
Eglin Air Force Base has received 5,853, of whom 1,779 have departed.
Fort Indiantown Gap has received 8,515, of whom 16 have departed.
General Chapman is inspecting Fort Indiantown Gap today.
FORD LIBRARY & 07V030
JUN 5 1975
ATTORNEY GENERAL
OFFICE RECEIVED OF THE
INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20520
R File
July 3, 1975
9
MEMORANDUM FOR:
THE PRESIDENT
THROUGH:
Mr. James T. Lynn, Director, Office
of Management and Budget
FROM:
Julia Vadala Taft, Director,
Interagency Task Force
SUBJECT:
Status Report on the Indochina
Refugee Resettlement Program
Attached is the status report on the Indochina
Refugee Resettlement Program through July 3.
Attachment:
As stated.
cc:
Mr. Marrs
Mr. Eisenhower
RALD R. FORD
Mr. Semerad
Mr. Cannon
Mr. Oaxaca
Mr. Puritano
Mr. Barri
Mr. Blaydon
STATUS REPORT ON THE INDOCHINA REFUGEE
RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM - JULY 3
REFUGEE STATUS (as of July 3)
Total Refugees Entered US System
130,616
Total Released
47,657
US
43,126
3rd Countries
4,531
Repatriated
-0-
Avg. Daily Releases:
Week ending 7/3:
687
Week ending 6/26:
755
Week ending 6/19:
749
Week ending 6/12:
796
Total in US System
82,959
Total in the Pacific
19,243
Guam
10,602
Subic Bay
800
Wake Island
7,096
Other Asian Bases
745
Total US
63,536
Eglin AFB
5,563
Fort Chaffee
23,865
Camp Pendleton
17,620
Indiantown Gap
16,488
In Transit
180
PROBLEMS RESOLVED AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1. Resettlement Progress
At the end of May, there were about 63,000 refugees in
our overseas bases and in transit, and 46,000 in US reception
centers. As of today, we have about 19,000 overseas and
2
63,000 in the centers. Since the end of May, over 20,000
have been resettled in the US, and over 2,500 have been
placed in third countries.
2. Repatriates
All refugees from the stateside camps who have asked to
be repatriated were previously moved to Camp Pendleton. The
initial movement to Guam is beginning today. The repatriates
will stay on Guam until the Saigon authorities allow repatri-
ation.
3. Task Force Reorganization
The Task Force has just completed and submitted to OMB a
Management Plan which identifies objectives with detailed
supporting tasks, reorganizes the Task Force along functional
lines, and provides a detailed breakout of additional staff
requirements. OMB is reviewing this plan and will assist in
obtaining the necessary support from the departments. In
addition, the move to new and larger quarters, now in progress,
will also promote efficiency.
4. Director's Appearance on Hill
The Director is scheduled to appear the week of July 14
before the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and
International Law of the House Judiciary Committee. A previous
appearance was postponed, in lieu of which Mrs. Taft sent a
five page letter, dated June 25, to Subcommittee Chairman
Eilberg describing Task Force accomplishments and problems
to date.
5. Computer Capability Increase
Early in the resettlement effort, IBM offered the Task
Force, free of charge, the use of their 370/145 computer system.
That system having proved inadequate to Task Force needs, IBM
has now offered to upgrade it to a 370/158 system, affording
increased computer capacity. The computer is critical to
Task Force ability to process individual sponsorship offers
for transmittal to the voluntary agencies. Priority arrange-
ments for staff augmentation are in process.
3
6. State and Local Government Sponsorships
The Task Force has finalized sponsorship contracts with
Washington State (for 500 refugees) and Indianapolis (for
400) and is in negotiation with Maine, Texas, and Illinois
to reach similar arrangements. The Task Force is developing
a policy for State and local governments to act as resettle-
ment agents or to participate closely with existing ones.
A letter has been sent forward via OMB for Presidential
signature asking Governors to follow Washington State's lead.
It is extremely important that the letters be signed soon
so a major initiative can be launched with the assistance of
the Federal Regional Councils. The President's Advisory
Committee on Refugees sent the Governors a similar letter
this week.
7. Chairman Eilberg Visits Reception Center
Chairman Joshua Eilberg of the Subcommittee on Immigration,
Citizenship, and International Law of the House Judiciary
Committee visited the Indiantown Gap Reception Center July 2
in the company of the Director of the Task Force. Repre-
sentative Eilberg was pleased with the operation of the camp
and conveyed this to the press entourage.
8. Task Force Staff and Civil Coordinators Meet
The Director convened her top staff and the Civil Coor-
dinators of the four US camps and Guam for an all-day meeting
Sunday, June 29, in Washington. The meeting, which covered
every aspect of the resettlement effort, afforded the
participants a particularly useful forum within which to air
common concerns on a face-to-face basis.
9. General Quang
General Dang Van Quang, the former Special Assistant for
Military Affairs to President Thieu, who recently entered
Canada, may be about to be expelled by the authorities there.
Quang's reputation for corruption is likely to evoke protests
if he attempts to settle in the US.
PROBLEMS PENDING
1. Repatriation
The possibility of demonstrations by repatriates now at
Pendleton, but about to go to Guam, continues. A very small
4
group of agitators among the repatriates has threatened
disruptions if demands to return quickly to Saigon are not
met. While being careful in their statements to officials
and to the media, the self-appointed leaders of some of the
repatriates have indirectly communicated threats to back up
their demands with violence. The authorities in Saigon have
not yet agreed to accept the repatriates although the UNHCR
is continuing negotiations. In spite of the fact that the
UNHCR, not the US, is handling all repatriation negotiations,
this has not reduced the agitators' determination to pressure
the US for their immediate return to Vietnam. Once on Guam,
the repatriate agitators will probably try to continue, and
even to step up, their activities. The Governor of Guam is
concerned about possible negative impact on tourism; indeed,
we understand he may send you a cable on this matter.
As for the UNHCR, it has made no visible progress in
repatriating Indochinese who have asked to return to their
countries. The UNHCR attempt to return 44 Vietnamese to Viet-
nam from Thailand via tugboat aborted when the PRG demanded
to keep the tugboat as well. At the same time, two Vietnamese
did return to Vietnam the first known to have been repa-
triated but via the DRV Embassy in Vientiane rather than
under UNHCR auspices. The two had been GVN Embassy officials
in Kuala Lumpur.
2. Stranded Escapees Not in US System
We estimate that there are about 10,000 escapees stranded
in Thailand, Malaysia-Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea.
These people, who have been unable to find resettlement in the
country of first refuge or go on to third countries, are not
all able to enter the United States under the current parole
program. Our Government, therefore, must soon decide whether
to grant parole to additional refugees. Most of these escapees
are now in internment areas under difficult living conditions.
The joint leadership of the Senate has recommended that
we grant paroles to those refugees not now eligible. Repre-
sentatives of the US Catholic Bishops made the same
recommendation to you on June 18th.
INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA
file
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20520
William
July 11, 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR:
THE PRESIDENT
THROUGH:
Mr. James T. Lynn, Director, Office
of Management and Budget
FROM:
Julia Julia Taft
Vadala Taft, Director,
Interagency Task Force
SUBJECT:
Status Report on the Indochina
Refugee Resettlement Program
Attached is the status report on the Indochina
Refugee Resettlement Program through July 10, 1975.
Attachment:
As stated.
CC: Dr. Marrs
FORD LIBRAR, & GERALD
Mr. Eisenhower
Mr. Semerad
Mr. Cannon
Mr. Oaxaca
Mr. Puritano
Mr. Barri
Mr. Blaydon
STATUS REPORT ON THE INDOCHINA REFUGEE
RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM - JULY 10
REFUGEE STATUS (as of July 10)
Total Refugees Entered US System
130,866
Total Released
52,464
US
47,634
Third Countries
4,830
Repatriated
0
Avg. Daily Releases:
Week ending 7/10:
687
Week ending 7/3:
687
Week ending 6/26:
755
Week ending 6/19:
749
Week ending 6/12:
796
25,000
Total in US System
78,402
Total in the Pacific
15,968
103,000
Guam
8,588
Subic Bay
0
Wake Island
6,844
Other Asian Bases
536
Total US
62,117
Eglin
4,973
Fort Chaffee
23,333
Camp Pendleton
17,978
Indiantown Gap
15,833
In Transit
317
PROBLEMS RESOLVED AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
CLOSING OF SUBIC BAY CENTER
The last refugees left the processing center at Subic Bay
in the Philippines July 6. Subic Bay is thus the first of the
Pacific centers to close. There remains a total of 15,968
refugees in the U.S. system in the Pacific, at the following
locations: Guam 8588, Wake Island 6844, Clark AFB 91, Hickam AFB
109, and Thailand 336.
1 1 2
REPATRIATES TO GUAM
The majority of the refugees who have asked to be
repatriated have now left Camp Pendleton for Guam and those
remaining at Pendelton are leaving as military flights are
available. Despite fears of demonstrations or possibly more
serious disruptions by a small group of agitators who had been
criticizing the U.S. for allegedly hindering their return to
Vietnam, the flights have proceeded without incident.
VOLUNTARY AGENCIES OPTIMISTIC
The voluntary resettlement agencies have again revised
upward their estimates of their own resettlement capabilities.
A poll of agency representatives has revealed that the agencies
now feel they can resettle 104,000 refugees before the end of
the year. Their last estimate, made in late June, was 92,000,
an upward revision of a previous estimate of 65,000. The
voluntary agencies, therefore, are more confident of their
ability to move quickly in resettling refugees than at any time
since resettlement began. Voluntary agency ability to meet goals
remains to be proved. We continue, therefore, to supplement
their efforts by negotiating resettlement contracts with state and
local governments (see below) and by trying to interest non-
governmental entities in the resettlement task.
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
The Task Force continues to encourage state and local
governments to assume responsibility for refugees. We will send
an information package to all state governments as soon as the
President signs the letter to Governors requesting their
support. Cities and counties will receive similar packets
explaining ways in which they can help in resettlement. Having
concluded contracts with the State of Washington and with Indianapolis
the Task Force is in the final stages of negotiations with the
State of Maine. Cincinnati has expressed an interest in
resettling some 5,000 refugees, and we are studying their proposal.
VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND OTHER PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS AGREE TO COOPERATE
Interagency Task Force officials met July 5 in New York with
representatives of the nine voluntary agencies involved in refugee
resettlement and with representatives of some five additional
non-governmental organizations (NGO's), including United Way and
the YMCA. The NGO's expressed their willingness to assist the
resettlement agencies in mobilizing community resources to help
1 1 w
the Indochina refugees, and they agreed to meet with the agencies
this week to find ways of coordinating their efforts.
PRINTED MATERIALS FOR REFUGEES
The Task Force has printed and is presently distributing a
dual language orientation handbook for Vietnamese refugees. The
handbook describes life in America from several facets -- social,
economic, governmental -- and is designed for use by refugee and
sponsor together.
Also presently in distribution is a 1,500 word Vietnamese-
English phrase book, printed by the Red Cross and English-
Vietnamese dictionaries.
PROBLEMS PENDING
REPATRIATION EFFORT AT STANDSTILL
There has been no movement in the UNHCR effort to send
repatriates home. The authorities in Saigon have not yet been
willing to receive repatriates, though the UNHCR has forwarded
to Saigon the applications of some 600 Vietnamese who have
requested repatriation. In a trial effort last week, the UNHCR
made specific repatriation travel arrangements for a group of
44 Vietnamese to fly from Thailand to Saigon, but the PRG refused
to allow entry without the return of the tugboat on which the
repatriates were located. The U.S. Government has contested
the return of the tugboat since it may be American property.
The U.S. has refused to allow the tugboat to leave Thailand pending
a determination of U.S. legal claims to the asset. The Thais,
on the other hand, refused to allow the refugees to land in Thailand.
As of this writing, both tugboat and repatriates -- who were under
orders to wait off the Thai coast -- are missing. There has
been no contact with the boat since early in the week of July 7.
As for Cambodian repatriates, some 340 Khmer Army personnel
went home from Thailand in late May and early June as a result
of local arrangements without UNHCR involvement. About 100 of
them were reliably reported to have been executed. The Royal Thai
Government thereupon ceased its efforts to arrange further
repatriation of Khmers.
- 4 -
MEDIA CRITICISM OF ALLEGEDLY HIGH
SPONSORSHIP BREAKDOWN RATE
1
The Washington Post of July 9 carried an article quoting
a critic of the refugee resettlement program alleging that the
breakdown rate in refugee sponsorship matches is alarmingly
high. We believe that the overall breakdown rate is low and
that, where breakdowns have taken place, they have occurred
primarily among Vietnamese families of American citizens who
now find that they are unable to care for their Vietnamese
relatives. In most of these cases, refugees exited the U.S.
refugee system directly into the hands of their American
relative (which they were legally entitled to do) without
ever having been handled by a voluntary agency.
Regarding their own resettlement programs, the voluntary
agencies have each told us that they are having no particularly
serious breakdown problems. All say the breakdown rate is low.
The Red Cross has told us that, since the beginning of the
resettlement program, only five families have applied for more
than one week of emergency assistance.
Although we have no reason to believe that the breakdown
rate is higher than for previous refugee programs, we will con-
tinue to monitor closely the sponsorship breakdown situation
since lasting and effective sponsorship matches are at the heart
of the resettlement effort.
GENERAL QUANG
Lieutenant General Dan van Quang, President Thieu's former
Special Assistant for Military and Security Affairs who recently
entered Canada, has been issued a deportation order by the
Canadian authorities. Quang, who the Canadian Immigration Min-
ister is quoted as saying was "guilty of nefarious activities
in the drug trade," was asked to leave Canada as soon as he can
arrange for admission to another country. Publicly stated
U.S. policy on Quang is that we will examine his application
if he requests entry here. The U.S. Consulate General in
Montreal today received a letter from Quang requesting that
he and his family "be authorized to settle in the USA."
INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20520
July 18, 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR:
THE PRESIDENT
151 oniel
THROUGH:
form
Mr. James T. Lynn, Director, Office
of Management and Budget
FROM:
Julia Interagency Vadala Task Taft, Force Director Julia Jaft
SUBJECT:
Status Report on the Indochina
Refugee Resettlement Program
Attached is the status report on the Indochina
Refugee Resettlement Program through July 17, 1975.
Attachment:
As stated
CC: Dr. Marrs - WH
FORD i LIBRARY
Mr. Eisenhower
Mr. Semerad
Mr. Cannon
Mr. Oaxaca
Mr. Puritano
Mr. Barri
Mr. Blaydon
Ogiluie
" O'neill
STATUS REPORT ON THE INDOCHINA REFUGEE
RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM - JULY 17
REFUGEE STATUS (as of July 17)
Total Refugees Entered US System
130,851
Total Released
57,793
US
52,834
Third Countries
4,959
Repatriated
0
(Requesting Repatriation - 2,435)
Avg. Daily Releases:
Week ending 7/17:
761
Week ending 7/10:
687
Week ending 7/3:
687
Week ending 6/26:
755
Week ending 6/19:
749
Week ending 6/12:
796
Total in US System
73,058
Total in the Pacific
13,197
Guam
6,707
Wake Island
6,024
Other Asian Bases
466
Total US
59,526
Eglin
4,427
Fort Chaffee
22,680
Camp Pendleton
17,084
Indiantown Gap
15,335
In Transit
335
PROBLEMS RESOLVED AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE HOUSE IMMIGRATION SUBCOMMITTEE
On July 17, I testified for six hours before the House
Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and International
Law, chaired by Congressman Joshua Eilberg. Major issues
covered were: the role of the voluntary agencies, their
responsibilities in settling the refugees, particularly in
the long run, and their funding; the employment outlook;
the issue of military enlistment for refugees; actual and
potential problems of sponsors; and press criticism of
the resettlement effort.
