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19077077
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Indochina Refugees - President's Advisory Committee: Meeting, 6/25/75 (3)
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19077077
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Indochina Refugees - President's Advisory Committee: Meeting, 6/25/75 (3)
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Theodore C. Marrs Files (Ford Administration)
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1975-07-31
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1975-06-01
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1975
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The original documents are located in Box 11, folder "Indochina Refugees - President's Advisory Committee: Meeting, 6/25/75 (3)" of the Theodore C. Marrs Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Copyright Notice The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Digitized from Box 11 of the Theodore C. Marrs Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library REPORT TO THE CONGRESS FORD & 038410 LIBRARY INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON INDOCHINA REFUGEES JUNE 15, 1975 INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON INDOCHINA REFUGEES REPORT TO THE CONGRESS JUNE 15, 1975 Transmittal Letter to the President Report to the Congress Page Annexes I. Historical 1 -- Chronology of Events 4 -- Interagency Task Force Members 5 -- Members of the President's Advisory Committee on Refugees 6 -- Statistical Summary of Refugee Flow by Weeks 7 -- Statistical Summary of Refugee Flow by Reception Centers 8 --- Interagency Toll Free Number II. The Refugee Profile 11 -- Background and Skills 12 -- Destination of Refugees in the United States 13 -- Destination of Refugees to Third Countries III. Guidelines for Reception Centers 15 -- Outline of Processing Activities 16 -- INS Clearance 17 -- HEW Activities 20 -- Department of Labor Counseling 22 -- Sponsorship 27 -- Reunification of Indochinese Refugees Families 29 -- Uniform Refugee Travel Control Procedures IV. Resettlement Programs 33 -- Resettlement Agency Programs and Progress 37 -- State and Local Government Resettlement Activities 38 -- Model for State and Local Government Program 40 -- Model for Local Organization Program FORD BEROLD Page Annexes (continued) V. Resettlement Support from the Federal Government 43 -- Health, Education and Welfare Programs 61 -- Department of Labor Job Counseling VI. Budgetary Data 65 -- State Department Funded Programs 66 -- HEW Funded Programs INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA DEPARTMENT OF STATE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20520 June 18, 1975 Dear Mr. President: The Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1975 requires that you transmit to the Congress a report describing the status of the refugees from Cambodia and South Vietnam not more than thirty days after the enactment of the Act. Attached is a report on the activities of the Interagency Task Force during the past two months for inclusion in your report to the Congress. I have attempted to make an open and forthright statement about our activities and have attached a lengthy set of annexes with additional statistical material, detailed descriptions of various aspects of our programs and policy guidelines. A report of this kind tends to omit the human dimension of the problems we have faced transporting more than 130,000 evacuees halfway around the world, setting up small cities where the refugees can be housed temporarily and processed while they await the opportunity to move to their new homes, and establishing a broad spec- trum of programs which will enable these new residents of our country to integrate themselves quickly into our society. In addition, the report does not give full credit to the wide ranging support we have received from the voluntary agencies, state and local governments, citizen's groups and private individuals who have joined in the national resettle- ment effort. The Task Force has had tremendous cooperation in this undertaking from all levels of the Executive Branch in setting up and administering this program and from the Congress in providing prompt and effective legislative support. I believe that the Government and the American people have responded to the plight of the Indochina FORD The President, The White House, GERALD Washington, D.C. -2- refugees in the best tradition of our country and that we should all be proud of the progress during these past eight weeks. Yet the job is not over. There are still several problems ahead as outlined in the report which we believe can be overcome through the continuing coopera- tion among all levels of the United States Government and the support of the American people. Sincerely, Julia Vadala Jaft Julia Vadala Taft Director, Interagency Task Force INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON INDOCHINA REFUGEES REPORT TO THE CONGRESS JUNE 15, 1975 Introduction On June 16, the Interagency Task Force on Indo- china refugees had been in operation for 60 days. Events have moved quickly during this brief time. In the first days after the Task Force was established on April 18, the world was witness to the collapse of the armed forces of Vietnam, a dramatic air and helicopter evacuation from Saigon, the fleeing of tens of thousands of refugees from their homelands, and the installation of new regimes in Vietnam and Cambodia. The President assigned to the Interagency Task Force, with representatives from almost every cabinet level agency in the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government, the responsibility for the coordina- tion of the evacuation effort and the refugee and resettlement problems relating to the Vietnam and Cambodia conflicts. The activities of the Task Force during the two months of its existence have included: --the coordination of the evacuation of 86,000 U.S. citizens and South Vietnamese by air and sea in U.S. military or chartered craft; --the establishment, supply, and staffing of staging centers at Guam and Wake for the care and preliminary processing of the refugees and other reception centers at Camp Pendleton, Fort Chaffee, Eglin Air Force Base, and Fort Indiantown Gap for the final processing of the refugees prior to their resettlement in the United States; --the reception into these camps of 131,399 evacuees as of June 15; --the organization and coordination of health, social security, and security check procedures to 2 facilitate the departure of refugees from the centers. As of June 15, 33,321 of the evacuees had left the centers for new places of residence in the United States; --testimony which led to the passage act of "The Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1975" to fund the refugee program which the President signed into law on May 24, nineteen days after the first of nine appearances by Task Force members before Congressional Committees and Subcommittees; --the promotion of international resettlement efforts through initiatives to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Intergovernmental Committee on European Migration (ICEM) and through direct contact with third countries which has resulted in the departure to date from U.S. territory of 3,756 refugees for resettlement elsewhere; in addition, several thousand refugees who fled elsewhere have been accepted for resettlement in third countries. In Western Europe and Canada, over ten thousand Vietnamese and Cambodians stranded by the sudden outcome of the wars have been allowed to stay inde- finitely. --the negotiation of contracts with nine volun- tary agencies to support their resettlement programs in the United States; --negotiations with interested state and local governments for special resettlement programs in their communities; --organizing special programs with private American business organizations to provide jobs and housing, or commodity support for refugees; --the establishment of guidelines for the States which explained the nature of Federal Govern- ment financial support in the fields of health and medical services, education, and welfare services. 3 Statistical Summary As of June 15, a total of 131,399 evacuees had entered the U.S. system of control, of whom 36,188 were in Western Pacific reception centers, 58,654 in continental U.S. reception centers, 480 en route to centers, 33,321 had been released from the centers for resettlement in the United States and 3,756 for resettlement in other countries. An analysis of refugee status for June 15 by reception center reveals the following: Number of Number of Number of Reception Center Capacity** Refugees Evacuees Refugees at Center Released Released to in U.S. Third Countries Guam, Wake & other Western Pacific Sites 56,286 36,188 762 2,178 Travis* 0 5,750 Pendleton 18,500 17,077 15,737 899 Chaffee 25,000 22,525 7,054 577 Eglin 5,000 4,251 2,691 102 Indiantown Gap 17,000 14,801 327 0 94,842 32,321 3,756 *Initial continental U.S. processing center no longer in use **Capacity figures in the continental U.S. reflect surge capacity for period of June 15 to July 15. A survey of 99,580 refugees who were within the care of the United States Government on June 10, showed 19,619 heads of household, 79,929 family members attached to the households and 32 orphans. A total of 15,134 of the 99,580 refugees have U.S. citizen or permanent resident relatives or sponsors. (As of that date, the Immigration and Naturalization Service listed 1,885 orphans who had entered under "Operation Babylift" and had been placed for adoption.) 