GENERAL QUANG
General Chapman, who accompanied me during the testi-
mony, told the Subcommittee that controversial Lieutenant
General Dan Van Quang, former military assistant to Nguyen
Van Thieu, will not be readmitted to the US refugee sys-
tem, having voluntarily left it to enter Canada. If Quang
wants to enter the US, he said, he will have to file for
immigration and undergo the normal requirements of waiting
his time for admission under the quota as well as complet-
ing the normal processing including rigorous screening.
ADDITIONAL REFUGEE ARRIVALS
We have sent new instructions to all overseas posts
to facilitate the movement of processing of refugees stran-
ded abroad, principally in Asia. We are mainly interested
in reuniting immediate families and in bringing to the
United States former employees of the U.S. Government.
INS Commissioner Chapman has sent a letter to the
Chairmen of both the House and Senate Judiciary Committee
indicating our plans for an additional 12,000 Vietnamese
and Cambodians not now in the U.S. system. These refugees
will include inter alia extended family members of Indo-
chinese already here, as well as politically important Indo-
chinese who cannot resettle in Southeast Asia. In dis-
cussions with Congressional Committees, we are reassuring
them that no more than approximately 130,000 refugees will
be <permanently resettled in the United States.
-2-
PRINTED MATERIALS FOR REFUGEES
USIA has a number of materials that would be suitable for
orientation of the refugees which cannot be used because of
the statutory prohibition of domestic USIA activities. At our
request, Congressman Hays is planning to introduce a joint reso-
lution to allow the use of relevant USIA materials specifically
for the refugees.
A number of magazines are providing complimentary subscriptions
to the camps. The Governors' Conference and the National Geo-
graphic Society have donated maps, and we are soliciting more
from the AAA, Rand McNally, and oil companies.
BREAKDOWNS
The press has recently focused on a number of breakdowns and
implied that these are indicative of a weakness in the program,
and, in particular, in the activities of the voluntary agencies.
Our investigations have shown a remarkably low voluntary agency
(VOLAG) breakdown rate, and concluded that many of the serious
breakdowns have occurred among refugees who were either released
directly from Travis AFB or who otherwise bypassed Volag processing.
Volags have been for some time resolving such breakdown cases, and
last month we issued guidelines authorizing reimbursement of costs
up to $500 per individual in such instances, providing that no pre-
vious payments were made.
STATES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Los Angeles' Mayor Bradley has expressed interest in sponsoring
2,000 refugees in addition to those who have already been settled
in Los Angeles through private or organizational sponsorships. The
Mayor may run into opposition on this proposal on the basis that
California has already accepted more refugees than any other state,
although his interest indicates a great deal of generosity and
courage.
A contract is ready for signature with Jackson County, Missouri
which will take 250 people. There have been new inquiries and
expressions of interest from Illinois. Maine will accept all of
its 300 refugees by August 7.
-3-
PROBLEMS PENDING
REPATRIATION EFFORT STILL STALLED
There has still been no repatriation of refugees from
the US system. The UNHCR has sent 600 applications to Saigon
for would-be Vietnamese repatriates, and although it has
received no response, remains confident that one will be
forthcoming. UNHCR has not yet been able to contact Cambodian
authorities regarding repatriation.
The tugboat with 44 Vietnamese refugees which, as of
last week's report, was missing after having been ordered to
stand off the coast of Thailand, is still missing and is assumed
to have gone to Vietnam.
MILITARY ENLISTMENT OPTION FOR REFUGEES
One of the major groups we have identified as being diffi-
cult to resettle is about 8,000 single young men, many of whom
have only military experience. We have asked DOD to draft
legislation to offer military enlistment as an option to these
men. The legislation will have the following characteristics:
the requirement for permanent resident alien status should be
waived or granted; English language aptitude should not be a
precondition of enlistment; and the special enlistment category
should be large enough to include all potential recruits. In
addition to the 8,000 men above, we have asked DOD to plan for
an additional 2,000 married persons.
Congressman Rodino has also written to the House Armed
Services Committee requesting similar legislation.
INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Refuguer
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20520
August 15, 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR:
THE PRESIDENT
THROUGH
:
for
Mr. James T. Lynn, Director, 151 o'Neill
FROM
:
Office Julia Interagency Vadala of Management Task Taft, Force Directo and Budget Juliedaft
SUBJECT
:
Status Report on the Indochina
Refugee Resettlement Program
Attached is the status report on the Indochina
Refugee Resettlement Program through August 14, 1975.
Attachment:
As stated.
CC:
Dr. Marrs
Mr. Eisenhower
Mr. Semerad
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
Mr. Cannon
Mr. Oaxaca
Mr. Puritano
Mr. Barri
STATUS REPORT ON THE INDOCHINA REFUGEE
RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM - August 14
REFUGEE STATUS (as of August 14)
Total Refugees Entered US System
133,132
Total Released
79,303
US
74,660
Third Countries
5,643*
Repatriated
0
(Requesting repatriation)
1,830
Avg. Daily Releases:
(As a percentage of those in US
System as of date shown)
Week ending 8/14
709 (1.32% of 53,829)
Week ending 8/7
796 (1.38% of 57,580)
Week ending 7/31
790 (1.26% of 62,460)
Week ending 7/24
778 (1.14% of 68,260)
Week ending 7/17
761 (1.04% of 73,058)
Week ending 7/10
687 (0.88% of 78,407)
Total in US System
53,829
Total in the Pacific
3,929
Guam
3,410
Thailand
478
Clark
17
Hickam
24
Total US
49,900
Eglin
2,504
Fort Chaffee
21,020
Camp Pendleton
15,397
Indiantown Gap
10,979
In Transit
0
* Based on adjusted CINCPAC figures.
The highlight of the week was your visit to Fort
Chaffee. What a warm and wonderful gesture it was!
The staff and the refugees were elated with your visit,
which will give a big boost to the entire sponsorship
program. I hope that in the coming weeks you can high-
light in your speeches the continuing need for groups
and individuals as sponsors.
PROBLEMS RESOLVED AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Instructions Regarding Refugees Remaining
in East Asia
We have sent instructions to posts in East Asian
countries where Indochina refugees are still stranded
telling them that we will take in all those unable to
be resettled elsewhere who are relatives of American
citizens, permanent resident aliens, or refugees in the
U.S. system, or who are former U.S. Government employees,
and their families. The number of remaining refugees
in these categories is about 6,000. We also plan to take
in some additional "high risk" refugees, primarily from
Thailand, who might face persecution if they were repatri-
ated and whose continued presence in friendly East Asian
countries might pose problems for U.S. relations with
those governments. We hope that our acceptance of a total
of 3,800 additional refugees from Thailand, including some
Laotians, will induce the Thai to begin a program as soon
as possible, with UNHCR support, to provide relief to and
eventually resettle about 35,000 refugees, mostly Meo
tribesmen from Laos and some Cambodians, who are expected
to remain in Thailand.
We have told the posts that, after the parole of those
listed in the above categories has been undertaken, we will
take another look at the remaining refugees who cannot be
resettled locally or in third countries. Depending on how
many refugees have been paroled into the U.S., and how many
have been resettled from the U.S. system into third coun-
tries, we may be able to bring in up to 50 percent of the
remaining refugees (those classified as "high risk") in
East Asian countries other than Thailand, and an additional
1,400 from Thailand. We expect the expanded parole authority
to result in the entry of a total of not more than 10,000
additional refugees from third countries by September 15.
-2-
Third Country Resettlement
We are preparing a message to the resettlement centers
publicizing resettlement opportunities in Malawi and Morocco.
We are also preparing messages to our Embassies in West
Germany and Australia asking them to make demarches to their
host governments to take more refugees.
More Local Government Interest
in Resettlement
In addition to the eleven states, ten cities, and two
countries mentioned in last week's report, the states of
Louisiana, Michigan and Utah have expressed interest in re-
settling refugees, as have the cities of Albuquerque and
Roswell, New Mexico, and Andrews, Texas.
Pillsbury Ad
The Pillsbury Company on August 10 took full page ads
in the Washington Post and the New York Times promoting
sponsorship. The Task Force did not solicit the ad, and we
are grateful for Pillsbury's spontaneous generosity. The
ad's statement, "You or your sponsoring group may also be
eligible to receive up to $300 in federal funds for each
member of your sponsored family through the agency with
which you worked," while not technically inaccurate, has
caused a surge of inquiries to the resettlement agencies,
since, in fact, only the US Catholic Conference routinely
passes along as much as $300 in cash to the sponsor for each
refugee.
PROBLEMS PENDING
Decline in Average Daily Resettlement Rate
While we hope that the decline in the resettlement rate
this week is a temporary phenomenon, we are asking the resettle-
ment centers for their assessment of the reasons for it and
possible remedies. Fort Chaffee's resettlement effort slowed
somewhat during the week because of the excitement surrounding
your visit there and because of some displacement brought about
by the setting up of a streamlined outprocessing system.
-3-
August vacations appear to be delaying some sponsors'
plans to take in refugees. A shift of resources to
Eglin from other centers to assist in the phase-out of
that center by September 1 may also have contributed
to the decline. In addition, movements from the U.S.
system to Canada and France declined during the week,
because of France's decision to take only heads of
families from U.S. camps initially until they find jobs
in France, and, in the case of Canada, for reasons
explained below. Still, if the average daily resettle-
ment rate is expressed in terms of a percentage of those
remaining to be resettled out of the U.S. system, as is
done in the statistical table, this week's resettlement
rate is surpassed only by last week's. We hope next
week's will be better.
Resettlement to Canada
Canada's Ambassador to the United States called on the
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs on August
13 to press Canada's request that we accept Mr. Thieu's
former Security Adviser, Lt. General Dan Van Quang.
Mr. Sisco told Ambassador Warren that the U.S. would not
accept General Quang as a deportee from Canada, but would
consider an application from him for an immigrant visa,
subject to the normal requirements for such visa appli-
cations. Canada has, since requesting that we accept
General Quang from them last week, apparently reduced its
rate of acceptance of refugees from the U.S. system.
Canada has just withdrawn its consular team from Camp
Pendleton; the team processed visa applications for 3,000
refugees during its two months of operation.
Drugging Incident at Utapao
A press release issued by the Defense Department has
essentially confirmed press accounts of an incident of
which the Task Force had no prior knowledge that occurred
on May 1 at Utapao Air Base in Thailand. The incident
involved the administration of sodium pentathol and thorazine
to 13 Vietnamese who had become hysterical and threatened to
commit suicide when told they would have to leave Utapao for
Guam, and could neither remain in Thailand nor return to
South Viet Nam. The 13 were among some 3,000 Vietnamese who
flew from Viet Nam to Thailand on Vietnamese aircraft during
-4-
the evacuation, and were allowed by the Thai Government
to land with the stipulation that they could not remain
in Thailand. The 13 said that when they boarded the
Vietnamese aircraft in Saigon and Bien Hoa, they were
told that their destination would be in the Mekong Delta
of South Viet Nam. They are now in the repatriate Camp
on Guam.
Strikebreakers
We have received complaints from the AFL/CIO regarding
a small number of Vietnamese refugees who have been
employed by firms involved in labor disputes. While the
Department of Labor tells us that the refugees can legally
work for such firms (as can any citizen or resident alien)
we are concerned that our cordial relationship with
George Meany and the labor movement not be allowed to deteri-
orate. It is the situation at the Head Ski plant in Boulder,
Colorado that Mr. Meany is most concerned about. Four out
of 180 "strikebreakers" employed at that plant are Vietnamese
refugees. We have asked the voluntary agency working with
the four refugees to try to find alternative employment offers
and we are working on a strategy to avoid any major con-
frontations between the labor movement and our program in the
future.
A similar situation exists at "Egg City" in Southern
California where 14 out of 112 people employed by the plant
during a 4 months labor dispute are Vietnamese refugees.
The unions concerned there are associated with Cesar Chavez,
and the AFL/CIO is not particularly concerned.
In terms of public support for the resettlement program,
we want to avoid having refugees hired in a situation where
they will be accused of strikebreaking. Our ability as a
federal agency to control this is limited, as it should be.
Nevertheless it is quite a sticky situation.
Military Enlistment as an Option for Refugees
Members of the Task Force held a meeting with Defense
Department officials on August 13 and recommended that
refugees not be granted permanent resident alien status for
purposes of military enlistment, but that the law be amended
-5-
to allow them to enlist prior to being given that status.
Senator Scott is considering proposing legislation along
those lines which would give qualified Indochina refugees
the same options as Hungarian and Cuban refugees.
It is envisioned that refugees who were trained in
U.S. service schools would be given preference for enlist-
ment if there is a demand in the military for their skills.
(Helicopter pilots, for example, would not be given prefer-
ence for enlistment, even if they were U.S. trained, because
the military has a surplus of helicopter pilots.) Potential
enlistees lacking certified skills in demand would have to
compete with Americans for enlistment spaces.
Repatriates
The wire services have carried a story that a PRG
official, while visiting Japan, announced that if the U.S.
wants to make arrangements for repatriation of those on
Guam, the U.S. would have to deal directly with South
Vietnam. If this report accurately reflects the official
attitude of the Saigon authorities, we are in for a particularly
difficult situation with regard to the future of the would-be
repatriates.
Planned Closing of Eglin
With the impending closing of Eglin on September 1, we
are concentrating all sponsorship initiatives and staff talent
on the drawdown there to avoid having to transfer a large
number of people to Fort Chaffee. We are concerned that the
public perception of such a transfer would be that those
refugees represent hard core residuals and that Fort Chaffee
was being used as a "dumping ground.' There are now 2,504
people at Eglin, and we hope our concentrated effort will
result in a rapid and effective phasedown.
*
*
*
It has been quite a week. Thank you very much for your
wonderful support of the program. We won't let you down.
INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA
Refuge
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20520
August 22, 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR : THE PRESIDENT
5
O'nill
THROUGH
:
Mr. James T. Lynn, Director,
Office of Management and Budget
FROM
:
Julia Vadala Taft, Director
Interagency Task Force
Julia
SUBJECT
:
Status Report on the Indochina
Refugee Resettlement Program
Attached is the status report on the Indochina
Refugee Resettlement Program through August 21, 1975.
Attachment:
As stated.
cc:
Secretary David Mathews
Dr. Marrs
FORD
&
Mr. Eisenhower
Mr. Semerad
ALD
Mr. Cannon
Mr. Oaxaca
Mr. Puritano
Mr. Barri
STATUS REPORT ON THE INDOCHINA REFUGEE
RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM - August 21
REFUGEE STATUS (as of August 21)
Total Refugees Entered US System
133,876
Total Released
84,073
US
78,164
Third Countries
5,909
Repatriated
-0-
(Requesting repatriation)
1,831
Avg. Daily Releases:
(As a percentage of those in US
System as of date shown)
Week ending 8/21
681 (1.37% of 49,803)
Week ending 8/14
709 (1.32% of 53,829)
Week ending 8/7
796 (1.38% of 57,580)
Week ending 7/31
790 (1.26% of 62,460)
Week ending 7/24
778 (1.14% of 68,260)
Week ending 7/17
761 (1.04% of 73,058)
Week ending 7/10
687 (0.88% of 78,407)
Total in US System
49,
49,803
Total in the Pacific
3,100
Guam
2,554
Thailand
518
Clark
7
Hickam
21
Total US
46,703
Eglin
2,049
Fort Chaffee
19,935
Camp Pendleton
15,022
Indiantown Gap
9,696
In Transit
0
PROBLEMS RESOLVED AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Meeting with Secretary Mathews
HEW Secretary Mathews received a briefing from the
Task Force Director this week which concerned the current
status of the program and longer term responsibilities of
HEW when the Interagency Task Force terminates its opera-
tions. Dr. Mathews was most interested in and supportive
of the resettlement program and the Task Force will soon
begin discussing the transfer of long range resettlement
efforts to HEW.
HEW Regional Meetings
State and local officials and voluntary agency repre-
sentatives were brought together in three Federal Regions
this past week for briefings on the refugee program. HEW
Regional Offices in San Francisco, Chicago, and Philadelphia
were hosting the sessions and each had an excellent turnout
and favorable press coverage.
Public Assistance and Medicaid Guidelines
The HEW Task Force and the Social and Rehabilitation
Service are in the process of improving and clarifying
guidelines to the States on Public Assistance and Medicaid.
The revised guidelines will be forwarded to the States next
week.
Third Country Resettlement
We are preparing a message to the camps informing them
of resettlement opportunities in the Ivory Coast. About
200 refugees have responded to previous offers of resettle-
ment in Africa; all of these want to go to Gabon and we are
sending a message to our Embassy in Libreville urging the
Gabonese Government to complete the necessary formalities
for their entry. There has not yet been any response from
refugees in the U.S. system to opportunities to resettle in
Malawi or Morocco.
Taiwan has expressed willingness to resettle refugees
of Chinese descent, and we have so informed the resettlement
centers and concerned overseas posts.
-2-
Labor Relations
The situation mentioned in last week's report which
led to complaints from the AFL/CIO about refugee strike-
breakers has been resolved. The four refugees employed
at the Head Ski plant in Boulder, Colorado, which is in-
volved in a labor dispute, have accepted other jobs. The
refugees employed by "Egg City," California are members
of one of two competing unions and the AFL/CIO is not
concerned.
PROBLEMS PENDING
Refugees Stranded in Third Countries
Immigration and Naturalization Service officials and
consular officers making a tour of refugee camps in
Thailand have reported that in one camp housing 1,400
Cambodian refugees, only 21 persons are eligible for parole
as relatives of persons already in the United States or
former U.S. Government employees and their families. Many
of those not eligible for parole are from military back-
grounds and might be eligible for parole in the "high risk"
category after processing of relatives and employees is
completed.
About 3,300 refugees have already been brought into
the U.S. system from third countries under the expanded
parole authority, or will be brought in shortly under
arrangements already made. Most of those eligible under
present criteria for parole are Vietnamese. By comparison,
few of the Cambodians stranded in third countries are former
U.S. Government employees or have relatives in the United
States.
Repatriation
410 refugees in the repatriate camp on Guam demonstrated
peacefully on August 19 and presented U.S. officials with a
petition proposing that they be given a ship which they could
sail on their own to Viet Nam.
-3-
Further Decline in Out-Processing Rate
Although the daily out-processing rate for the last
three days has been good, an extremely low rate last week-
end produced a decline in this week's average daily re-
lease figure. We asked the civil coordinators at the
resettlement centers for their assessment of the decline
and their responses indicate that the problem is not so
much in finding sponsors willing to take the refugees as
it is with refugees sometimes being reluctant to accept
offers of sponsorship.
Some refugees are apparently holding out for a "better
deal." Others are timid about leaving the relatively
protective atmosphere of the camp where all physical ne-
cessities are provided and where there is an abundance of
Vietnamese companionship.
In some cases, large groups of refugees, tied by geo-
graphic or religious, rather than family relationships,
object to being broken up for resettlement purposes.
Another problem appears to be that some of the voluntary
agencies, having started the processing of a refugee, are
reluctant to turn him over to another agency which might
have a made-to-order resettlement opportunity for the individual.
We are considering several solutions to these problems
and will implement new processing and counseling procedures
next week.
INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA
the
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20520
November 7, 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR:
THE PRESIDENT
THROUGH:
Mr. James T. Lynn, Director, /S/ O'Neill
Office of Management and Budget
FROM:
Julieft
Julia Vadala Taft, Director,
Interagency Task Force
SUBJECT:
Status Report on the Indochina
Refugee Resettlement Program
Attached is the status report on the Indochina Refugee
Resettlement Program through November 6, 1975.
Attachment:
As stated.
CC: Secretary Mathews
Dr. Marrs
Mr. Eisenhower
Mr. Semerad
GETAL FORD James
Mr. Cannon
Mr. Oaxaca
Mr. Puritano
Mr. Barri
STATUS REPORT ON THE INDOCHINA REFUGEE
RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM - NOVEMBER 6
REFUGEE STATUS (as of November 6)
Total Refugees entered US System
140,823
Total Released
126,403
Total Remaining in US System
14,420
Total Released
126,403
US
118,263
Third Countries
6,594
Repatriated
1,546
(Requesting Repatriation - 192)
Average Daily Releases
Total Releases
(for the week)
Week ending 11/6
312
(2,186)
Week ending 10/30
518
(3,628)
Week ending 10/23
513
(3,590)
Week ending 10/16
449
(1)
(3,145)
(1)
Week ending 10/9
490
(3,432)
Week ending 10/2
498
(3,486)
Total Remaining in US System
14,420
Total in the Pacific
0
Guam
0
Thailand
0
Total US
14,420
Fort Chaffee
10,391
Indiantown Gap
4,029
In Transit
0
(1)
adjusted to correct report of October 16
PROBLEMS RESOLVED AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
IATF Comments to OMB on Refugee Status Bill
The Justice Department has prepared a draft
bill which would allow the Indochina refugees to
obtain permanent resident alien status in two
years, retroactive to the date of arrival in the
United States. This legislation is necessary
because of the limited number of immigrant visas
allotted annually to parolees. Without this
legislation, it could take over 20 years to adjust
the status of the Indochina refugees paroled into
the United States. In a report to OMB on the draft
bill, the Task Force indicated it supported the
bill in principle, but strongly recommended that
the waiting period be reduced from two years to
one year. Several VOLAG representatives indicated
their approval of this bill, but with the one year
provision, when it was discussed at a mid-week
meeting. I strongly urge the Administration to
move quickly to have a bill introduced.
IRS Releases Pamphlet on Tax Status for Refugees and
Sponsors
The Internal Revenue Service has completed
work on a pamphlet discussing income tax questions
of interest to refugees and sponsors. The pamphlet,
which is prepared in a question and answer format,
is being distributed to IRS offices and national
private tax publication services. Fifty thousand
copies are also being printed for distribution to
refugees, sponsors, and potential sponsors. Of
particular interest is the IRS position that,
generally, a charitable contribution deduction is
allowed for food, clothing and other incidentals
given to a refugee living in a sponsor's home. A
- 2 --
deduction is also allowed for the value of hous-
ing, food, clothing and medical needs donated to a
church committee sponsoring a refugee.
PROBLEMS PENDING
Outprocessing Decreases This Week
As I anticipated, our outprocessing rates
this week have decreased as a result of Camp
Pendleton's closing. We need to maintain an average
weekly outprocessing rate of 250 refugees to meet
our end of year deadline to close the remaining
resettlement centers. I have assigned an IATF
Management Team to Indiantown Gap to assist in
expediting refugee outprocessing, and the numbers
of refugees departing Indiantown Gap have begun to
increase over previous weeks. I plan to assign a
similar team to Fort Chaffee.
INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Jule
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20520
November 14, 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR:
THE PRESIDENT
THROUGH:
Mr. James T. Lynn, Director,
Office of Management and Budget
FROM:
Uulia Vadala Taft, Director,
Interagency Task Force
SUBJECT:
Status Report on the Indochina
Refugee Resettlement Program
Attached is the status report on the Indochina Refugee
Resettlement Program through November 13, 1975.
Attachment:
As stated.
CC: Secretary Mathews
Dr. Marrs
Mr. Eisenhower
Mr. Semerad
Mr. Cannon
Mr. Oaxaca
FORD LIBRARY i GERALD
Mr. Puritano
Mr. Barri
STATUS REPORT ON THE INDOCHINA REFUGEE
RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM - NOVEMBER 13
REFUGEE STATUS (as of November 13)
Total Refugees entered US System
140,716 (1)
Total Released
128,101 (1)
Total Remaining in US System
12,615
Total Released
128,101 (1)
US
120,065
Third Countries
6,490
Repatriated
1,546
(Requesting Repatriation - 222)
Average Daily Releases
Total Releases
(for the week)
Week ending 11/13
261
(1,825)
Week ending 11/6
312
(2,186)
Week ending 10/30
518
(3,628)
Week ending 10/23
513
(3,590)
Week ending 10/16
449
(3,145)
Week ending 10/9
490
(3,432)
Total Remaining in US System
12,615
Fort Chaffee
9,259
Indiantown Gap
3,356
In Transit
0
(1)
excludes 127 Third Country Nationals
PROBLEMS RESOLVED AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
UNHCR Visits Indiantown Gap
UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Prince Sadruddin Aga
Khan, accepted my invitation and accompanied me on a visit to
Indiantown Gap on November 12. It was his first visit to one
of our reception centers and, given his considerable knowledge
of refugee camps throughout the world, I was pleased when he
said he was impressed with the administration and facilities
at Indiantown Gap, and in particular the educational programs
there.
The High Commissioner spoke with the refugees who are
requesting repatriation and promised them he would continue
to seek approval for their return to Indochina. Many,
apparently satisfied with his promise, accepted sponsorship
offers and arrangements were started the following day for them
to leave camp and join sponsors to await the opporunity to
be repatriated. There is still a group of about 150 repatriates
in Chaffee who will not accept sponsorships. Special arrange-
ments will be made for them.
Resettlement Progress
The voluntary agencies working at Fort Chaffee and Indiantown
Gap have assured me that there are sufficient sponsorship
offers to meet the needs of the 12,615 refugees remaining in
the system. Below is a list of the resettlement agencies
showing the impressive number of refugees they have already
processed:
Agency
Refugees Resettled
Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service
14,800
Church World Service
15,000
United HIAS Service, Inc.
3,275
U.S. Catholic Conference
42,000
International Rescue Committee
16,700
Tolstoy Foundation, Inc.
2,900
American Council for Nationalities
Service
2,000
Travelers Aid-International Social
Services
390
American Fund for Czechoslovak
Refugees
810
State of Maine
167
City of Indianapolis
71
State of Washington
1,502
State of Oklahoma
359
State of Iowa
631
Chinese Consolidated Benevolent
Association
838
- 2 -
PROBLEMS PENDING
Transportation
We have been advised to expect some difficulty in scheduling
flights for refugees to leave the reception centers and join
sponsors during the holiday season from November 15 through
January 1. Airport congestion may also cause confusion for
refugees, particularly those who don't speak English. We will
be working with CAB and the Department of Transportation to
sensitize the airlines and buslines to the special needs of
the refugees.
Awards
With the desire to provide suitable recognition to all
the dedicated people who have contributed to the resettlement
of the Indochina refugees, I have written you two memos, dated
November 10 and 11, proposing the award of Presidential
Citations and certificates of commendation and the creation of
a military Humanitarian Service Medal.
I believe such awards would be appropriate recognition of
the work of those who served in or with the Presidential Task
Force.
Manpower Programs
In a recent meeting with Department of Labor officials
I requested that some funds appropriated under the Comprehensive
Employment and Training Act (CETA) for specific target groups
be earmarked for Indochina refugees. DOL said there was very
little flexibility in any funds available for such use, but
indicated that funds already allocated by DOL to local and
state governments might be made available to refugees resettled
in the area.
I hope that during the next fiscal year, CETA funds can
be made available for the needs of the refugees.
Chicken-pox at IGMR
Indiantown Gap has been struck by chicken-pox. Aside from
the obvious discomforts of the disease for the children among
the refugee population of the camp, and the difficulties of
containing the disease within the camp, the only other problem
is that the departure of several refugee families from the
camp has been delayed temporarily by the epidemic.
- 3 -
Labor Disputes
The AFL-CIO has been calling our attention to some isolated
incidents where refugees are being hired as strikebreakers. We
continue to do our best, through the resettlement agencies, to
avoid placing refugees in such situations and to offer alterna-
tives when the problems develop.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
Wear Julia
in me Gram typlwon
That wasn't luch
INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA
File
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20520
November 21, 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR:
THE PRESIDENT
THROUGH:
Mr. James T. Lynn, Director, /3/ O'Apice
FROM:
Print
Office of Management and Budget
Julia Vadala Taft, Director,
Interagency Task Force
SUBJECT:
Status Report on the Indochina
Refugee Resettlement Program
Attached is the status report on the Indochina Refugee
Resettlement Program through November 20, 1975.
Attachment:
As Stated.
CC: Secretary Mathews
Dr. Marrs
Mr. Eisenhower
Mr. Semerad
Mr. Cannon
Mr. Oaxaca
Mr. Puritano
Mr. Barri
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
STATUS REPORT ON THE INDOCHINA REFUGEE
RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM - NOVEMBER 20
REFUGEE STATUS (as of November 20)
Total Refugees entered US System
140,718
Total Released
130,453
Total Remaining in US System
10,265
Total Released
130,453
US
122,383
Third Countries
6,524
Repatriated
1,546
(Requesting Repatriation - 217)
Average Daily Releases
Total Releases
(for the week)
Week ending 11/20
336
(2,352)
Week ending 11/13
261
(1,825)
Week ending 11/6
312
(2,186)
Week ending 10/30
518
(3,628)
Week ending 10/23
513
(3,590)
Week ending 10/16
449
(3,145)
Total Remaining in US System
10,265
Fort Chaffee
7,689
Indiantown
2,576
In Transit
0
PROBLEMS RESOLVED AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Iran Resettlement Program
Fifteen truck drivers and some dependents comprising
a total of 23 refugees arrived in Tehran on November 20.
At the request of the Iranian Ministry of Labor, Fort
Chaffee officials made last minute arrangements for inter-
national drivers licenses for the drivers. Some other
truck drivers, some pilots, and a few people in medically
related fields are also interested in going to Iran, and
we are working with the Iranian Government to attempt to
overcome some difficulties involved with their applications.
Typhoon in Guam
The miraculous luck we have had seems to be still
with us. The recent typhoon on Guam, had it occurred a
month earlier, would literally have swept some of the
refugee facilities out to sea.
Transportation of Refugees during the Holidays
We had a cordial meeting with officials of the CAB,
ICC, and the Department of Transportation earlier this
week. Officials of those agencies have been extremely
helpful in suggesting and implementing ways to assist
refugees traveling during the holiday season. As a
result of the meeting, the Air Transport Association
will send a letter to all airlines asking for special
treatment for the refugees. Special airline ticket
covers are being prepared for the use of refugees and
ticket agents.
The period from December 22 through January 3 will
still be a difficult one for traveling, though, and un-
less we can clear the reception centers before December
22, we may find it necessary to continue operations into
January, 1976.
Repatriate Ship
Thank you for your kind letter on the successful
return of the 1,546 repatriates aboard the Vietnam Thuong
Tin I. I have passed along your thanks to all the Task
Force and military personnel involved in the operation.
- 2 -
"Tomorrow" Show
I will be taping an interview with NBC today to be
used on the "Tomorrow" show on Thanksgiving night. The
showing date seems a most fitting and symbolic one.