4 Upon their release from the reception centers, the refugees have been located in all parts of the country, although the principal destinations are clustered on the Pacific coast, the highly urbanized centers on the East Coast, Florida, and Texas. As of June 10, the States which led as destinations for refugees were: 1. California 8,135 7. Florida 939 2. Virginia 1,614 8. Maryland 918 3. New York 1,604 9. Washington 651 4. Texas 1,246 10. Pennsylvania 562 5. D.C. 1,202 11. Illinois 514 6. Hawaii 1,075 12. Ohio 504 Reception Center Processing and Preparation for Initial Resettlement At the reception centers on Guam and Wake, the refugees receive basic health care and begin processing for entry into the United States, which includes the initiation of the security clearance. Representatives from the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR), the Intergovernmental Committee on European Migration (ICEM), the International Red Cross (ICRC) and some third countries (Canada and Australia at times) have been present on Guam to assist refugees who wish to go to third countries or return home. The other western Pacific refugee centers -- in the Philippines and Thailand -- serve as temporary holding areas for refugees awaiting transportation to Guam and Wake. Of special concern at the Western Pacific sites has been the possibility after May 1 of a typhoon on Guam which is the largest of the reception centers and has a capacity for 50,000 refugees. Tropical typhoons would seriously threaten many of the temporary shelters. The number of refugees on Guam had been decreased from 43,939 on June 1 to 26,447 on June 15. An order was issued on June 13 to reduce the refugee population on Guam to the level capable of being housed in other than tent quarters no later than June 24. By that date all tent quarters should be dismantled. The major activities at the four reception centers in the continental United States are: 5 --the provision of food, shelter, clothing and other necessities; --processing by the Immigration and Naturalization Service, including interviewing, fingerprinting, photographing, creating of an alien file, security clearance verification, completion of parole document authorization of employment, and granting of parole; --processing by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, including medical screening, assignment of a social security number, initiating action to reunite split families, explaining voluntary agency and sponsorship role to the refugees, and determining resources for travel; --providing employment counseling through the Department of Labor, including identification of skills, analysis of sponsor-related job offers, and information on skill demand and excesses by location; --language training and cultural orientation which are presently being provided by volunteer agencies, individual volunteers, and State and Federal personnel; --recreational activities, generally under the aegis of the YMCA and other volunteer organizations. --arranging sponsorship through the voluntary resettlement organizations in most cases but also directly through State and local governments in some instances. During the middle part of May, the principal delay in resettlement resulted from the requirement to complete clearances for all refugees prior to their departure from reception centers. Normal INS security procedures require clearance for entry into the United States by INS, the CIA, the FBI, and the Department of State. At the request of the House Judiciary Subcommittee, the Task Force also instituted clearance with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department of Defense. To expedite the new security clearance process, the records of the individual agencies were assembled in Washington and in several 6 instances computerized, the collection point for the cleared statements was centralized at INS headquarters in Washington where it could be cabled to the respective camp, and the initiating request for the security clearance was begun on Guam rather than waiting for the refugees to arrive in the United States. At the present time, many security clearances are completed in a matter of hours. Sponsorship -- placing the refugee with an individual or organization willing and able to assume responsibility for assisting in the refugee's inte- gration into the American economy and society on a self-sufficient basis -- will continue to be the key element in the resettlement of the Indochinese refugees. Offers of sponsorship from the public are being solicited by the voluntary resettlement agencies, public and private organizations and by the Task Force itself. Each of the voluntary agencies works in its own way to develop sponsorships: reli- gious groups generally through local churches and non-sectarian organization through a network of community groups who have supported them in the past. Officials in the State of Washington, the cities of Cincinnati and Honolulu and other communi- ties around the country have expressed interest in developing local programs for the resettlement of refugees. In response to an outpouring of public interest in providing assistance, the Task Force established a toll-free telephone number on May 5 to receive and record such offers. As of June 15, the Task Force had received more than 20,000 calls in addition to hundreds of letters containing other offers of assistance. The sponsorship offers received by the Task Force as well as the personal data collected about the refugee upon arrival in the United States have been placed in a central computer bank. Printouts of sponsorship offers are being made available to the voluntary agencies. Computer terminals have been installed at each voluntary agency headquarters and at each of the reception centers to provide instant access to the information which has been stored in the computer. This information is available to supplement the voluntary agencies' normal sources of support. 7 Verifications of the sponsorship offer from other than those groups which the voluntary agency has had regular contacts with is one of the most important and, at the same time, most difficult elements in the entire resettlement process. Since the Federal Government is not the proper agent to evaluate whether the offering party has the means, good-will and follow-up ability to provide continuing support for the refugee, the voluntary agencies have agreed to attempt verification of the sponsorship offers which have been generated by the toll free number. After the assurance of sponsorship has been obtained and the security check has been completed, the refugee is ready for release from the reception center. Transportation to a point near the sponsor's community is arranged by the center. If it is determined that the refugee or sponsor cannot afford all or part of these transportation costs, transporta- tion is provided under the resettlement program. Resettlement The resettlement of the refugee in American society is a cooperative effort involving the sponsor and his community, the voluntary agency, and the Federal Government. Sponsorship involves a moral commitment to provide food, shelter, clothing, pocket money, ordinary medical costs and assistance in finding employment to enable the refugee to become self- sufficient. While one family group is usually designated as the sponsor of each refugee family, the voluntary agencies have usually contacted a community group, church or civic organization to provide supplementary assistance in kind and advice to the sponsor and the refugee. Resettlement is a long-term proposition. Family problems may develop, the first job might prove unsatisfactory, or economic conditions may alter the sponsor's ability to be of assistance. Since the resettlement process often involves a difficult cultural adjustment for the refugee family, requiring more assistance than for an American 8 newcomer to the community, the community group designated to support the sponsor plays an essential role in the assimilation process. If the sponsor and his community fail to provide the adjustment assistance or personal difficulties develop, the responsibility for a second attempt rests with the voluntary agency. The Task Force has been encouraging each of the voluntary agencies to ensure that every refugee under its aegis knows whom to contact if the sponsorship breaks down. The voluntary agency may attempt a second resettle- ment effort in the same or a