PROBLEMS PENDING
Additional Parole Authority
I have sent a memorandum to the State Department
suggesting that joint efforts be undertaken with INS to
parole additional refugees on a selective basis, particu-
larly from Thailand where the quotas have been outstripped
by the number of eligible refugees.
I believe low-key consultations with Congress could
result in flexibility to bring in additional refugees
within the overall parole ceiling of 150,000 agreed to
in May. This would permit us to more fully meet our
obligations to refugees closely associated with the
United States or former Indochinese governments who are
stranded in countries where permanent resettlement is not
feasibile. Any refugees admitted as a result of such
consultations would come in through traditional resettle-
ment channels--not our camp system.
Mass Sponsorships
A number of isolated incidents have been brought to
my attention where the needs of certain individual refu-
gees have been overlooked in the processing of mass spon-
sorships. In response, in addition to investigating each
case reported, I have sent a telegram to each of the
resettlement agencies reminding them of the need for metic-
ulous attention to detail in mass sponsorships and at
least the same degree of care that characterizes their
handling of individual sponsorships.
Awards
As the resettlement program draws to a close, I am
concerned that appropriate recognition be given to all the
people who made the effort a success. My memoranda to you
of November 10 and 11 on this subject outline some of the
ways I believe the country can show its gratitude for the
extraordinary work of all connected with the Presidential
Task Force.
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"ocrText": "The original documents are located in Box 12, folder \"Indochina Refugees - Status\nReports\" of the Theodore C. Marrs Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.\nCopyright Notice\nThe copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of\nphotocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United\nStates of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.\nWorks prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public\ndomain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to\nremain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid\ncopyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.\nAPR 28 1975\nUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE\nIMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE\nGERALD R. FORD LIBRARY PLEASE\nADDRESS REPLY TO\nAT\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20536\nApril 28, 1975\nAND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.\nCO 212.28a-P\nVIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #14\n1. Associate Commissioner E. F. O'Connor was dispatched to Guam on Saturday,\nApril 26, 1975 to coordinate INS activities there. The assistant to\nMr. Powell, Supervisory Inspector Gullage has been sent to Wake Island\nwith a detail of 8 persons to set up an immigration inspection operation\nat that location. Mr. O'Connor will be responsible for liaison activi-\nties in Guam with the press, post officials and agency representatives.\n2. A World Airways flight arrived at Honolulu on April 26, 1975. Five\norphans were removed and taken to the hospital for treatment. Four\nU. S. citizens also deplaned. The plane then proceeded to Oakland,\nCalifornia, where 196 orphans, 11 adult Vietnamese attendants and one\nBritish doctor were admitted as transits without visas. The group was\ntaken to the Presidio and when physically able to do so will be moved\nforward by World Airways to Denmark. Thirty five additional Vietnamese\n(five. singles and 30 family member groups) all undocumented, were placed\nin deferred inspection status and housed in the Sadler Motor Inn in\nHayward, California at the request of and expense of World Airways.\nThere were a total of 252persons involved in this flight. It is of\ninterest to note that the orphans involved are the surviving members\nof the Montagnard tribe of Vietnam. The ultimate plan is that Denmark\nwill return them to Vietnam when conditions permit.\n3. On April 27, 1975, Mr. Jack Ryder, Washington representative of World\nAirways requested permission to move the 110 aliens in deferred inspec-\ntion status at Los Gatos, California Christian Church to the Sadler\nMotor Inn noted in Item 2. This undocumented group was previously\nbrought to the United States by World Airways. Permission was granted\nwith the understanding that World Airways would continue responsibility\nfor the group and pay all expenses.\n4. As of 7PM, April 28, 1975, 4,023 persons had been processed by our\nofficers on Guam. About 25 percent of these have been identified as\nUnited States citizens. The remainder were aliens of the relative\ngroup. The Air Force has advised our officers that they are running\nabout 2,000 behind in removing those processed to Mainland United States.\nTo expedite the movement of the group that has been processed, Mr. Powell\nwas authorized to waive security clearances until later for immediate\nrelatives and preference eligibles. In addition, Mr. Powell was authorized\nto clear in his discretion, the parents and brothers and sisters of permanent\nresidents if consular records brought to Guam from Saigon showed that the\nDigitized from Box 12 of the Theodore C. Marrs Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library\n- 2 -\nindividual had been checked with the CIA and had a negative record in\nthe consular file.\n5. There are 39 officers and 32 clerks now on duty in Guam. Also, 5\nofficers and 4 clerks are in Wake. Eleven additional personnel are\nen route.\nNreen James F. Greene\nDeputy Commissioner\nUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE\nIMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE\nPLEASE ADDRESS REALY P.\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20536\nMay 1, 1975\nAND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.\nCO 212.28a-P\nVIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - - #17\n1) At the close of business on May 1, 1975, there were 27,640 evacuees\non Guam and 4,576 on Wake Island. There are a reported 40,000\nevacuees en route to Guan by ship.\nThe following were cleared by INS on May 1, 1975:\nFORD is LIBRARY\nUSC\nAliens\nWake\n123\n511\nGuam\n104\n4,775\nTotal\n227\n5,286\nThe total number of evacuees who have been cleared by INS and still\nremain on Guam is 8,097.\n2) Evacuees began arriving in Camp Pendleton on April 29, 1975. Through\nApril 30, 1975, 2,728 had arrived and 1,263 had been processed and\ndeparted from the base for final destinations in the United States.\n97 were held for further processing.\n3) Advance teams of immigration officers and clerks are at Camp Chaffee\nand Camp Eglin. Camp Chaffee will become operational on May 2 and\nCamp Eglin on May 3. These two camps will be long term operations\nas compared to Camp Pendleton which will be a very short term\nfacility.\nUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE\nPLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO\nIMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20536\nAND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.\nMay 5, 1975\nCO 212.28a-P\nVIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #19\nFORD\nAt the close of business on May 5, 1975, the following represents the\nDERALD\nsituation on Guam:\nTotal number of refugees received on Guam to date:\n47,728\nTotal lifted out of Guam\n20,433\nNumber now on Guam\n26,743\nCleared by INS and waiting to be transported\n(shortage of aircraft)\n21,677\nCategory breakdown for Guam:\nMay 5, 1975\nCumulative\nCategory 1 (Relatives)\n358\n3,724\nCategory 2 (High Risk)\n3,668\n24,557\n4,026\n28,281\nAliens held on Guam with no category eligibility\n2,234\nCleared persons staying with ineligibles\n531\nThe latest figures for Wake as of the close of business May 3, 1975\nare as follows:\nNumber of evacuees on Wake\n4,318\nProcessed on May 3, 1975:\nUSC\nAliens\nWake\n6\n896\nProcessed by categories on May 3, 1975:\nFirst (relatives)\n119\nSecond (high risk)\n777\n896\nNumber of persons cleared by INS and waiting transportation to Mainland:\nWake\n800+\n- 2 -\nThe following represents the situation at Fort Eglin as of 6PM, May 4, 1975:\nCumulative\nArrivals\n373\nProcessed (ready to go)\nAliens\n164\nCitizens\n22\nDependents of USC's\n28\nPartially processed (no sponsor)\n145\n359\nNot yet processed\n14\n373\nAt Fort Chaffee as of May 5, 1975 the following statistics are available:\nCumulative\nArrivals\n2,695\nDepartures\n22\nProcessed\n2,045\nUSC\n36\nLPR\n0\nVietnamese\n1,994\nCambodians\n5\nOther\n10\nHolds\n650\nAt Camp Pendleton the statistics as of 6AM, May 5, 1975 are as follows:\nDaily\nCumulative\nArrivals\n3,291\n14,750\nDepartures\n926\n5,355\nProcessed:\nUSC\n21\n487\n- 3 -\nDaily\nCumulative\nLPR\n0\n60\nVietnamese/Cambodians\n828\n4,896\nTemporary hold\n736\n3,948\nOther Indochina\n0\n4\nJames Aprena Greene\nDeputy Commissioner\nUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE\nIMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE\nPLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20536\nAND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.\nMay 6, 1975\nCO 212.28a-P\nVIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT -- #20\nAt the close of business on May 6, 1975, 56,559 refugees had\nbeen received on Guam. Of this number 25,523 had been lifted\nout of Guam and the number remaining on Guam was 31,036.\nCamp Pendleton has received as of 6AM, May 6, 1975, a total\nof 16,651 evacuees. Of this number 5,910 have departed the\ncamp to relatives or agency sponsors. The remainder are in\nvarious stages of processing.\nFort Chaffee has reported the arrival of 5,016 refugees of\nwhom 120 have departed and the remainder are in various stages\nof processing.\nEglin Air Force Base has reported the arrival of 373 evacuees,\nall of whom are in various stages of processing.\nDeputy Assistant Commissioner for Inspections Thomas J. Brobson\nwas at Camp Pendleton from May 2, 1975 until May 4, 1975 to\noversee the operation there and will be at Fort Chaffee from\nMay 6, 1975 until May 8, 1975.\nFORD\nJune James Greene\nRALD\nDeputy Commissioner\n1975\nUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE\nPLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO\nIMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20536\nAND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.\nMay 8, 1975\nCO 212.28a-P\nVIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #22\nAt the close of business on May 8, 1975, 74,456 refugees had been received\non Guam. 32,251 had been lifted out of Guam and 42,205 had cleared Immi-\ngration and were awaiting transportation. the remainder were in various\nstages of processing.\nCamp Pendleton has received 22,217 refugees. Of this number 6,735 have\ndeparted and the remainder were in various stages of processing.\nFort Chaffee reports that it has received 9,059 refugees of whom 757 have\ndeparted and the remainder are in various stages of processing.\nEglin Air Force Base has received 373 arrivals of whom 256 have cleared\nImmigration.\nDeputy Commissioner James F. Greene testified before the House Subcommittee\non Immigration, Citizenship and International Law, May 7, 1975. The authoriza-\ntion bill for the program passed the Subcommittee with a minor modification.\nFORD\n&\nGERALD\nOFFICE OF RECEIVED THE\nATTORNEY GENERAL\nMAY 8 1975\nUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE\nPLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO\nIMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20536\nAND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.\nMay 9, 1975\nCO 212. 28a-P\nVIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #23\nAt the close of business on May 9, 1975, 76,713 refugees had been received\non Guam. 39,275 had been lifted out of Guam and 21,747 had cleared Immi-\ngration and were awaiting transportation. The remainder were in various\nstages of processing.\nCamp Pendleton has received 25,333 refugees. Of this number 6,948 have\ndeparted and the remainder were in various stages of processing.\nFort Chaffee reports that it has received 10,578 refugees of whom 933 have\ndeparted and the remainder are in various stages of processing.\nEglin Air Force Base has received 375 arrivals of whom 285 have cleared\nImmigration.\nGeneral Chapman testified before the Senate Foreign Appropriations Sub-\ncommittee on May 8, 1975.\nThe authorization bill for the Program which passed the House Subcommittee\non Immigration, Citizenship and International Law on May 7, 1975, passed the\nfull House Judiciary Committee on May 8, 1975.\nFORD\nMar 9 1975\nATTORNEY GENERAL\nOFFICE RECEIVED OF THE\nTHE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE\nDr. Ted marro\nRm. 103- EOB\nUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE\nIMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE\nPLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20536\nMay 12, 1975\nAND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.\nCO 212.28a-P\nVIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #24\nOn May 12, 1975, there were 92,495 refugees who had been received on Guam.\n63,271 had been processed and 13,521 were awaiting transportation to mainland\ncamps.\n25,834 refugees have been received at Camp Pendleton. 7,253 have departed\nand the remainder are in various stages of processing.\nFort Chaffee has received 19,789 of whom 1,145 have departed, with the\nremainder in various stages of processing.\nEglin Air Force Base has received 2,777 with 236 departures. The remainder\nare in various stages of processing.\nGeneral Chapman will testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee\nat 10AM on May 12, 1975. He is also scheduled to testify before the Defense\nSubcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee at 2PM on May 12, 1975.\nDeputy Commissioner James F. Greene accompanied the Task Force group on an\ninspection trip to Camp Pendleton on May 10, returning on May 11, 1975.\nFORD\nGERALD\nMAY 12 1975\nATTORNEY GENERAL\nOFFICE OF THE\nRECEIVED\nTHE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE\nDr. Ted mark\nRm. 103-EOB\nUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE\nDr. marrs\nPLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO\nIMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20536\nAND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.\nCO 212.28a-P\nMay 13, 1975\nVIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - - #25\nAs of May 13, 1975, 102,925 refugees had been received on Guam.\n53,036 had been lifted out of Guam and 49,889 remain, of which\n17,254 have been processed by Immigration.\nCamp Pendleton has received 25,834, of whom 7,253 have departed.\nFort Chaffee has received 22,586, of whom 1,290 have departed.\nEglin Air Force Base has received 2,777, of whom 263 have departed.\nGeneral Chapman will testify at 9:30 a.m. before the Senate Sub-\ncommittee on Refugees and Escapees and at 2 p.m. before the Senate\nAppropriations Committee.\nassh Mrs League Schrie Beach\nFORD + LIBRARY CERALD\nMAY 13 1975\nATTORNEY GENERAL\nOFFICE RECEIVED OF THE\nD\nUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE\nPLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO\nIMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20536\nMay 14, 1975\nAND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.\nCO 212.28a-P\nVIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #26\nAs of May 14, 1975, 103,813 refugees had been received on Guam.\n53,578 had been lifted out of Guam and 50,235 remain, of which 18,751\nhave been processed by Immigration.\nCamp Pendleton has received 25,834, of whom 7,294 have departed.\nFort Chaffee has received 23,617, of whom 1,490 have departed.\nEglin Air Force Base has received 2,777, of whom 266 have departed.\nDeputy Commissioner Greene is scheduled to give a briefing at 10:00 a.m. to\nSubcommittee Chairman Eilberg and Representatives Fish, Sarbanes, and Cohen.\nAn Authorization and Appropriation Bill for Vietnamese/Cambodian Refugee\nAssistance will be voted on today in the House.\nFORD & 07VH2\nMAY 141975 1975\nATTORNEY RECEIVED GENERAL\nTHE WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM\nTIME SENT:\nWHITE HOUSE\nRECEIVED:\nSITUATION ROOM\n'75 MAY 17 PM 12.12\n12:16\nLDX NR: 502\nPAGES: I\nCIA\nDIA/G\nSTATE\nY\nDIA/H\nNMCC\nTREAS\nANMCC\nNPIC\nNSA\nERDA\nX\nFROM: VELMA SHELTON 2735\nTO: AMB. DEAN BROWN\nRM. 7516\nFORD i LIBRARA BERALD\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nMay 18, 1975\nMEMO TO SITUATION ROOM\nPlease LDX to\nAmbassador L. Dean Brown\nDirector\nInteragency Task Force on Vietnam\nRoom 7516 - Operations Center\nDepartment of State\nWashington, D. C. 20520\nVelmo H.Shalter\nVelma H. Shelton\nRoom 103, Old EOB\nExt. 2735\nUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE\nMAY AT, 15 OFF TORNEY 1975 OF GENERAL THE RECEIVED\nPLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO\nIMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20536\nMay 15, 1975\nAND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.\nCO 212.28a-P\nVIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #27\nAs of May 15, 1975, 104,535 refugees had been received on Guam.\n55,306 had been lifted out of Guam and 49,229 remain, of which 20,120\nhave been processed by Immigration.\nCamp Pendleton has received 25,982, of whom 7,429 have departed.\nFort Chaffee has received 24,329, of whom 1,663 have departed.\nEglin Air Force Base has received 2,777, of whom 276 have departed.\nAt the request of the House Judiciary Committee, Deputy Commissioner\nGreene and other Task Force members were present in the Speaker's Gallery\nwhile the bill for Vietnam/Cambodia Refugee Assistance was being debated.\nRegarding today's Washington Post story on the release of high level\nVietnam officials from camp, early directives included the authorization\nto release certain highest level Vietnamese officials whose background\nand activities were well-known to U. S. Government officials, prior to\nthe receipt of the results of a security check. This was part of the\neffort to reduce the camp populations.\nFollowing discussion with the chairman and ranking members of the House\nJudiciary Committee on May 8, INS made a commitment to the Congressman\nthat all refugees except for close relatives of U. S. citizens and per-\nmanent resident aliens would be held at the camps until results of the\nsecurity check were obtained. At that time the earlier authorization\nwas rescinded.\nThe director of Camp Pendleton reports that to the best of his knowledge\nonly four persons were released under that authorization, and all were\ndestined to join relatives or other persons who had agreed to be respon-\nsible for them.\nSince the determination as to who is released and the conditions of release\nis solely an Immigration Service responsibility, other agency representatives\nare not routinely consulted with on these actions.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nMay 18, 1975\nMEMO TO SITUATION ROOM\nPlease LDX to\nAmbassador L. Dean Brown\nDirector\nInteragency Task Force on Vietnam\nRoom 7516 - Operations Center\nDepartment of State\nWashington, D. C. 20520\nVelma H. Shelton\nRoom 103, Old EOB\nExt. 2735\nR. FORD\nUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE\nPLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO\nIMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE\n5161.51 5261 51 1914\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20536\nMay 15, 1975\nAND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.\nCO 212.28a-P\nVIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #27\nAs of May 15, 1975, 104,535 refugees had been received on Guam.\n55,306 had been lifted out of Guam and 49,229 remain, of which 20,120\nhave been processed by Immigration.\nCamp Pendleton has received 25,982, of whom 7,429 have departed.\nFort Chaffee has received 24,329, of whom 1,663 have departed.\nEglin Air Force Base has received 2,777, of whom 276 have departed.\nAt the request of the House Judiciary Committee, Deputy Commissioner\nGreene and other Task Force members were present in the Speaker's Gallery\nwhile the bill for Vietnam/Cambodia Refugee Assistance was being debated.\nRegarding today's Washington Post story on the release of high level\nVietnam officials from camp, early directives included the authorization\nto release certain highest level Vietnamese officials whose background\nand activities were well-known to U. S. Government officials, prior to\nthe receipt of the results of a security check. This was part of the\neffort to reduce the camp populations.\nFollowing discussion with the chairman and ranking members of the House\nJudiciary Committee on May 8, INS made a commitment to the Congressmen\nthat all refugees except for close relatives of U. S. citizens and per-\nmanent resident aliens would be held at the camps until results of the\nsecurity check were obtained. At that time the earlier authorization\nwas rescinded,\nThe director of Camp Pendleton reports that to the best of his knowledge\nonly four persons were released under that authorization, and all were\ndestined to join relatives or other persons who had agreed to be respon-\nsible for them.\nSince the determination as to who is released and the conditions of release\nis solely an Immigration Service responsibility, other agency representatives\nare not routinely consulted with on these actions.\nUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE\nIMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE\nPLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20536\nMay 21, 1975\nAND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.\nCO 212.28a-P\nVIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT -#31\nAs of May 21, 1975, 104,768 refugees had been received on Guam.\n58,432 had been lifted out of Guam and 46,336 remain, of whom\n28,997 have been processed by Immigration.\nCamp Pendleton has received 26,039, of whom 8,049 have departed.\nFort Chaffee has received 26,214, of whom 2,494 have departed.\nEglin Air Force Base has received 4,494, of whom 413 have departed.\nPlans are being completed to open the military camp at Indiantown\nGap, Pennsylvania on May 25, 1975, for the reception of refugees.\nRECEIVED\nOFFICE OF THE\nATTORNEY GENERAL\nMAY 21 1975\nFORD\nUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE\nIMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE\nPLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20536\nMay 20, 1975\nAND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.\nCO 212.28a-P\nVIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #30\nAs of May 20, 1975, 104,768 refugees had been received on Guam.\n57,759 had been lifted out of Guam and 47,009 remain, of which 27,628\nhave been processed by Immigration.\nCamp Pendleton has received 26,039, of whom 7,832 have departed,\nFort Chaffee has received 25,814, of whom 2,436 have departed.\nEglin Air Force Base has received 4,494, of whom 626 have departed.\nMAY 20 1975\nATTORNEY GENERAL\nOFFICE RECEIVED OF THE\nTHE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE\nDr. Ted mass\nRm. 103-EaB\nRefugees\nUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE\nPLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO\nFite\nIMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20536\nAND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.\nCO 212.28a-P\nMay 27, 1975\nVIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT #34\nAs of May 27, 1975, 107,468 refugees had been received on Guam.\n60,419 had been lifted out of Guam and 46,955 remain, of whom\n34,996 have processed by Immigration.\nCamp Pendleton has received 26,595, of whom 8,998 have departed.\nFort Chaffee has received 27,195, of whom 3,282 have departed.\nEglin Air Force Base has received 5,464, of whom 670 have departed.\nPresident Ford signed the money authorization bill over the weekend.\nAn intensified program was begun to expedite clearances for refugees\nwho have sponsors, in order to move them quickly from the reception\ncenters and make space available for those presently on Guam.\nThe center at Indiantown Gap is staffed and operational, and expects\nthe first arrivals tomorrow.\nFORD LIBRARK i LIBRAR GERALD\n71 1975\nOFFICE or THE\nRECEIVED\nUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE\nIMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE\nPLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20536\nMay 28, 1975\nAND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.\nCO 212.28a-P\nVIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT #35\nAs of May 28, 1975, 107,468 refugees had been received on Guam.\n60,974 had been lifted out of Guam and 46,400 remain, of whom\n35,784 have been processed by Immigration.\nCamp Pendleton has received 26,595, of whom 9,057 have departed.\nFort Chaffee has received 27,195, of whom 3,573 have departed.\nEglin Air Force Base has received 5,629, of whom 1,822 have departed.\nThe staff on Guam has been reduced from 80 to 52. OIC Powell ends\nhis detail on June 1.\nThe Wake Island staff will be reduced from 5 to 1 by May 30.\nThree officers detailed to Hong Kong have returned to Guam.\nPLAY 28 1975\nATTORNEY Ct NERAL\nOFFICE OF THE\nRECEIVED\nTHE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE\nDr. T. Marrs\nCm. 103-ENB\nUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE\nPLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO\nIMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20536\nJune 3, 1975\nAND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.\nCO 212.28a-P\nAs of June 3, 1975, 107,964 refugees had been received on Guam.\n68,986 had been lifted out of Guam and 38,873 remain, of whom\n34,757 have been processed by Immigration.\nCamp Pendleton has received 27,910, of whom 12,583 have departed.\nFort Chaffee has received 27,410, of whom 3,118 have departed.\nEglin Air Force Base has received 5,826, of whom 1,464 have departed.\nIndiantown Gap has received 5,618, of whom 3 have departed.\nGuam will start to receive 250 Vietnamese refugees per day from\nSubic Bay and Clark Air Force Base. This should continue until\nJune 21.\nWake Island will receive 125 per week from Subic Bay.\nOn Thursday, the Guam force will be reduced to 23 officers and 27\nclerks, 12 of the latter being local.\nAlso on Thursday 2 officers and 2 clerks from Wake will be returning\nto their regions. This will leave only one officer. The people have\nall had over 30 days on detail so when the New Refugees build up we\nwill again send officers if necessary. There are sufficient local\nclerks to maintain the operation.\nof is estimated Susm will have\na census of 10,000 by\nFORD LIBRARY is GERALD\nJUN 3 1975\nATTORNEY OFFICE RECEIVED ENERAL THE\nOF\nUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE\nPLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO\nIMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20536\nJune 5, 1975\nAND REFER TO THIS FILE NO.\nCO 212.28a-P\nVIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT # 41\nAs of June 5, 1975, 108,310 refugees had been received on Guam.\n71,704 had been lifted out of Guam and 36,301 remain, of whom\n33,544 have been processed by Immigration.\nCamp Pendleton has received 28,584, of whom 13,379 have departed.\nFort Chaffee has received 27,735, of whom 3,244 have departed.\nEglin Air Force Base has received 5,853, of whom 1,779 have departed.\nFort Indiantown Gap has received 8,515, of whom 16 have departed.\nGeneral Chapman is inspecting Fort Indiantown Gap today.\nFORD LIBRARY & 07V030\nJUN 5 1975\nATTORNEY GENERAL\nOFFICE RECEIVED OF THE\nINTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA\nDEPARTMENT OF STATE\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20520\nR File\nJuly 3, 1975\n9\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nTHE PRESIDENT\nTHROUGH:\nMr. James T. Lynn, Director, Office\nof Management and Budget\nFROM:\nJulia Vadala Taft, Director,\nInteragency Task Force\nSUBJECT:\nStatus Report on the Indochina\nRefugee Resettlement Program\nAttached is the status report on the Indochina\nRefugee Resettlement Program through July 3.\nAttachment:\nAs stated.\ncc:\nMr. Marrs\nMr. Eisenhower\nRALD R. FORD\nMr. Semerad\nMr. Cannon\nMr. Oaxaca\nMr. Puritano\nMr. Barri\nMr. Blaydon\nSTATUS REPORT ON THE INDOCHINA REFUGEE\nRESETTLEMENT PROGRAM - JULY 3\nREFUGEE STATUS (as of July 3)\nTotal Refugees Entered US System\n130,616\nTotal Released\n47,657\nUS\n43,126\n3rd Countries\n4,531\nRepatriated\n-0-\nAvg. Daily Releases:\nWeek ending 7/3:\n687\nWeek ending 6/26:\n755\nWeek ending 6/19:\n749\nWeek ending 6/12:\n796\nTotal in US System\n82,959\nTotal in the Pacific\n19,243\nGuam\n10,602\nSubic Bay\n800\nWake Island\n7,096\nOther Asian Bases\n745\nTotal US\n63,536\nEglin AFB\n5,563\nFort Chaffee\n23,865\nCamp Pendleton\n17,620\nIndiantown Gap\n16,488\nIn Transit\n180\nPROBLEMS RESOLVED AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS\n1. Resettlement Progress\nAt the end of May, there were about 63,000 refugees in\nour overseas bases and in transit, and 46,000 in US reception\ncenters. As of today, we have about 19,000 overseas and\n2\n63,000 in the centers. Since the end of May, over 20,000\nhave been resettled in the US, and over 2,500 have been\nplaced in third countries.\n2. Repatriates\nAll refugees from the stateside camps who have asked to\nbe repatriated were previously moved to Camp Pendleton. The\ninitial movement to Guam is beginning today. The repatriates\nwill stay on Guam until the Saigon authorities allow repatri-\nation.\n3. Task Force Reorganization\nThe Task Force has just completed and submitted to OMB a\nManagement Plan which identifies objectives with detailed\nsupporting tasks, reorganizes the Task Force along functional\nlines, and provides a detailed breakout of additional staff\nrequirements. OMB is reviewing this plan and will assist in\nobtaining the necessary support from the departments. In\naddition, the move to new and larger quarters, now in progress,\nwill also promote efficiency.\n4. Director's Appearance on Hill\nThe Director is scheduled to appear the week of July 14\nbefore the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and\nInternational Law of the House Judiciary Committee. A previous\nappearance was postponed, in lieu of which Mrs. Taft sent a\nfive page letter, dated June 25, to Subcommittee Chairman\nEilberg describing Task Force accomplishments and problems\nto date.\n5. Computer Capability Increase\nEarly in the resettlement effort, IBM offered the Task\nForce, free of charge, the use of their 370/145 computer system.\nThat system having proved inadequate to Task Force needs, IBM\nhas now offered to upgrade it to a 370/158 system, affording\nincreased computer capacity. The computer is critical to\nTask Force ability to process individual sponsorship offers\nfor transmittal to the voluntary agencies. Priority arrange-\nments for staff augmentation are in process.\n3\n6. State and Local Government Sponsorships\nThe Task Force has finalized sponsorship contracts with\nWashington State (for 500 refugees) and Indianapolis (for\n400) and is in negotiation with Maine, Texas, and Illinois\nto reach similar arrangements. The Task Force is developing\na policy for State and local governments to act as resettle-\nment agents or to participate closely with existing ones.\nA letter has been sent forward via OMB for Presidential\nsignature asking Governors to follow Washington State's lead.\nIt is extremely important that the letters be signed soon\nso a major initiative can be launched with the assistance of\nthe Federal Regional Councils. The President's Advisory\nCommittee on Refugees sent the Governors a similar letter\nthis week.\n7. Chairman Eilberg Visits Reception Center\nChairman Joshua Eilberg of the Subcommittee on Immigration,\nCitizenship, and International Law of the House Judiciary\nCommittee visited the Indiantown Gap Reception Center July 2\nin the company of the Director of the Task Force. Repre-\nsentative Eilberg was pleased with the operation of the camp\nand conveyed this to the press entourage.\n8. Task Force Staff and Civil Coordinators Meet\nThe Director convened her top staff and the Civil Coor-\ndinators of the four US camps and Guam for an all-day meeting\nSunday, June 29, in Washington. The meeting, which covered\nevery aspect of the resettlement effort, afforded the\nparticipants a particularly useful forum within which to air\ncommon concerns on a face-to-face basis.\n9. General Quang\nGeneral Dang Van Quang, the former Special Assistant for\nMilitary Affairs to President Thieu, who recently entered\nCanada, may be about to be expelled by the authorities there.\nQuang's reputation for corruption is likely to evoke protests\nif he attempts to settle in the US.