nearby community or move the refugee family to a different part of the country. Recently, occasional stories in the press have reported that refugees have gone on welfare shortly after arriving in a community. In most cases, these are refugees who arrived in the United States and left the reception centers before the vo- luntary agencies were actively involved in resettle- ment or refugees whose American-resident relatives were unable to provide sufficient assistance. The responsibilities of the Federal Government are both residual -- in cases of total breakdown of sponsorship -- and direct --- to provide initial support for the refugees through the sponsorship program and to the communities in which the refu- gees have settled. The Social and Rehabilitation Service (SRS) of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, working through State welfare agencies, is responsi- ble for the provision of financial assistance, medical assistance, and social services to Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees, as the need arises, after their resettlement in communities throughout the nation. Federal funds under the SRS refugee assistance program will be utilized to reimburse the States 100% for such assistance and services so that a refugee will not become an extra burden on State or local resources if the resettlement plan breaks down. The following are the principal provisions of the program to provide financial assistance, medical assistance, and social services to needy refugees: 9 --Needy individuals and families will be assisted regardless of family composition. --State welfare agencies are required to verify with the sponsors of refugees that the resettlement has broken down before assistance can be granted. --Financial assistance to refugees will be based on the same standards of need and the same payment levels as apply in the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program. --Medical assistance will be provided to meet health needs of needy refugees and to help keep sponsorships from breaking down if major medical costs arise. --Social services will be provided in accordance with a State's approved plan for service programs so that refugees are eligible for the same range of services as other residents of the communities in which they settle. Other federal programs are designed to assist the refugee become integrated into American society: --Negotiations are under way to develop language and orientation materials and provide technical assistance to school districts. --Plans are being developed to implement a grant program to school districts. --Refugees have been declared eligible for HEW's direct student aid programs for post-secondary students. --The Department of Labor, in cooperation with State and local employment agency representatives, is presently identifying occupational skills of refugees and providing counseling about employment and training possibilities in areas where they are resettling. The Interagency Task Force has promulgated two & FORD general guidelines in an effort to influence areas GERALD 10 of resettlement: (1) to avoid resettlement in areas of high unemployment; and (2) to avoid high concen- trations of refugees in any specific community. The Department of Labor's counseling program at each of the camps provides assistance to the refugees and to the voluntary agencies in avoiding areas of high unemployment or areas where the refugee's skills are already in excess. As a matter of fact, the voluntary agencies generally have received fewer offers of assistance, especially job-related, from communities with high unemployment rates. The voluntary agencies have also shown general understand- ing of the importance of avoiding the concentration of large numbers of refugees in any single community. Refugees are presently resettling in all parts of the country. Since any resident of the United States is free to move and to settle in any location, it is nevertheless possible that clusters of Vietnamese may assemble in selected parts of the country at a future date. Repatriation On May 8 the Task Force sent the following message to all U.S. diplomatic posts and to U.S. refugee camps: 1. The following provides official USG policy for those refugees who wish to return to Indochina, whether they are in third countries or the United States. 2. The United States will not repeat not interfere with their effort to return to their country of origin. All cases which come to the attention of the USG will be promptly referred to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees who will assume responsibility for screening, care and maintenance if necessary, and onward transportation under the auspices of the Intergovern- mental Committee on European Migration or through other means if required 11 Civil coordinators at the camps were then directed to post notices and circulate information in camp newspapers that persons desiring repatria- tion were free to do so and should indicate their wishes to specified members of camp staffs. At the same time, discussions were held with the UNHCR, who agreed that assistance to persons wishing repatriation was within his mandate. The UNHCR then spoke with the Vietnamese authorities who agreed to its proposed role in the organization of repatriation. UNHCR representatives at Guam, Chaffee, Camp Pendleton, Eglin Air Force Base, and Indiantown Gap, as well as UNHCR representatives in other countries, have been interviewing applicants for repatriation, using a questionnaire developed jointly between the UNHCR and the Vietnamese authorities. At the request of the UNHCR, the American Red Cross (ARC) is assisting the program in the U.S. If refugees outside the camps indicate a desire to go home, the UNHCR and the Red Cross are informed and arrangements are made to interview the applicants. Completed questionnaires are forwarded by the UNHCR representative to his headquarters in Geneva and from there to the Vietnamese authorities for their consideration. Repatriation to Cambodia is not yet as well planned as return to Vietnam. Arrangements similar to those for Vietnamese repatriation are being worked out by the UNHCR to accommodate those Cambodians who wish to be repatriated. (On May 29 and June 1 about 340 Khmer armed forces personnel returned from Thailand to Cambodia under arrangements between the Thai Supreme Command and the Khmer local authorities at the border without reference to the UNHCR.) The United States Government will pay the costs of movements back to home countries from the money appropriated for resettlement outside the U.S. As of June 15, a total of 1,917 Indochina refu- gees under U.S. administration had indicated a desire for repatriation. 12 The speed and form of the repatriation effort now are essentially in the hands of the present authorities in Saigon who will accept or reject the applicants for repatriation. Third Country Resettlement From the beginning, we have made every effort to internationalize Indochina refugee resettlement. On April 10, Department of State officials met with John Thomas, Director of ICEM, who agreed to take up with his Executive Committee the need for the full machinery and expertise of his agency as a matter of urgency. On April 12, before the fall of the Khmer Republic, the State Department instructed its Geneva Mission to request assistance from the UNHCR and ICEM in resettling Khmer refugees throughout the world. A similar instruction per- taining to Vietnamese refugees went out on April 17. Because of our desire to take no action which would precipitate the collapse of the Khmer and Vietnam governments, these approaches were made privately but they focused the attention of the international agencies on the problem and stimulated preparations for worldwide resettlement. At the ICEM Executive Committee meeting, April 28-29, John Thomas formally advised delegates of the 32 member governments that the U.S. had requested ICEM to assist in the resettlement of Indochina refugees. In the absence of objections, he proposed to undertake the task. On May 8 and 9, the UNHCR sent an appeal for resettlement opportunities to some 40 governments and a second appeal went out on May 29. Meanwhile, both ICEM and the UNHCR placed representatives on Guam, strengthened their staffs elsewhere, and began registering refugees for third-country resettle- ment. Earlier, on April 27, acting through the State Department, the Task Force had instructed American 13 Ambassadors in most countries around the world to ask the governments to which they were accredited to share the burden of refugee resettlement. The instruction noted that this bilateral appeal paral- leled those which ICEM and the UNHCR would soon be making. There have been many positive responses to the U.S. and international approaches. Canada has agreed to take 3,000 plus those who have relatives in Canada and those who had been issued visa letters prior to the fall of Saigon. More than 3,000 refu- gees have already arrived in that country. Germany has indicated willingness