\nPROBLEMS PENDING\n1. Repatriation\nThe possibility of demonstrations by repatriates now at\nPendleton, but about to go to Guam, continues. A very small\n4\ngroup of agitators among the repatriates has threatened\ndisruptions if demands to return quickly to Saigon are not\nmet. While being careful in their statements to officials\nand to the media, the self-appointed leaders of some of the\nrepatriates have indirectly communicated threats to back up\ntheir demands with violence. The authorities in Saigon have\nnot yet agreed to accept the repatriates although the UNHCR\nis continuing negotiations. In spite of the fact that the\nUNHCR, not the US, is handling all repatriation negotiations,\nthis has not reduced the agitators' determination to pressure\nthe US for their immediate return to Vietnam. Once on Guam,\nthe repatriate agitators will probably try to continue, and\neven to step up, their activities. The Governor of Guam is\nconcerned about possible negative impact on tourism; indeed,\nwe understand he may send you a cable on this matter.\nAs for the UNHCR, it has made no visible progress in\nrepatriating Indochinese who have asked to return to their\ncountries. The UNHCR attempt to return 44 Vietnamese to Viet-\nnam from Thailand via tugboat aborted when the PRG demanded\nto keep the tugboat as well. At the same time, two Vietnamese\ndid return to Vietnam the first known to have been repa-\ntriated but via the DRV Embassy in Vientiane rather than\nunder UNHCR auspices. The two had been GVN Embassy officials\nin Kuala Lumpur.\n2. Stranded Escapees Not in US System\nWe estimate that there are about 10,000 escapees stranded\nin Thailand, Malaysia-Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea.\nThese people, who have been unable to find resettlement in the\ncountry of first refuge or go on to third countries, are not\nall able to enter the United States under the current parole\nprogram. Our Government, therefore, must soon decide whether\nto grant parole to additional refugees. Most of these escapees\nare now in internment areas under difficult living conditions.\nThe joint leadership of the Senate has recommended that\nwe grant paroles to those refugees not now eligible. Repre-\nsentatives of the US Catholic Bishops made the same\nrecommendation to you on June 18th.\nINTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA\nfile\nDEPARTMENT OF STATE\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20520\nWilliam\nJuly 11, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nTHE PRESIDENT\nTHROUGH:\nMr. James T. Lynn, Director, Office\nof Management and Budget\nFROM:\nJulia Julia Taft\nVadala Taft, Director,\nInteragency Task Force\nSUBJECT:\nStatus Report on the Indochina\nRefugee Resettlement Program\nAttached is the status report on the Indochina\nRefugee Resettlement Program through July 10, 1975.\nAttachment:\nAs stated.\nCC: Dr. Marrs\nFORD LIBRAR, & GERALD\nMr. Eisenhower\nMr. Semerad\nMr. Cannon\nMr. Oaxaca\nMr. Puritano\nMr. Barri\nMr. Blaydon\nSTATUS REPORT ON THE INDOCHINA REFUGEE\nRESETTLEMENT PROGRAM - JULY 10\nREFUGEE STATUS (as of July 10)\nTotal Refugees Entered US System\n130,866\nTotal Released\n52,464\nUS\n47,634\nThird Countries\n4,830\nRepatriated\n0\nAvg. Daily Releases:\nWeek ending 7/10:\n687\nWeek ending 7/3:\n687\nWeek ending 6/26:\n755\nWeek ending 6/19:\n749\nWeek ending 6/12:\n796\n25,000\nTotal in US System\n78,402\nTotal in the Pacific\n15,968\n103,000\nGuam\n8,588\nSubic Bay\n0\nWake Island\n6,844\nOther Asian Bases\n536\nTotal US\n62,117\nEglin\n4,973\nFort Chaffee\n23,333\nCamp Pendleton\n17,978\nIndiantown Gap\n15,833\nIn Transit\n317\nPROBLEMS RESOLVED AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS\nCLOSING OF SUBIC BAY CENTER\nThe last refugees left the processing center at Subic Bay\nin the Philippines July 6. Subic Bay is thus the first of the\nPacific centers to close. There remains a total of 15,968\nrefugees in the U.S. system in the Pacific, at the following\nlocations: Guam 8588, Wake Island 6844, Clark AFB 91, Hickam AFB\n109, and Thailand 336.\n1 1 2\nREPATRIATES TO GUAM\nThe majority of the refugees who have asked to be\nrepatriated have now left Camp Pendleton for Guam and those\nremaining at Pendelton are leaving as military flights are\navailable. Despite fears of demonstrations or possibly more\nserious disruptions by a small group of agitators who had been\ncriticizing the U.S. for allegedly hindering their return to\nVietnam, the flights have proceeded without incident.\nVOLUNTARY AGENCIES OPTIMISTIC\nThe voluntary resettlement agencies have again revised\nupward their estimates of their own resettlement capabilities.\nA poll of agency representatives has revealed that the agencies\nnow feel they can resettle 104,000 refugees before the end of\nthe year. Their last estimate, made in late June, was 92,000,\nan upward revision of a previous estimate of 65,000. The\nvoluntary agencies, therefore, are more confident of their\nability to move quickly in resettling refugees than at any time\nsince resettlement began. Voluntary agency ability to meet goals\nremains to be proved. We continue, therefore, to supplement\ntheir efforts by negotiating resettlement contracts with state and\nlocal governments (see below) and by trying to interest non-\ngovernmental entities in the resettlement task.\nSTATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS\nThe Task Force continues to encourage state and local\ngovernments to assume responsibility for refugees. We will send\nan information package to all state governments as soon as the\nPresident signs the letter to Governors requesting their\nsupport. Cities and counties will receive similar packets\nexplaining ways in which they can help in resettlement. Having\nconcluded contracts with the State of Washington and with Indianapolis\nthe Task Force is in the final stages of negotiations with the\nState of Maine. Cincinnati has expressed an interest in\nresettling some 5,000 refugees, and we are studying their proposal.\nVOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND OTHER PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS AGREE TO COOPERATE\nInteragency Task Force officials met July 5 in New York with\nrepresentatives of the nine voluntary agencies involved in refugee\nresettlement and with representatives of some five additional\nnon-governmental organizations (NGO's), including United Way and\nthe YMCA. The NGO's expressed their willingness to assist the\nresettlement agencies in mobilizing community resources to help\n1 1 w\nthe Indochina refugees, and they agreed to meet with the agencies\nthis week to find ways of coordinating their efforts.\nPRINTED MATERIALS FOR REFUGEES\nThe Task Force has printed and is presently distributing a\ndual language orientation handbook for Vietnamese refugees. The\nhandbook describes life in America from several facets -- social,\neconomic, governmental -- and is designed for use by refugee and\nsponsor together.\nAlso presently in distribution is a 1,500 word Vietnamese-\nEnglish phrase book, printed by the Red Cross and English-\nVietnamese dictionaries.\nPROBLEMS PENDING\nREPATRIATION EFFORT AT STANDSTILL\nThere has been no movement in the UNHCR effort to send\nrepatriates home. The authorities in Saigon have not yet been\nwilling to receive repatriates, though the UNHCR has forwarded\nto Saigon the applications of some 600 Vietnamese who have\nrequested repatriation. In a trial effort last week, the UNHCR\nmade specific repatriation travel arrangements for a group of\n44 Vietnamese to fly from Thailand to Saigon, but the PRG refused\nto allow entry without the return of the tugboat on which the\nrepatriates were located. The U.S. Government has contested\nthe return of the tugboat since it may be American property.\nThe U.S. has refused to allow the tugboat to leave Thailand pending\na determination of U.S. legal claims to the asset. The Thais,\non the other hand, refused to allow the refugees to land in Thailand.\nAs of this writing, both tugboat and repatriates -- who were under\norders to wait off the Thai coast -- are missing. There has\nbeen no contact with the boat since early in the week of July 7.\nAs for Cambodian repatriates, some 340 Khmer Army personnel\nwent home from Thailand in late May and early June as a result\nof local arrangements without UNHCR involvement. About 100 of\nthem were reliably reported to have been executed. The Royal Thai\nGovernment thereupon ceased its efforts to arrange further\nrepatriation of Khmers.\n- 4 -\nMEDIA CRITICISM OF ALLEGEDLY HIGH\nSPONSORSHIP BREAKDOWN RATE\n1\nThe Washington Post of July 9 carried an article quoting\na critic of the refugee resettlement program alleging that the\nbreakdown rate in refugee sponsorship matches is alarmingly\nhigh. We believe that the overall breakdown rate is low and\nthat, where breakdowns have taken place, they have occurred\nprimarily among Vietnamese families of American citizens who\nnow find that they are unable to care for their Vietnamese\nrelatives. In most of these cases, refugees exited the U.S.\nrefugee system directly into the hands of their American\nrelative (which they were legally entitled to do) without\never having been handled by a voluntary agency.\nRegarding their own resettlement programs, the voluntary\nagencies have each told us that they are having no particularly\nserious breakdown problems. All say the breakdown rate is low.\nThe Red Cross has told us that, since the beginning of the\nresettlement program, only five families have applied for more\nthan one week of emergency assistance.\nAlthough we have no reason to believe that the breakdown\nrate is higher than for previous refugee programs, we will con-\ntinue to monitor closely the sponsorship breakdown situation\nsince lasting and effective sponsorship matches are at the heart\nof the resettlement effort.\nGENERAL QUANG\nLieutenant General Dan van Quang, President Thieu's former\nSpecial Assistant for Military and Security Affairs who recently\nentered Canada, has been issued a deportation order by the\nCanadian authorities. Quang, who the Canadian Immigration Min-\nister is quoted as saying was \"guilty of nefarious activities\nin the drug trade,\" was asked to leave Canada as soon as he can\narrange for admission to another country. Publicly stated\nU.S. policy on Quang is that we will examine his application\nif he requests entry here. The U.S. Consulate General in\nMontreal today received a letter from Quang requesting that\nhe and his family \"be authorized to settle in the USA.\"\nINTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA\nDEPARTMENT OF STATE\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20520\nJuly 18, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nTHE PRESIDENT\n151 oniel\nTHROUGH:\nform\nMr. James T. Lynn, Director, Office\nof Management and Budget\nFROM:\nJulia Interagency Vadala Task Taft, Force Director Julia Jaft\nSUBJECT:\nStatus Report on the Indochina\nRefugee Resettlement Program\nAttached is the status report on the Indochina\nRefugee Resettlement Program through July 17, 1975.\nAttachment:\nAs stated\nCC: Dr. Marrs - WH\nFORD i LIBRARY\nMr. Eisenhower\nMr. Semerad\nMr. Cannon\nMr. Oaxaca\nMr. Puritano\nMr. Barri\nMr. Blaydon\nOgiluie\n\" O'neill\nSTATUS REPORT ON THE INDOCHINA REFUGEE\nRESETTLEMENT PROGRAM - JULY 17\nREFUGEE STATUS (as of July 17)\nTotal Refugees Entered US System\n130,851\nTotal Released\n57,793\nUS\n52,834\nThird Countries\n4,959\nRepatriated\n0\n(Requesting Repatriation - 2,435)\nAvg. Daily Releases:\nWeek ending 7/17:\n761\nWeek ending 7/10:\n687\nWeek ending 7/3:\n687\nWeek ending 6/26:\n755\nWeek ending 6/19:\n749\nWeek ending 6/12:\n796\nTotal in US System\n73,058\nTotal in the Pacific\n13,197\nGuam\n6,707\nWake Island\n6,024\nOther Asian Bases\n466\nTotal US\n59,526\nEglin\n4,427\nFort Chaffee\n22,680\nCamp Pendleton\n17,084\nIndiantown Gap\n15,335\nIn Transit\n335\nPROBLEMS RESOLVED AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS\nTESTIMONY BEFORE THE HOUSE IMMIGRATION SUBCOMMITTEE\nOn July 17, I testified for six hours before the House\nSubcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and International\nLaw, chaired by Congressman Joshua Eilberg. Major issues\ncovered were: the role of the voluntary agencies, their\nresponsibilities in settling the refugees, particularly in\nthe long run, and their funding; the employment outlook;\nthe issue of military enlistment for refugees; actual and\npotential problems of sponsors; and press criticism of\nthe resettlement effort.\nGENERAL QUANG\nGeneral Chapman, who accompanied me during the testi-\nmony, told the Subcommittee that controversial Lieutenant\nGeneral Dan Van Quang, former military assistant to Nguyen\nVan Thieu, will not be readmitted to the US refugee sys-\ntem, having voluntarily left it to enter Canada. If Quang\nwants to enter the US, he said, he will have to file for\nimmigration and undergo the normal requirements of waiting\nhis time for admission under the quota as well as complet-\ning the normal processing including rigorous screening.\nADDITIONAL REFUGEE ARRIVALS\nWe have sent new instructions to all overseas posts\nto facilitate the movement of processing of refugees stran-\nded abroad, principally in Asia. We are mainly interested\nin reuniting immediate families and in bringing to the\nUnited States former employees of the U.S. Government.\nINS Commissioner Chapman has sent a letter to the\nChairmen of both the House and Senate Judiciary Committee\nindicating our plans for an additional 12,000 Vietnamese\nand Cambodians not now in the U.S. system. These refugees\nwill include inter alia extended family members of Indo-\nchinese already here, as well as politically important Indo-\nchinese who cannot resettle in Southeast Asia. In dis-\ncussions with Congressional Committees, we are reassuring\nthem that no more than approximately 130,000 refugees will\nbe <permanently resettled in the United States.\n-2-\nPRINTED MATERIALS FOR REFUGEES\nUSIA has a number of materials that would be suitable for\norientation of the refugees which cannot be used because of\nthe statutory prohibition of domestic USIA activities. At our\nrequest, Congressman Hays is planning to introduce a joint reso-\nlution to allow the use of relevant USIA materials specifically\nfor the refugees.\nA number of magazines are providing complimentary subscriptions\nto the camps. The Governors' Conference and the National Geo-\ngraphic Society have donated maps, and we are soliciting more\nfrom the AAA, Rand McNally, and oil companies.\nBREAKDOWNS\nThe press has recently focused on a number of breakdowns and\nimplied that these are indicative of a weakness in the program,\nand, in particular, in the activities of the voluntary agencies.\nOur investigations have shown a remarkably low voluntary agency\n(VOLAG) breakdown rate, and concluded that many of the serious\nbreakdowns have occurred among refugees who were either released\ndirectly from Travis AFB or who otherwise bypassed Volag processing.\nVolags have been for some time resolving such breakdown cases, and\nlast month we issued guidelines authorizing reimbursement of costs\nup to $500 per individual in such instances, providing that no pre-\nvious payments were made.\nSTATES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS\nLos Angeles' Mayor Bradley has expressed interest in sponsoring\n2,000 refugees in addition to those who have already been settled\nin Los Angeles through private or organizational sponsorships. The\nMayor may run into opposition on this proposal on the basis that\nCalifornia has already accepted more refugees than any other state,\nalthough his interest indicates a great deal of generosity and\ncourage.\nA contract is ready for signature with Jackson County, Missouri\nwhich will take 250 people. There have been new inquiries and\nexpressions of interest from Illinois. Maine will accept all of\nits 300 refugees by August 7.\n-3-\nPROBLEMS PENDING\nREPATRIATION EFFORT STILL STALLED\nThere has still been no repatriation of refugees from\nthe US system. The UNHCR has sent 600 applications to Saigon\nfor would-be Vietnamese repatriates, and although it has\nreceived no response, remains confident that one will be\nforthcoming. UNHCR has not yet been able to contact Cambodian\nauthorities regarding repatriation.\nThe tugboat with 44 Vietnamese refugees which, as of\nlast week's report, was missing after having been ordered to\nstand off the coast of Thailand, is still missing and is assumed\nto have gone to Vietnam.\nMILITARY ENLISTMENT OPTION FOR REFUGEES\nOne of the major groups we have identified as being diffi-\ncult to resettle is about 8,000 single young men, many of whom\nhave only military experience. We have asked DOD to draft\nlegislation to offer military enlistment as an option to these\nmen. The legislation will have the following characteristics:\nthe requirement for permanent resident alien status should be\nwaived or granted; English language aptitude should not be a\nprecondition of enlistment; and the special enlistment category\nshould be large enough to include all potential recruits. In\naddition to the 8,000 men above, we have asked DOD to plan for\nan additional 2,000 married persons.\nCongressman Rodino has also written to the House Armed\nServices Committee requesting similar legislation.\nINTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA\nDEPARTMENT OF STATE\nRefuguer\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20520\nAugust 15, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nTHE PRESIDENT\nTHROUGH\n:\nfor\nMr. James T. Lynn, Director, 151 o'Neill\nFROM\n:\nOffice Julia Interagency Vadala of Management Task Taft, Force Directo and Budget Juliedaft\nSUBJECT\n:\nStatus Report on the Indochina\nRefugee Resettlement Program\nAttached is the status report on the Indochina\nRefugee Resettlement Program through August 14, 1975.\nAttachment:\nAs stated.\nCC:\nDr. Marrs\nMr. Eisenhower\nMr. Semerad\nFORD i LIBRARY GERALD\nMr. Cannon\nMr. Oaxaca\nMr. Puritano\nMr. Barri\nSTATUS REPORT ON THE INDOCHINA REFUGEE\nRESETTLEMENT PROGRAM - August 14\nREFUGEE STATUS (as of August 14)\nTotal Refugees Entered US System\n133,132\nTotal Released\n79,303\nUS\n74,660\nThird Countries\n5,643*\nRepatriated\n0\n(Requesting repatriation)\n1,830\nAvg. Daily Releases:\n(As a percentage of those in US\nSystem as of date shown)\nWeek ending 8/14\n709 (1.32% of 53,829)\nWeek ending 8/7\n796 (1.38% of 57,580)\nWeek ending 7/31\n790 (1.26% of 62,460)\nWeek ending 7/24\n778 (1.14% of 68,260)\nWeek ending 7/17\n761 (1.04% of 73,058)\nWeek ending 7/10\n687 (0.88% of 78,407)\nTotal in US System\n53,829\nTotal in the Pacific\n3,929\nGuam\n3,410\nThailand\n478\nClark\n17\nHickam\n24\nTotal US\n49,900\nEglin\n2,504\nFort Chaffee\n21,020\nCamp Pendleton\n15,397\nIndiantown Gap\n10,979\nIn Transit\n0\n* Based on adjusted CINCPAC figures.\nThe highlight of the week was your visit to Fort\nChaffee. What a warm and wonderful gesture it was!\nThe staff and the refugees were elated with your visit,\nwhich will give a big boost to the entire sponsorship\nprogram. I hope that in the coming weeks you can high-\nlight in your speeches the continuing need for groups\nand individuals as sponsors.\nPROBLEMS RESOLVED AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS\nInstructions Regarding Refugees Remaining\nin East Asia\nWe have sent instructions to posts in East Asian\ncountries where Indochina refugees are still stranded\ntelling them that we will take in all those unable to\nbe resettled elsewhere who are relatives of American\ncitizens, permanent resident aliens, or refugees in the\nU.S. system, or who are former U.S. Government employees,\nand their families. The number of remaining refugees\nin these categories is about 6,000. We also plan to take\nin some additional \"high risk\" refugees, primarily from\nThailand, who might face persecution if they were repatri-\nated and whose continued presence in friendly East Asian\ncountries might pose problems for U.S. relations with\nthose governments. We hope that our acceptance of a total\nof 3,800 additional refugees from Thailand, including some\nLaotians, will induce the Thai to begin a program as soon\nas possible, with UNHCR support, to provide relief to and\neventually resettle about 35,000 refugees, mostly Meo\ntribesmen from Laos and some Cambodians, who are expected\nto remain in Thailand.\nWe have told the posts that, after the parole of those\nlisted in the above categories has been undertaken, we will\ntake another look at the remaining refugees who cannot be\nresettled locally or in third countries. Depending on how\nmany refugees have been paroled into the U.S., and how many\nhave been resettled from the U.S. system into third coun-\ntries, we may be able to bring in up to 50 percent of the\nremaining refugees (those classified as \"high risk\") in\nEast Asian countries other than Thailand, and an additional\n1,400 from Thailand. We expect the expanded parole authority\nto result in the entry of a total of not more than 10,000\nadditional refugees from third countries by September 15.\n-2-\nThird Country Resettlement\nWe are preparing a message to the resettlement centers\npublicizing resettlement opportunities in Malawi and Morocco.\nWe are also preparing messages to our Embassies in West\nGermany and Australia asking them to make demarches to their\nhost governments to take more refugees.\nMore Local Government Interest\nin Resettlement\nIn addition to the eleven states, ten cities, and two\ncountries mentioned in last week's report, the states of\nLouisiana, Michigan and Utah have expressed interest in re-\nsettling refugees, as have the cities of Albuquerque and\nRoswell, New Mexico, and Andrews, Texas.\nPillsbury Ad\nThe Pillsbury Company on August 10 took full page ads\nin the Washington Post and the New York Times promoting\nsponsorship. The Task Force did not solicit the ad, and we\nare grateful for Pillsbury's spontaneous generosity. The\nad's statement, \"You or your sponsoring group may also be\neligible to receive up to $300 in federal funds for each\nmember of your sponsored family through the agency with\nwhich you worked,\" while not technically inaccurate, has\ncaused a surge of inquiries to the resettlement agencies,\nsince, in fact, only the US Catholic Conference routinely\npasses along as much as $300 in cash to the sponsor for each\nrefugee.\nPROBLEMS PENDING\nDecline in Average Daily Resettlement Rate\nWhile we hope that the decline in the resettlement rate\nthis week is a temporary phenomenon, we are asking the resettle-\nment centers for their assessment of the reasons for it and\npossible remedies. Fort Chaffee's resettlement effort slowed\nsomewhat during the week because of the excitement surrounding\nyour visit there and because of some displacement brought about\nby the setting up of a streamlined outprocessing system.\n-3-\nAugust vacations appear to be delaying some sponsors'\nplans to take in refugees. A shift of resources to\nEglin from other centers to assist in the phase-out of\nthat center by September 1 may also have contributed\nto the decline. In addition, movements from the U.S.\nsystem to Canada and France declined during the week,\nbecause of France's decision to take only heads of\nfamilies from U.S. camps initially until they find jobs\nin France, and, in the case of Canada, for reasons\nexplained below. Still, if the average daily resettle-\nment rate is expressed in terms of a percentage of those\nremaining to be resettled out of the U.S. system, as is\ndone in the statistical table, this week's resettlement\nrate is surpassed only by last week's. We hope next\nweek's will be better.\nResettlement to Canada\nCanada's Ambassador to the United States called on the\nUnder Secretary of State for Political Affairs on August\n13 to press Canada's request that we accept Mr. Thieu's\nformer Security Adviser, Lt. General Dan Van Quang.\nMr. Sisco told Ambassador Warren that the U.S. would not\naccept General Quang as a deportee from Canada, but would\nconsider an application from him for an immigrant visa,\nsubject to the normal requirements for such visa appli-\ncations. Canada has, since requesting that we accept\nGeneral Quang from them last week, apparently reduced its\nrate of acceptance of refugees from the U.S. system.\nCanada has just withdrawn its consular team from Camp\nPendleton; the team processed visa applications for 3,000\nrefugees during its two months of operation.\nDrugging Incident at Utapao\nA press release issued by the Defense Department has\nessentially confirmed press accounts of an incident of\nwhich the Task Force had no prior knowledge that occurred\non May 1 at Utapao Air Base in Thailand. The incident\ninvolved the administration of sodium pentathol and thorazine\nto 13 Vietnamese who had become hysterical and threatened to\ncommit suicide when told they would have to leave Utapao for\nGuam, and could neither remain in Thailand nor return to\nSouth Viet Nam. The 13 were among some 3,000 Vietnamese who\nflew from Viet Nam to Thailand on Vietnamese aircraft during\n-4-\nthe evacuation, and were allowed by the Thai Government\nto land with the stipulation that they could not remain\nin Thailand. The 13 said that when they boarded the\nVietnamese aircraft in Saigon and Bien Hoa, they were\ntold that their destination would be in the Mekong Delta\nof South Viet Nam. They are now in the repatriate Camp\non Guam.\nStrikebreakers\nWe have received complaints from the AFL/CIO regarding\na small number of Vietnamese refugees who have been\nemployed by firms involved in labor disputes. While the\nDepartment of Labor tells us that the refugees can legally\nwork for such firms (as can any citizen or resident alien)\nwe are concerned that our cordial relationship with\nGeorge Meany and the labor movement not be allowed to deteri-\norate. It is the situation at the Head Ski plant in Boulder,\nColorado that Mr. Meany is most concerned about. Four out\nof 180 \"strikebreakers\" employed at that plant are Vietnamese\nrefugees. We have asked the voluntary agency working with\nthe four refugees to try to find alternative employment offers\nand we are working on a strategy to avoid any major con-\nfrontations between the labor movement and our program in the\nfuture.\nA similar situation exists at \"Egg City\" in Southern\nCalifornia where 14 out of 112 people employed by the plant\nduring a 4 months labor dispute are Vietnamese refugees.\nThe unions concerned there are associated with Cesar Chavez,\nand the AFL/CIO is not particularly concerned.\nIn terms of public support for the resettlement program,\nwe want to avoid having refugees hired in a situation where\nthey will be accused of strikebreaking. Our ability as a\nfederal agency to control this is limited, as it should be.\nNevertheless it is quite a sticky situation.\nMilitary Enlistment as an Option for Refugees\nMembers of the Task Force held a meeting with Defense\nDepartment officials on August 13 and recommended that\nrefugees not be granted permanent resident alien status for\npurposes of military enlistment, but that the law be amended\n-5-\nto allow them to enlist prior to being given that status.\nSenator Scott is considering proposing legislation along\nthose lines which would give qualified Indochina refugees\nthe same options as Hungarian and Cuban refugees.\nIt is envisioned that refugees who were trained in\nU.S. service schools would be given preference for enlist-\nment if there is a demand in the military for their skills.\n(Helicopter pilots, for example, would not be given prefer-\nence for enlistment, even if they were U.S. trained, because\nthe military has a surplus of helicopter pilots.) Potential\nenlistees lacking certified skills in demand would have to\ncompete with Americans for enlistment spaces.\nRepatriates\nThe wire services have carried a story that a PRG\nofficial, while visiting Japan, announced that if the U.S.\nwants to make arrangements for repatriation of those on\nGuam, the U.S. would have to deal directly with South\nVietnam. If this report accurately reflects the official\nattitude of the Saigon authorities, we are in for a particularly\ndifficult situation with regard to the future of the would-be\nrepatriates.\nPlanned Closing of Eglin\nWith the impending closing of Eglin on September 1, we\nare concentrating all sponsorship initiatives and staff talent\non the drawdown there to avoid having to transfer a large\nnumber of people to Fort Chaffee. We are concerned that the\npublic perception of such a transfer would be that those\nrefugees represent hard core residuals and that Fort Chaffee\nwas being used as a \"dumping ground.' There are now 2,504\npeople at Eglin, and we hope our concentrated effort will\nresult in a rapid and effective phasedown.\n*\n*\n*\nIt has been quite a week. Thank you very much for your\nwonderful support of the program. We won't let you down.\nINTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA\nRefuge\nDEPARTMENT OF STATE\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20520\nAugust 22, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR : THE PRESIDENT\n5\nO'nill\nTHROUGH\n:\nMr. James T. Lynn, Director,\nOffice of Management and Budget\nFROM\n:\nJulia Vadala Taft, Director\nInteragency Task Force\nJulia\nSUBJECT\n:\nStatus Report on the Indochina\nRefugee Resettlement Program\nAttached is the status report on the Indochina\nRefugee Resettlement Program through August 21, 1975.\nAttachment:\nAs stated.\ncc:\nSecretary David Mathews\nDr. Marrs\nFORD\n&\nMr. Eisenhower\nMr. Semerad\nALD\nMr. Cannon\nMr. Oaxaca\nMr. Puritano\nMr. Barri\nSTATUS REPORT ON THE INDOCHINA REFUGEE\nRESETTLEMENT PROGRAM - August 21\nREFUGEE STATUS (as of August 21)\nTotal Refugees Entered US System\n133,876\nTotal Released\n84,073\nUS\n78,164\nThird Countries\n5,909\nRepatriated\n-0-\n(Requesting repatriation)\n1,831\nAvg. Daily Releases:\n(As a percentage of those in US\nSystem as of date shown)\nWeek ending 8/21\n681 (1.37% of 49,803)\nWeek ending 8/14\n709 (1.32% of 53,829)\nWeek ending 8/7\n796 (1.38% of 57,580)\nWeek ending 7/31\n790 (1.26% of 62,460)\nWeek ending 7/24\n778 (1.14% of 68,260)\nWeek ending 7/17\n761 (1.04% of 73,058)\nWeek ending 7/10\n687 (0.88% of 78,407)\nTotal in US System\n49,\n49,803\nTotal in the Pacific\n3,100\nGuam\n2,554\nThailand\n518\nClark\n7\nHickam\n21\nTotal US\n46,703\nEglin\n2,049\nFort Chaffee\n19,935\nCamp Pendleton\n15,022\nIndiantown Gap\n9,696\nIn Transit\n0\nPROBLEMS RESOLVED AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS\nMeeting with Secretary Mathews\nHEW Secretary Mathews received a briefing from the\nTask Force Director this week which concerned the current\nstatus of the program and longer term responsibilities of\nHEW when the Interagency Task Force terminates its opera-\ntions. Dr. Mathews was most interested in and supportive\nof the resettlement program and the Task Force will soon\nbegin discussing the transfer of long range resettlement\nefforts to HEW.\nHEW Regional Meetings\nState and local officials and voluntary agency repre-\nsentatives were brought together in three Federal Regions\nthis past week for briefings on the refugee program. HEW\nRegional Offices in San Francisco, Chicago, and Philadelphia\nwere hosting the sessions and each had an excellent turnout\nand favorable press coverage.\nPublic Assistance and Medicaid Guidelines\nThe HEW Task Force and the Social and Rehabilitation\nService are in the process of improving and clarifying\nguidelines to the States on Public Assistance and Medicaid.\nThe revised guidelines will be forwarded to the States next\nweek.\nThird Country Resettlement\nWe are preparing a message to the camps informing them\nof resettlement opportunities in the Ivory Coast. About\n200 refugees have responded to previous offers of resettle-\nment in Africa; all of these want to go to Gabon and we are\nsending a message to our Embassy in Libreville urging the\nGabonese Government to complete the necessary formalities\nfor their entry. There has not yet been any response from\nrefugees in the U.S. system to opportunities to resettle in\nMalawi or Morocco.\nTaiwan has expressed willingness to resettle refugees\nof Chinese descent, and we have so informed the resettlement\ncenters and concerned overseas posts.\n-2-\nLabor Relations\nThe situation mentioned in last week's report which\nled to complaints from the AFL/CIO about refugee strike-\nbreakers has been resolved. The four refugees employed\nat the Head Ski plant in Boulder, Colorado, which is in-\nvolved in a labor dispute, have accepted other jobs. The\nrefugees employed by \"Egg City,\" California are members\nof one of two competing unions and the AFL/CIO is not\nconcerned.\nPROBLEMS PENDING\nRefugees Stranded in Third Countries\nImmigration and Naturalization Service officials and\nconsular officers making a tour of refugee camps in\nThailand have reported that in one camp housing 1,400\nCambodian refugees, only 21 persons are eligible for parole\nas relatives of persons already in the United States or\nformer U.S. Government employees and their families. Many\nof those not eligible for parole are from military back-\ngrounds and might be eligible for parole in the \"high risk\"\ncategory after processing of relatives and employees is\ncompleted.