to accept students who are already there and their families. The total could reach several thousand. France, which has for over a century had close ties with Indochina, is accepting those with relatives already in the country, students who are in France and others. Other countries in Western Europe, Latin America and Africa have agreed to take smaller numbers. ICEM is presently selecting refugees with special skills for resettlement in Latin American countries. By June 15, the number of Indochina refugees released to third countries from U.S. reception centers had reached 3,756. Approximately 4,000 other refugees in U.S. centers have also requested resettlement elsewhere and are now awaiting approval. A number of initial asylum countries have permitted refugees to remain and many thousands more have traveled to resettlement countries from countries of initial asylum. ICEM reports that as of May 31, there were also 2,545 Indochina refugees in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand who were being processed for resettlement in third countries. Estimated Expenses The Indochina Evacuation and Resettlement Program has a total budget of $508 million. As of June 6, 1975, total obligations were $181 million. The 14 largest portions have been obligated as follows: the Department of Defense for facilities and daily maintenance at the reception centers ($64.5 million), the Department of Defense for the airlift ($63.1 million), and contracts with the voluntary agencies ($34.32 million). An analysis of the source of - funds and their obligations follows: Source Total Total Amount - Available Obligations Available As of 6/6/75 AID Funded by Presidential Determination $ 5,000,000 2,678,892 $ 2,321,108 AID funded by Indochina Post- war Reconstruc- - tion Program 98,000,000 98,000,000 000 State Portion of Refugee Act of - 1975 (includes DOD & INS portions)* 305,000,000 79,733,000 225,267,000 HEW Portion of Refugee Act of - 1975* 100,000,000 669,884 99,330,116 Total $508,000,000 $181,081,776 $326,918,224 - *Represents amount appropriated in PL 94-24. This appropriation - does not include the additional $50 million which was authorized by Congress in PL 94-23. Issues for the Future I The Interagency Task Force has been involved in a wide range of issues over the past eight weeks. 15 There are also many problems which must be solved to carry out successfully the resettlement program. The principal issue is that of sponsor- ship. Given time, the traditional voluntary agency system of resettlement should permit the absorption of the Indochinese refugees as it has permitted the resettlement of over 1-1/2 million refugees from Europe and other parts of the world since World War II. Time is of great importance for this resettlement program. While there is little doubt that the legislative program goal of resettling refugees by June 30, 1976, can be met, the Task Force hopes to be able to move more rapidly to prevent unacceptably high human and financial costs. The traditional resettlement systems are not able to adapt easily to processing the desired numbers within the time frame we are imposing. A second and related issue is the breakdown of the sponsorships. Many of the first refugees to arrive in this country moved directly to the communities of their relatives and friends without the benefit of sponsorship verification through the voluntary resettlement agencies. Inadequate housing and unemployment have forced some of these refugees on welfare. The voluntary agencies have in the past been effective in resettling refugees in a way that few become long-term charges on the welfare system or become impossible to assimilate into American life. The Task Force will be evaluat- ing breakdown cases to determine what steps might be taken to assist those refugees who have already sought government support to become self-sufficient and to prevent future breakdowns. At the same time, when considering any broadened system of sponsorship, the valuable role which the resettle- ment agencies play in preventing breakdown must not be overlooked. The Task Force is further concerned that all refugees who are cleared for entry into this country find homes in America. Obviously, some refugees and their families -- possibly the less educated and unskilled -- will take longer to be assimilated into 16 American society than others. Early identification of such refugees is currently in progress and inten- sive language training and orientation will be provided beginning in early July. The resettlement organizations are committed to the resettlement of all of these refugees. In addition, the United States Government will have to find homes outside this country for those refugees at Western Pacific locations who might be determined as ineligible for entry here. The number is expected to be small. A plan for this group will be formulated as the dimension of the problem becomes more apparent. The Task Force has undertaken to expand the traditional sponsorship system by seeking the involve- ment of a broader range of labor, business, civic and social service organizations. In addition, the Task Force is also expanding initiatives with State and local governments in identifying sponsors and assisting in resettlement. One of the key problems related to sponsorship has been the effective use of offers which have come forward. The Task Force is developing an identification service which will be contacting individuals who called on the toll-free number to verify their continuing interest in sponsorship and to ensure appropriate consideration of each offer by a voluntary agency. In addition the identification service will be used to search the computer system for information about the location of Vietnamese who have entered the United States. While attempting to make available all information which will aid resettlement, the Task Force is mindful of the importance of maintaining the confi- dentiality of the personal history data which might be acquired about the refugees. The Red Cross agreed to establish an international family locator service for Indochina refugees, using the facilities of the Central Tracing Agency of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva. 17 The Task Force has been looking ahead to the time when all of the staging areas in the Western Pacific area and the reception centers in the United States can be closed, but definite dates have not yet been established. Some original estimates indicated that all of the centers might be closed in three months. Eglin Air Force Base in Florida will have the shortest use, possibly being phased out by the end of July. With the continual refinement of the processing procedures at the centers, which should speed up the outflow, the Task Force hopes that all but one or two of the centers will be closed in September. Resettlement of the refugees from Indochina will take time, not only to move the refugees from the reception centers into communities around the country, but also to assist them in the difficult process of adjustment to a new way of life. Many dramatic events have occurred during the past eight weeks. The future will be less dramatic, but much work lies ahead to achieve the successful assimilation of the Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees into American society. ANNEXES HISTORICAL FORD & GERALD CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS April 8 State Department officials consult with through House and Senate Committees regarding use April 15 of Attorney General's "parole" authority for evacuees from Indochina. April 12 U.S. Embassy, Phnom Penh closes. Last Americans and approximately 1,200 Cambodians are evacuated in Operation Eagle Pull. April 12 U.S. Mission, Geneva, is asked to request April 17 assistance from UNHCR and ICEM in locating third countries willing to accept refugees from Indochina. April 14 Parole is authorized for dependents of American citizens currently in Vietnam. April 18 The President asks twelve Federal agencies "to coordinate all U.S. Government activities concerning evacuation of U.S. citizens, Vietnamese citizens, and third country nationals from Vietnam and refugee and resettlement problems relating to the Vietnam conflict" and names Ambassador L. Dean Brown as his Special Representative and Director of the Special Inter-Agency Task Force. April 19 Parole is extended to include categories of relatives of American citizens or permanent resident aliens who are petition holders. April 22 The Inter-Agency Task Force asks civil and military authorities on Guam to prepare a safe haven estimated to be required for 90 days in order to provide care and maintenance for an estimated 50,000 refugees. The first to pass through the area arrive the following day. April 25 The Attorney General authorizes parole for additional categories of relatives, Cambodians in third countries and up to 50,000 "high- risk" Vietnamese. April 27 The Task Force requests all American missions overseas to take up the possible resettlement of refugees as a matter of urgency. 1 -2- April 29 U. S. Embassy, Saigon, closes. Operation Frequent Wind removes last Americans and Vietnamese by helicopter from staging sites in Saigon. The sea-lift and self-evacuation continue. Camp Pendleton, California, opens as a refugee center prepared to care for 18,000 refugees. May 2 Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, opens as a refugee reception center prepared to care for 24,000 refugees. May 4 Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, opens as a refugee reception center prepared to accept 2,500 refugees (a figure later increased to 5,000) May 5 Ambassador Brown and senior Task Force officials testify before the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee. Ambassador Brown and senior Task Force officials testify before the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee in connection with the Administration's request for $507 million to run the refugee program. May 7 Ambassador Brown and senior Task Force officials testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Ambassador Brown and senior Task Force officials testify before the House International Relations Committee. May 8 Ambassador Brown and senior Task Force officials testify before the House Judiciary Committee. May 12 Ambassador Brown and senior Task Force officials testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. May 13 Ambassador Brown and senior Task Force officials testify before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Refugees. May 14 Ambassador Brown and senior Task Force officials testify before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship and International Law. May 19 The White House announces the President's Advisory Committee on Refugees, with Chairman John Eisenhower heading a distinguished list of members (see attached). May 22 Ambassador Brown and senior Task Force officials testify before the House Judiciary Subcommittee. 2 - 3 - May 22 - A House and Senate conference committee agrees on the language of the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1975, appropriating $405 million for the Administration's refugee program. May 24 - The Act becomes PL 94-23 as the President signs it into law. May 27 - Ambassador Brown returns to his post at the Middle East Institute and the President asks Mrs. Julia Vadala Taft, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare for Human Development, to act as Director of the Inter-Agency Task Force until arrangements are completed for organizing the Government's efforts for the longer term. May 28 - A fourth Stateside reception center is opened at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, and receives its first refugees. May 29 - The UNHCR sends a representative to the reception center at Fort Chaffee to interview individuals who have indicated a desire to return to Vietnam and whose names had been furnished earlier. Representatives of the UNHCR have been working similarly on Guam for several weeks, will go to Pendleton and Indiantown Gap the following week and to Eglin thereafter. June 6 - HEW reports the establishment of a special Task Force with representatives of the American Medical Association, the American Association of Medical Colleges, the Educational Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates, and of a number of programs within HEW that deal with the training and placement of physicians in the U.S. June 15 - 131,399 refugees have entered the seven-week old system; 36,077 have been completely processed and releasedof whom 3,756 have gone to third countries. 875 refugees were released from reception sites during the past 24 hours, bringing the week's total to 5,839. An additional 4,000 on Guam have indicated that they would prefer to resettle else- where and are awaiting acceptance by the countries of their choice. 3 INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE Senior Members Julia V. Taft, President's Special Representative and Director of the Interagency TASK Force (IATF) Frank G. Wisner, Deputy Director (IATF) [Department of State] James M. Wilson, Jr., Coordinator for Resettlement [Department of State] Foster Collins, Deputy to the Special Assistant for National Security (ONS), [Department of Treasury] Erich Von Marbod, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (Comptroller) [Department of Defense] Major General Maurice F. Casey, USAF, Deputy Director for Logistics, Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) General Leonard Chapman, Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) [Department of Justice] Emmett Rice, Acting Director of Territorial Affairs (ADOTA) [Department of Interior] Maurice Hill, Deputy Director, Office of Placement Sup- port and Development [Department of Labor] Don Wortman, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Program Systems [Department of Health, Education and Welfare] Abner Silberman, Counselor to the Assistant Secretary for Housing Management [Department of Housing and Urban Development] General Benjamin Davis, Assistant Secretary for Environ- ment, Safety and Consumer Affairs [Department of Transportation] Arthur Gardiner, Assistant Administrator, East Asia Bureau [Agency for International Development] Edward B. Strait, Deputy Chief, International Division (IAD) [Office of Management and Budget (OMB) ] Edward E. Rusk, Chief of East Asia Logistics [Central Intelligence Agency (CIA] 4 THE PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REFUGEES Chairman Edgar Kaiser Ambassador John Eisenhower President Kaiser Industries Joseph Alioto, Mayor San Francisco, California Philip Klutznick Past President Archbishop Joseph Bernardin B'nai Brith President U. S. Catholic Conference William J. Kuhfuss, President American Farm Bureau Ashby Boyle National Youth Chairman George Meany, President March of Dimes AFL-CIO Dr. W. Sterling Cary Clarke Reed President Republican National Chairman National Council of Churches Mississippi Mrs. Gaetana Enders, Wife of Dr. Malcolm Todd Assistant Secretary of State President American Medical Association Dan Evans Governor Elder A. Theodore Tuttle State of Washington Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints Maurice Ferre, Mayor Miami, Florida John Denver Popular Singer Minor George Republican Heritage Leader 5 REFUGEE FLOW May 1 - June 15 5/1 5/4 5/11 5/18 5/25 6/1 6/8 6/15 Total Evacuees 84,183 125,023 126,137 126,838 129,968 130,821 131,301 131,399 Within U.S. System En Route to 38,968 68,766 26,847 3,209 1,001 1,587 2,819 580 Western Pacific Sites or the U.S. At Western 36,777 37,761 48,758 61,063 63,168 52,272 44,837 36,188 Pacific Restaging Sites At Continental 2,105 8,308 36,295 45,011 46,332 46,998 54,084 58,654 U.S. Restaging Sites Total Outprocessed 6,333 10,188 14,237 17,301 19,467 24,964 29,501 36,077 Released to Third unknown unknown unknown 1,235 1,820 1,969 2,105 3,756 Countries Seeking Repatriation unknown unknown unknown unknown 156 1,592 1,555 1,917 9 Refugee Flow by Restaging Center Name of Center Western Pacific Travis Pendleton Chaffee Eglin Indiantown Bases Gap Location Guam, Wake, Subic, Calif. Arkansas Florida Penn. Clark, Thailand, Hickam Date of Opening Guam April 23 Wake April 24 April 29 May 2 May 4 May 28 Present Capacity (6/14) 56,286 18,500 25,000 5,000 17,000 Number of Refugees May 4 37,761 7,134 1,158 373 0 May 11 48,758 18,685 15,062 2,429 0 May 18 61,063 18,267 23,219 3,519 0 May 25 62,659 17,859 24,781 4,734 0 June 1 57,272 15,690 23,825 4,408 3,077 June 8 43,158 16,235 23,036 4,273 13,123 June 15 36,188 17,077 22,525 4,251 14,801 Outprocessed for Resettlement in the U.S. (6/13) 739 15,929 6,391 2,722 226 Released to Third Countries (6/13) 1,899 860 562 102 0 Seeking Repatriation (6/13) 1,474 90 209 38 10 7 INTER-AGENCY TOLL FREE NUMBER The toll-free number (800/368-1180) was established and announced to the public on May 5. Its function has been to receive and record offers of assistance from the public (A sample form used by the telephone operators is attached, as are copies of two press releases relating to the operation.). Weekly totals are as follows: Week ending May 11 6,923 Week ending May 18 6,430 Week ending May 25 3,089 Week ending June 1 1,905 Week ending June 8 1,668 Week ending June 15 1,128 Total 21,143 Not surprisingly, an equal number of calls during the most recent weeks are requests for information. Of the first 17,779 offers to be received, 5,492 were offers of general responsibility; 1,084 were offers of financial assistance; 1,500 concerned shelter; 4,849 offered food and shelter, and 3,013 were job offers -- or combinations of the above. A breakdown by state of the first 18,230 offers of assistance follows: State Counts State Counts Alabama 286 Kentucky 122 Alaska 23 Louisiana 242 Arizona 331 Maine 56 Arkansas 181 Maryland 398 California 3,962 Massachusetts 271 Colorado 270 Michigan 406 Connecticut 152 Minnesota 146 Delaware 19 Mississippi 97 D. C. 241 Missouri 268 Florida 1,442 Montana 48 Georgia 301 Nebraska 49 Guam Nevada 60 Hawaii 62 New Hampshire 2 Idaho 52 New Jersey 291 Illinois 521 New