\nAbout 3,300 refugees have already been brought into\nthe U.S. system from third countries under the expanded\nparole authority, or will be brought in shortly under\narrangements already made. Most of those eligible under\npresent criteria for parole are Vietnamese. By comparison,\nfew of the Cambodians stranded in third countries are former\nU.S. Government employees or have relatives in the United\nStates.\nRepatriation\n410 refugees in the repatriate camp on Guam demonstrated\npeacefully on August 19 and presented U.S. officials with a\npetition proposing that they be given a ship which they could\nsail on their own to Viet Nam.\n-3-\nFurther Decline in Out-Processing Rate\nAlthough the daily out-processing rate for the last\nthree days has been good, an extremely low rate last week-\nend produced a decline in this week's average daily re-\nlease figure. We asked the civil coordinators at the\nresettlement centers for their assessment of the decline\nand their responses indicate that the problem is not so\nmuch in finding sponsors willing to take the refugees as\nit is with refugees sometimes being reluctant to accept\noffers of sponsorship.\nSome refugees are apparently holding out for a \"better\ndeal.\" Others are timid about leaving the relatively\nprotective atmosphere of the camp where all physical ne-\ncessities are provided and where there is an abundance of\nVietnamese companionship.\nIn some cases, large groups of refugees, tied by geo-\ngraphic or religious, rather than family relationships,\nobject to being broken up for resettlement purposes.\nAnother problem appears to be that some of the voluntary\nagencies, having started the processing of a refugee, are\nreluctant to turn him over to another agency which might\nhave a made-to-order resettlement opportunity for the individual.\nWe are considering several solutions to these problems\nand will implement new processing and counseling procedures\nnext week.\nINTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA\nthe\nDEPARTMENT OF STATE\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20520\nNovember 7, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nTHE PRESIDENT\nTHROUGH:\nMr. James T. Lynn, Director, /S/ O'Neill\nOffice of Management and Budget\nFROM:\nJulieft\nJulia Vadala Taft, Director,\nInteragency Task Force\nSUBJECT:\nStatus Report on the Indochina\nRefugee Resettlement Program\nAttached is the status report on the Indochina Refugee\nResettlement Program through November 6, 1975.\nAttachment:\nAs stated.\nCC: Secretary Mathews\nDr. Marrs\nMr. Eisenhower\nMr. Semerad\nGETAL FORD James\nMr. Cannon\nMr. Oaxaca\nMr. Puritano\nMr. Barri\nSTATUS REPORT ON THE INDOCHINA REFUGEE\nRESETTLEMENT PROGRAM - NOVEMBER 6\nREFUGEE STATUS (as of November 6)\nTotal Refugees entered US System\n140,823\nTotal Released\n126,403\nTotal Remaining in US System\n14,420\nTotal Released\n126,403\nUS\n118,263\nThird Countries\n6,594\nRepatriated\n1,546\n(Requesting Repatriation - 192)\nAverage Daily Releases\nTotal Releases\n(for the week)\nWeek ending 11/6\n312\n(2,186)\nWeek ending 10/30\n518\n(3,628)\nWeek ending 10/23\n513\n(3,590)\nWeek ending 10/16\n449\n(1)\n(3,145)\n(1)\nWeek ending 10/9\n490\n(3,432)\nWeek ending 10/2\n498\n(3,486)\nTotal Remaining in US System\n14,420\nTotal in the Pacific\n0\nGuam\n0\nThailand\n0\nTotal US\n14,420\nFort Chaffee\n10,391\nIndiantown Gap\n4,029\nIn Transit\n0\n(1)\nadjusted to correct report of October 16\nPROBLEMS RESOLVED AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS\nIATF Comments to OMB on Refugee Status Bill\nThe Justice Department has prepared a draft\nbill which would allow the Indochina refugees to\nobtain permanent resident alien status in two\nyears, retroactive to the date of arrival in the\nUnited States. This legislation is necessary\nbecause of the limited number of immigrant visas\nallotted annually to parolees. Without this\nlegislation, it could take over 20 years to adjust\nthe status of the Indochina refugees paroled into\nthe United States. In a report to OMB on the draft\nbill, the Task Force indicated it supported the\nbill in principle, but strongly recommended that\nthe waiting period be reduced from two years to\none year. Several VOLAG representatives indicated\ntheir approval of this bill, but with the one year\nprovision, when it was discussed at a mid-week\nmeeting. I strongly urge the Administration to\nmove quickly to have a bill introduced.\nIRS Releases Pamphlet on Tax Status for Refugees and\nSponsors\nThe Internal Revenue Service has completed\nwork on a pamphlet discussing income tax questions\nof interest to refugees and sponsors. The pamphlet,\nwhich is prepared in a question and answer format,\nis being distributed to IRS offices and national\nprivate tax publication services. Fifty thousand\ncopies are also being printed for distribution to\nrefugees, sponsors, and potential sponsors. Of\nparticular interest is the IRS position that,\ngenerally, a charitable contribution deduction is\nallowed for food, clothing and other incidentals\ngiven to a refugee living in a sponsor's home. A\n- 2 --\ndeduction is also allowed for the value of hous-\ning, food, clothing and medical needs donated to a\nchurch committee sponsoring a refugee.\nPROBLEMS PENDING\nOutprocessing Decreases This Week\nAs I anticipated, our outprocessing rates\nthis week have decreased as a result of Camp\nPendleton's closing. We need to maintain an average\nweekly outprocessing rate of 250 refugees to meet\nour end of year deadline to close the remaining\nresettlement centers. I have assigned an IATF\nManagement Team to Indiantown Gap to assist in\nexpediting refugee outprocessing, and the numbers\nof refugees departing Indiantown Gap have begun to\nincrease over previous weeks. I plan to assign a\nsimilar team to Fort Chaffee.\nINTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA\nDEPARTMENT OF STATE\nJule\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20520\nNovember 14, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nTHE PRESIDENT\nTHROUGH:\nMr. James T. Lynn, Director,\nOffice of Management and Budget\nFROM:\nUulia Vadala Taft, Director,\nInteragency Task Force\nSUBJECT:\nStatus Report on the Indochina\nRefugee Resettlement Program\nAttached is the status report on the Indochina Refugee\nResettlement Program through November 13, 1975.\nAttachment:\nAs stated.\nCC: Secretary Mathews\nDr. Marrs\nMr. Eisenhower\nMr. Semerad\nMr. Cannon\nMr. Oaxaca\nFORD LIBRARY i GERALD\nMr. Puritano\nMr. Barri\nSTATUS REPORT ON THE INDOCHINA REFUGEE\nRESETTLEMENT PROGRAM - NOVEMBER 13\nREFUGEE STATUS (as of November 13)\nTotal Refugees entered US System\n140,716 (1)\nTotal Released\n128,101 (1)\nTotal Remaining in US System\n12,615\nTotal Released\n128,101 (1)\nUS\n120,065\nThird Countries\n6,490\nRepatriated\n1,546\n(Requesting Repatriation - 222)\nAverage Daily Releases\nTotal Releases\n(for the week)\nWeek ending 11/13\n261\n(1,825)\nWeek ending 11/6\n312\n(2,186)\nWeek ending 10/30\n518\n(3,628)\nWeek ending 10/23\n513\n(3,590)\nWeek ending 10/16\n449\n(3,145)\nWeek ending 10/9\n490\n(3,432)\nTotal Remaining in US System\n12,615\nFort Chaffee\n9,259\nIndiantown Gap\n3,356\nIn Transit\n0\n(1)\nexcludes 127 Third Country Nationals\nPROBLEMS RESOLVED AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS\nUNHCR Visits Indiantown Gap\nUN High Commissioner for Refugees, Prince Sadruddin Aga\nKhan, accepted my invitation and accompanied me on a visit to\nIndiantown Gap on November 12. It was his first visit to one\nof our reception centers and, given his considerable knowledge\nof refugee camps throughout the world, I was pleased when he\nsaid he was impressed with the administration and facilities\nat Indiantown Gap, and in particular the educational programs\nthere.\nThe High Commissioner spoke with the refugees who are\nrequesting repatriation and promised them he would continue\nto seek approval for their return to Indochina. Many,\napparently satisfied with his promise, accepted sponsorship\noffers and arrangements were started the following day for them\nto leave camp and join sponsors to await the opporunity to\nbe repatriated. There is still a group of about 150 repatriates\nin Chaffee who will not accept sponsorships. Special arrange-\nments will be made for them.\nResettlement Progress\nThe voluntary agencies working at Fort Chaffee and Indiantown\nGap have assured me that there are sufficient sponsorship\noffers to meet the needs of the 12,615 refugees remaining in\nthe system. Below is a list of the resettlement agencies\nshowing the impressive number of refugees they have already\nprocessed:\nAgency\nRefugees Resettled\nLutheran Immigration & Refugee Service\n14,800\nChurch World Service\n15,000\nUnited HIAS Service, Inc.\n3,275\nU.S. Catholic Conference\n42,000\nInternational Rescue Committee\n16,700\nTolstoy Foundation, Inc.\n2,900\nAmerican Council for Nationalities\nService\n2,000\nTravelers Aid-International Social\nServices\n390\nAmerican Fund for Czechoslovak\nRefugees\n810\nState of Maine\n167\nCity of Indianapolis\n71\nState of Washington\n1,502\nState of Oklahoma\n359\nState of Iowa\n631\nChinese Consolidated Benevolent\nAssociation\n838\n- 2 -\nPROBLEMS PENDING\nTransportation\nWe have been advised to expect some difficulty in scheduling\nflights for refugees to leave the reception centers and join\nsponsors during the holiday season from November 15 through\nJanuary 1. Airport congestion may also cause confusion for\nrefugees, particularly those who don't speak English. We will\nbe working with CAB and the Department of Transportation to\nsensitize the airlines and buslines to the special needs of\nthe refugees.\nAwards\nWith the desire to provide suitable recognition to all\nthe dedicated people who have contributed to the resettlement\nof the Indochina refugees, I have written you two memos, dated\nNovember 10 and 11, proposing the award of Presidential\nCitations and certificates of commendation and the creation of\na military Humanitarian Service Medal.\nI believe such awards would be appropriate recognition of\nthe work of those who served in or with the Presidential Task\nForce.\nManpower Programs\nIn a recent meeting with Department of Labor officials\nI requested that some funds appropriated under the Comprehensive\nEmployment and Training Act (CETA) for specific target groups\nbe earmarked for Indochina refugees. DOL said there was very\nlittle flexibility in any funds available for such use, but\nindicated that funds already allocated by DOL to local and\nstate governments might be made available to refugees resettled\nin the area.\nI hope that during the next fiscal year, CETA funds can\nbe made available for the needs of the refugees.\nChicken-pox at IGMR\nIndiantown Gap has been struck by chicken-pox. Aside from\nthe obvious discomforts of the disease for the children among\nthe refugee population of the camp, and the difficulties of\ncontaining the disease within the camp, the only other problem\nis that the departure of several refugee families from the\ncamp has been delayed temporarily by the epidemic.\n- 3 -\nLabor Disputes\nThe AFL-CIO has been calling our attention to some isolated\nincidents where refugees are being hired as strikebreakers. We\ncontinue to do our best, through the resettlement agencies, to\navoid placing refugees in such situations and to offer alterna-\ntives when the problems develop.\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nWear Julia\nin me Gram typlwon\nThat wasn't luch\nINTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA\nFile\nDEPARTMENT OF STATE\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20520\nNovember 21, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nTHE PRESIDENT\nTHROUGH:\nMr. James T. Lynn, Director, /3/ O'Apice\nFROM:\nPrint\nOffice of Management and Budget\nJulia Vadala Taft, Director,\nInteragency Task Force\nSUBJECT:\nStatus Report on the Indochina\nRefugee Resettlement Program\nAttached is the status report on the Indochina Refugee\nResettlement Program through November 20, 1975.\nAttachment:\nAs Stated.\nCC: Secretary Mathews\nDr. Marrs\nMr. Eisenhower\nMr. Semerad\nMr. Cannon\nMr. Oaxaca\nMr. Puritano\nMr. Barri\nFORD & LIBRARY GERALD\nSTATUS REPORT ON THE INDOCHINA REFUGEE\nRESETTLEMENT PROGRAM - NOVEMBER 20\nREFUGEE STATUS (as of November 20)\nTotal Refugees entered US System\n140,718\nTotal Released\n130,453\nTotal Remaining in US System\n10,265\nTotal Released\n130,453\nUS\n122,383\nThird Countries\n6,524\nRepatriated\n1,546\n(Requesting Repatriation - 217)\nAverage Daily Releases\nTotal Releases\n(for the week)\nWeek ending 11/20\n336\n(2,352)\nWeek ending 11/13\n261\n(1,825)\nWeek ending 11/6\n312\n(2,186)\nWeek ending 10/30\n518\n(3,628)\nWeek ending 10/23\n513\n(3,590)\nWeek ending 10/16\n449\n(3,145)\nTotal Remaining in US System\n10,265\nFort Chaffee\n7,689\nIndiantown\n2,576\nIn Transit\n0\nPROBLEMS RESOLVED AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS\nIran Resettlement Program\nFifteen truck drivers and some dependents comprising\na total of 23 refugees arrived in Tehran on November 20.\nAt the request of the Iranian Ministry of Labor, Fort\nChaffee officials made last minute arrangements for inter-\nnational drivers licenses for the drivers. Some other\ntruck drivers, some pilots, and a few people in medically\nrelated fields are also interested in going to Iran, and\nwe are working with the Iranian Government to attempt to\novercome some difficulties involved with their applications.\nTyphoon in Guam\nThe miraculous luck we have had seems to be still\nwith us. The recent typhoon on Guam, had it occurred a\nmonth earlier, would literally have swept some of the\nrefugee facilities out to sea.\nTransportation of Refugees during the Holidays\nWe had a cordial meeting with officials of the CAB,\nICC, and the Department of Transportation earlier this\nweek. Officials of those agencies have been extremely\nhelpful in suggesting and implementing ways to assist\nrefugees traveling during the holiday season. As a\nresult of the meeting, the Air Transport Association\nwill send a letter to all airlines asking for special\ntreatment for the refugees. Special airline ticket\ncovers are being prepared for the use of refugees and\nticket agents.\nThe period from December 22 through January 3 will\nstill be a difficult one for traveling, though, and un-\nless we can clear the reception centers before December\n22, we may find it necessary to continue operations into\nJanuary, 1976.\nRepatriate Ship\nThank you for your kind letter on the successful\nreturn of the 1,546 repatriates aboard the Vietnam Thuong\nTin I. I have passed along your thanks to all the Task\nForce and military personnel involved in the operation.\n- 2 -\n\"Tomorrow\" Show\nI will be taping an interview with NBC today to be\nused on the \"Tomorrow\" show on Thanksgiving night. The\nshowing date seems a most fitting and symbolic one.\nPROBLEMS PENDING\nAdditional Parole Authority\nI have sent a memorandum to the State Department\nsuggesting that joint efforts be undertaken with INS to\nparole additional refugees on a selective basis, particu-\nlarly from Thailand where the quotas have been outstripped\nby the number of eligible refugees.\nI believe low-key consultations with Congress could\nresult in flexibility to bring in additional refugees\nwithin the overall parole ceiling of 150,000 agreed to\nin May. This would permit us to more fully meet our\nobligations to refugees closely associated with the\nUnited States or former Indochinese governments who are\nstranded in countries where permanent resettlement is not\nfeasibile. Any refugees admitted as a result of such\nconsultations would come in through traditional resettle-\nment channels--not our camp system.\nMass Sponsorships\nA number of isolated incidents have been brought to\nmy attention where the needs of certain individual refu-\ngees have been overlooked in the processing of mass spon-\nsorships. In response, in addition to investigating each\ncase reported, I have sent a telegram to each of the\nresettlement agencies reminding them of the need for metic-\nulous attention to detail in mass sponsorships and at\nleast the same degree of care that characterizes their\nhandling of individual sponsorships.\nAwards\nAs the resettlement program draws to a close, I am\nconcerned that appropriate recognition be given to all the\npeople who made the effort a success. My memoranda to you\nof November 10 and 11 on this subject outline some of the\nways I believe the country can show its gratitude for the\nextraordinary work of all connected with the Presidential\nTask Force."
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