Mexico 102 Indiana 297 New York 784 Iowa 122 North Carolina 291 Kansas 142 North Dakota 35 8 State Counts State Counts Ohio 406 Texas 1,284 Oklahoma 291 Utah 235 Oregon 250 Vermont 29 Pennsylvania 469 Virginia 627 Puerto Rico 1 Virgin Island 1 Rhode Island 64 Washington 304 South Carolina 102 West Virginia 49 South Dakota 28 Wisconsin 228 Tennessee 255 Wyoming 35 Unknown 1,602 Grand Total: 18,230 9 BACKGROUND AND SKILLS The Task Force has been acquiring basic data about the refugees upon arrival in Guam, but does not initiate a more complete profile until the refugees arrive in the continental United States. Of 102,000 refugees who had arrived in Guam by June 2, the following information is available: Under 17 - 46% Males - 53% 18 - 24 - 16% Females - 47% 25 - 62 - 36% Over 63 - 2% The most qualified of the refugees on Guam have come to the United States first which skews any sampling of those already in this country in favor of the more highly skilled and better educated. A random sample of 4,978 heads of household who had arrived in the United States by June 2 revealed the following educational background: Highest grade attained: Elementary - 10% Secondary - 56% University - 23% Post Graduate - 11% Of these 4,978 heads of household, 1,677 listed employment skills as follows: Professional, Technical, Managerial - 39% Clerical, Sales - 18% Service - 12% Farming, Fishing, Forestry - 4% Bench or Assembly Work, Repairs - 3% Structural, Construction - 5% Miscellaneous Other, Including Transportation - 18% 11 THE DESTINATION OF REFUGEES WHO HAVE RECEIVED SPONSORSHIP AND HAVE DEPARTED CAMPS OR AWAIT TRANSPORTATION AS OF JUNE 10, 1975 Alabama 127 Montana 23 Alaska 35 Nebraska 67 Arizona 345 Nevada 135 Arkansas 94 New Hampshire 15 California 8,135 New Jersey 438 Colorado 271 New Mexico 63 Connecticut 147 New York 1,609 Delaware 25 North Carolina 295 Dist. of Columbia 1,202 North Dakota 35 Florida 939 Ohio 504 Georgia 335 Oklahoma 399 Hawaii 1,075 Oregon 200 Idaho 59 Pennsylvania 562 Illinois 514 Rhode Island 31 Indiana 244 South Carolina 161 Iowa 105 South Dakota 19 Kansas 183 Tennessee 169 Kentucky 113 Texas 1,246 Louisiana 123 Utah 293 Maine 52 Vermont 61 Maryland 918 Virginia 1,614 Massachusetts 451 Washington 651 Michigan 313 West Virginia 76 Minnesota 164 Wisconsin 236 Mississippi 49 Wyoming 17 Missouri 212 Guam 10 Puerto Rico 4 Virgin Islands 10 Canada 419 Grand Total - 25,592 12 Refugees Released to Third Countries as of June 10, 1975 Released from Country Pacific Pendl. Chaffee Eglin Total Australia 77 10 15 -- 102 Canada 1,460 616 341 50 2,467 France 173 212 122 39 546 Korea 3 -- -- -- 3 New Zealand 3 -- -- -- 3 Switzerland 1 -- -- -- 1 U.K. 4 14 3 -- 21 Hong Kong 2 -- 2 -- 4 Singapore -- -- 11 -- 11 Germany -- -- 3 -- 3 Iran -- -- 3 -- 3 Spain -- -- 2 -- 2 Bahrein -- -- 2 -- 2 Belgium -- -- 2 -- 2 Philippine 63 -- 2 -- 65 Cambodia 88 -- -- -- 88* Italy 8 --- -- -- 8 Thailand 10 -- -- -- 10 3,341** Guam 85 5 -- -- 90 3,431** * Cambodian Air Force pilots who landed in Thailand, then decided to return to Cambodia, and were bussed to Thai border and released. ** Revised totals. J-4 had included 58 to Okinawa. After verification, none were reported. The 58 were U.S. Marines. 182 originally reported to the Philippines, now 65. 13 RECEPTION CENTER GUIDELINES AN OUTLINE ON HOW THE PROCESSING PROGRAM WORKS 1. INITIAL PROCESSING DATA PROCESSING Complete biographical data collected IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE (INS) Fingerprinting - photographing Creation of alien file Examination to determine nationality, family relationship, etc. Preliminary determination as to parole eligibility Request security checks and execute affidavit regarding assets and admissibility DEPT. HEW Visa medical screening Social Security numbers are assigned Repatriate/Refugee Program registration, including resource determination Identify split family problems and initiate action to reunite Explain VOLAG role in resettlement and sponsorship system -SPONSORSHIP Voluntary agencies State/local governments Major U.S. corporations Third countries (e.g. Canada) Working with individual and group sponsors 2. OUT-PROCESSING INS Security Clearance and Sponsorship Verified Final interview to determine if excludable factors are present Endorsement of Form 1-94 to reflect deferred status or parole as Vietnamese or Cambodian refugee with employment authorized HEW Social Security numbers issued Destination data collected and travel deter- mination made TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS Establishment of central travel control unit at each resettlement center and use of Travelers Aid and American Red Cross personnel in ensuring the expeditious movement of refugees from resettlement centers to their sponsors' locations. DATA COLLECTION Destination information collected 15 GUIDELINES ON INS CLEARANCES The following was provided by INS as clarification of INS security procedures: "Relatives" are the spouse, child, parent, or parent of a spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident alien. "Extended relatives" are also within the program, and include any person regardless of age or sex who is related to a qualified "relative" and is traveling with the qualified "relative". Return of security checks need not be awaited for "relatives" or for "extended relatives". Further- more, return of security checks need not be awaited for a former United States government employee where former United States government employment has been verified by a United States government agency and the United States government agency has certified that security checks were conducted dur- ing or prior to such United States government employment. Also, return of security checks need not be awaited for "extended relatives" of such former USG employees. "Extended relatives", here, are persons regardless of age or sex who are re- lated to such former USG employees and who are traveling with the former USG employee. Form G-325 and the affadavit form G-646 must be executed for every refugee 14 years of age. An affadavit form G-648, regarding assets, must be executed for refugee 17 years of age and older. Refugees who meet the foregoing definitions, however, may be released immediately provided that they have the required assurances. The security returns may be received at a later date. All other persons must await the return of security checks unless under age 17. Unusual cases involving humanitarian factors may be phoned to central office INS for guidance. 16 RECEPTION CENTER ACTIVITIES OF HEW 1. General Health of the Refugees The general health of the Indochinese refugees seems to be in every respect as good as that of the normal American population in this country. The only exception is that their dental health is consider- ably below that of a comparable U.S. population. Immunization campaigns were begun as soon as the first contingent of refugees came under American responsibility; thus far more than 90 percent of the refugee children from age one to five have received measles, rubella and polio vaccinations, 'as well as one DPT shot. Some of the data we have collected thus far is illustrative. For example, of 28,000 x-rays taken and read for tuberculosis in persons age 15 or older, fewer than three percent have been suspicious. Further tests on those suspicious cases showed less than three percent of them with positive sputum. Initial testing for syphilis among 27,000 of the refugees has shown that fewer than 2 percent were positive. Followup tests have been done on the 2 percent which were positive; three quarters of those tested with an additional test were found to be positive and put under treatment. This figure is below the 3.2 percent positive figure of a comparable U.S. population. We have seen a similarly small number of cases of other diseases: a total of 90 cases of malaria, all of which was contracted prior to departure, six clinical cases of dengue fever, 14 cases of typhoid fever, two cases of diphtheria, and one case of whooping cough. 2. Public Health Service Activities At each of the sites, Department of Defense medical resources are providing ambulatory and in- patient medical care. The Public Health Service has assigned personnel from the Communicable Disease Center for surveillance of public health problems, R. FORD control of communicable diseases and vector surveil lance, and to institute immunizations and other BALD preventive health measures, as necessary. In addition, Communicable Disease Center staff are responsible for 17 the medical aspects of the immigration clearance procedures as required by law. The Communicable Disease Center has been informing all State and Territorial Health officials of the immigration health status of all refugees destined for resettle- ment to that State or Territory and has been publish- ing periodic health reports for State and local public health officials, as well as the health profession at large. Health problems which exceed the capabilities of the on-site medical resources are also the responsibility of the Public Health Service. Public Health Service Hospitals and clinics have been designated to provide or arrange and pay for necessary off-site health care, and specificPublic Health Service Hospitals at San Francisco, New Orleans, and Baltimore have been designated as the referral units for the reception centers. When required services are not available in Public Health Service facilities or whenever other considerations, such as separation of a family unit are involved, care may be authorized through Public Health Service contracts or in other community facilitie 3. Education Activities Language training and cultural orientation are presently being provided by volunteer agencies, individual volunteers, and State and Federal education personnel. Contracts are being prepared with State Education Departments in California, Florida, and Pennsylvania to administer a more comprehensive language and orientation program at Centers in those States. Since the Arkansas Education Department has said it will be unable to provide services at Fort Chaffee, discussions have begun with a local community college in Arkansas to provide the services at Fort Chaffee. HEW anticipates that contracts will be signed and State or local programs operational by June 30 at all locations. HEW, the State Department and the Baptist Commit- tee for Refugee Relief have coordinated their efforts to develop, translate, and print a refugee orientation handbook in Vietnamese and Cambodian. The handbook, which describes many aspects of life in the U.S. is designed for refugee use in learning how to adjust to American customs and laws. It will be ready for distri- bution to all refugees age 16 years and over by June 30. 18 Contingency plans are being developed to provide elementary, secondary, and adult education to refugees at the Reception Centers after September 15 if refugees remain there past that date. 4. Other Activities HEW Regional representatives were assigned to all Resettlement Centers at the initial stages of the operation. Many have since been replaced by local hires. The Offices of the HEW Regional Directors have performed as the coordinators for the HEW Resettle- ment Center operation. They have established maintenance as well as logistical support necessary for the HEW processing activities and provided a communication net- work between the Centers and national HEW headquarters. SRS Representatives at the Resettlement Centers worked with INS and Voluntary Agencies and coordinated the processing procedures to be used upon the arrival of the refugees at the Centers. They also assisted in the refugee-sponsor match-up until a Volag representa- tive was permanently assigned to the Center. The primary responsibility of the Social Security representatives was to issue social security numbers to refugees as appropriate. This process is standard procedure for all lawfully admitted aliens to the U.S. and is usually done abroad at U.S. Consulates. 19 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR COUNSELING The Department of Labor, through its Manpower Administrations United States Employment Service, is supporting the Voluntary Agencies efforts at the refugee centers by: 1. Providing Labor Manpower Information (Unem- ployment rate data, work force data, data concerning occupational skill demand and excesses, for 150 Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas across the nation) to the Voluntary agencies (Volags). This serves to assist volag in work with sponsors as an alert to high unemployment areas of the nation. 2. Providing the nationwide Job Bank Operational Summary (JBOS) microfiche to each center for use by State Employment Service Agency/Man- power Administration staff in support of Voluntary agencies--JBOS lists unfilled openings at conclusion of preceeding month as compiled for distribution to selected States. This is another labor market infor- mation tool. 3. Conducting occupational skill interviews with potential refugee workers to identify, and elaborate on, refugee skills. 4. Providing analysis of Sponsor job offers, on request. 5. Providing addresses and information about Employment Service offices at the final destination of refugees (when determined) and an explanation of services to be expected from the local offices in job placement activities. 6. Sending reports concerning the occupational skills of those interviewed to the Secretary of Labor, Manpower Administration staff and the Interagency Task Force (IATF). 20 Department of Labor Occupational Skills of Indochina Refugees at Four (4) Camp Sites - Refugees Interviewed as of June 5, 1975 1-Digit Fort Camp Eglin Fort Totals % Distrib. DOT Code Chaffee Pendleton AFB Indiantown Gap 0-1 Professional Technical 45 31 46 14 136 32 Managerial 2 Clerical & Sales 33 24 28 4 89 21 3 Service 7 0 6 3 16 4 4 Farming Fishery Forestry & 1 0 43 6 50 12 Related 5 Processing 0 0 1 0 1 - 6 Machine Trades 29 4 2 4 39 9 7 Bench Work 18 0 1 3 22 5 8 Structural Work 13 5 4 2 24 5 9 Misc. 23 1 28 1 53 12 TOTALS 430 100 21 Number of Applicants Interviewed: Male 331 Female 99 SPONSORSHIP I. RESPONSIBILITIES Sponsorship can take the form of an offer of support, employment or both. However, the sponsor must also be ready to help the refugee with some of the less tangible aspects of resettlement such as adjustment to a new culture and a new way of life. Sponsorship is not a formal, legal commitment. However, the sponsor undertakes a clear moral commitment to help the refugee to the best of his ability. A sponsor, working through an appropriate Voluntary Agency, state, or local government unit will be expected to: A. Receive the refugee and his family; B. Provide shelter and food, until the refugee becomes self-sufficient. Shelter need not be in the residence of the spon- sor but must be adequate; C. Provide clothing and pocket money, initially; D. Provide assistance in finding employment and in school enrollment for children; E. Cover ordinary medical costs or medical insurance. In order to meet emergency needs and avoid a breakdown in sponsorship, medical assistance under Federally reim- bursed state Medicaid programs will be 22 provided when major medical needs arise which a sponsor is unable to meet even though he can continue his other efforts on behalf of a refugee family. This assistance, however, in no way abrogates a sponsor's moral obligation to provide normal health assistance for refugee families. Once employment is obtained, the sponsor will assist the refugee to locate perma- nent housing, acquire minimal furniture and arrange for other necessities. II. SPECIAL SPONSORSHIP CATEGORIES A. Refugees with Independent Means Certain refugees may have access to per- sonal resources which will enable them to be self-sustaining. These refugees may require only brief counselling to direct them to a resettlement location. A single adult or family with at least one adult with facility in English, vocational skills and a general idea of a resettlement loca- tion can meet the self-sustaining test if the family has average resources of $4,000 per capita, exclusive of transportation. A board at each camp comprised of officials of State, INS, and HEW makes the determina- tion of self-sufficiency and authorizes release from camp. Refugees who have adequate personal funds are not kept at camps at USG expense once security checks are completed. 23 The board interviews the refugee to determine whether he can adequately meet the above test of self-sufficiency. If he does, he is certified for departure from camp without referral to a Voluntary Agency and without the requirement for sponsorship. B. Refugees Who are Relatives of American Citizens and Permanent Aliens HEW, with the assistance of the Red Cross, verifies the willingness and ability of relatives to sponsor and resettle the refugee. Once confirmed, INS releases those refugees without an additional sponsorship requirement. If HEW decides the sponsor is unable to care for the refugees, the case is passed to an accre- dited Voluntary Agency for processing. "Relatives" of U. S. citizens include spouse, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, unmarried siblings, and handicapped dependents. C. Sponsorship Offers by Former Employers If sponsorship is offered by a former employer, the offer is reviewed by the board referred to previously. If the former employer is deemed to be responsible - a major corporation, charitable group or the USG - the refugee is released to the employer without Voluntary Agency assist- ance. If the employer cannot offer the full range of sponsor services, he is put in touch with an approved resettlement Voluntary Agency. 24 If an employer proposes to send the refugee outside the United States to work, the refugee consults with INS to ensure that appropriate travel and re-entry docu- ments are issued. D. Sponsorship by State and Local Governments If a state or local unit of government wishes to qualify as a sponsor for a group of refugees, it must assume primary respon- sibility for mobilizing organizations and individuals in that state, city, or county and for securing local sponsors. Offers of sponsorship are received and screened by the unit of government, preferably through a refugee task force comprised of public/ private voluntary sector. States and local governments are requested not to solicit potential sponsors from accredited volun- tary resettlement agency sources. A project manager from the state/community consults with responsible officials at the resettlement center concerning the resettlement proposal. If the proposal is approved, selection and relocation of refugees can proceed. Costs incurred by the unit of government are to be reimbursed by the Department of State up to $500 per capita as soon as resettlement is completed. No VOLAG certification at the reception site is required -- nor will VOLAG receive reimbursement. Government units are expected to provide the same assurances that are required from other sponsors -- that they will make every effort to enable 25 the refugees to become self-sufficient, and will provide long-term guidance in securing housing, employment, etc. The state or local government must also be prepared to assume responsibility for relocating refugees should original spon- sorship arrangements fail. 26 GUIDANCE ON REUNIFICATION OF INDOCHINESE REFUGEE FAMILIES During the emergency evacuation of Indochina, refugees fled at different times using several modes of transporta- tion. This has caused some families to be temporarily split among refugee camps. The following guidance will apply in attempting to re- unify these split families in a timely manner and at least possible cost to the USG. A. Families should be reunified before movement to US relocation centers, where possible. B. Family integrity should be maintained during all movement except aeromedical evacuation in those cases where family movement is impractical. In these cases, great care will be exercised to reunite the family as soon as possible. C. Cases of split families in the CONUS relocation center will be identified as soon as possible. Direct coordination will be made between camps to verify the location of family members. Priorities for reunification are: -- Special humanitarian purposes such as extra- ordinary health problems Reunification of minors with responsible adults -- Other family reunifications. D. Where possible relocation should be to the camp nearest the intended final settlement area. Movement will not be made prior to inter-camp coordination and acceptance. E. Travel at least possible expense to government is authorized, if required. Where possible space on con- tract flights should be utilized. Government air is not authorized. Special flights will be arranged by IATF, if required. F. All appropriate files will be transferred with the refugees in order to expedite clearance. 27 -2- G. If possible, attempts should be made to reunify extended families at the final destination if there are no specific reasons to require reunifi- cation at the relocation center. This guidance has been approved by all concerned agencies. 28 UNIFORM REFUGEE TRAVEL CONTROL PROCEDURES 1. INTRODUCTION: Travel of refugees from reception centers to resettle- ment locations has not yet presented major problems. As the rate of out-processing increases, however, uniform control procedures will be needed governing all aspects of refugee travel within the United States. These procedures will also apply to travel from reception centers, to major international airports, e.g., Kennedy International, of refugees who are going to third-countries under Interna- tional Committee for European Migration (ICEM) auspices. Following advance coordination, travel control of the refu- gee party will revert to ICEM at such international transit points. 2. The following refugee travel control procedures are based upon task force field experience to date and sugges- tions made by the United States Department of Transporta- tion. They entail two essential elements: A. Reception center responsibility for planning, ar- ranging, monitoring en route, and confirming comple- tion of all refugee travel; B. Coordination with air and surface transportation lines and the American Red Cross/Travellers Aid to ensure adequate control and care of refugees during their travel. 3. Establishment of a central travel control unit at each center. The travel control unit is the focal point for carrying out the reception center's action responsibility as outlined in paragraph 2 (A) above. The Unit will: A. Utilize scheduled air, bus and train lines, char- tered aircraft and buses as desired, and privately-owned vehicles provided by sponsors and volunteer groups; full capacity chartered aircraft is more economical to the USG; B. Plan complete travel itineraries; C. Furnish tickets which will be issued by airlines' personnel who are located in the travel unit; 29 Page 2 of 4 D. Arrange for Red Cross/Travellers' Aid representative to meet refugee at initial departure terminal and escort him to departure gate or waiting area; E. Notify sponsor by telephone or telegram regarding refugee's itinerary and ETA in advance of latter's de- parture; F. Request Red Cross/Travellers' Aid representatives (one representative of each organization will be assigned to each travel unit) to inform their personnel at transit points in advance by telephone regarding refugee's itiner- ary; G. Arrange in advance to receive from Volag rep at point of destination positive telephonic confirmation of arrival upon completion of refugee's travel and make appro- priate notation on refugee's file; H. Brief refugee in his language on safekeeping of tickets and important documents, and baggage and hand- luggage regulations. Provide refugee with a travel card bearing his name, itinerary, the name of his Volag as well as his sponsor and the latter's address and telephone numner. This travel card is needed to facilitate the work of Re d Cross/Travellers' Aid personnel in maintaining effective control over the refugee's travel throughout his journey. It is especially needed in cases where the itinerary has to be changed en route because of flight delays, missed filights or cancellation of flights; I. Designate travel party leader for groups of over three refugees. (English-speaking person, if possible); J. Provide travel pocket money, if required. 4. Movement from reception center to departure terminal. A. Travel by chartered bus or other appropriate means; B. Red Cross/Travellers' Aid or Volag escort. 30 5. Control and movement at departure terminal. A. Red Cross/Travelders' Aid representative meets and boards bus at airport, checks name and tickets, off-loads passengers at appropriate check-in points. Airlines' employees assist with check-in; B. Red Cross/Travellers' Air representative telephones counterpart representative at any transit point and confirms departure of refugees and ETA. 6. Control and movement at transit points. Same basic procedures in force and carried out by Red Cross/Travellers' Aid personnel as at departure terminal. 7. Alternate arrangements in the event of missed, delayed or cancelled schedules en route. A. Upon notification of the Red Cross/Travellers' Aid representative, transportation company personnel re-issue tickets if necessary, and re-brief refugee party leader and Red Cross/Travellers' Aid representative on revised itinerary; B. Red Cross/Travellers' Aid rep will then notify counterparts at transit or destination point as well as sponsor about travel changes by telephone; C. Transportation company and Red Cross/Travellers' Aid rep arrange, as required, to care for travellers during interim period, to include food, lodging, and medical attention; D. Expenses incurred in such instances (other than personal services) will be paid for in cash by the Red Cross/Travellers' Aid representative. The IATF will arrange for reimbursement in accordance with procedures which have been agreed upon in discussions with the national head- quarters of the two organizations. 8. Arrival of refugee at destination (resettlement location). A. Met by Volag rep and sponsor; B. Volag rep immediately telephones or telegraphs re- ception center travel unit and positively confirms refugee's arrival. 31 Page 4 of 4 9. Special arrangements and facilities for refugees at major terminals. A. IATF Washington will coordinate with American Red Cross/Travellers' Aid Headquarters, port authorities and airlines to request special facilities at primary departure terminals near the reception centers: Los Angeles (Pendle- ton) ; Atlanta (Eglin) ; Harrisburg (Indiantown Gap) ; Kansas City/Dallas-Ft. Worth (Chaffee). Respective reception center travel units should follow up. (IATF will also request same facilities at major transit and ar- rival airports: O'Hare; Dulles; Washington National; LaGuardia; Kennedy). These facilities are the following: 1) Limited access waiting room or area co-located with Red Cross/Travellers' Aid rep. 2) Easy access to rest-rooms. 3) First-aid facilities. 4) Water, soft drinks, snacks, diapers, baby food and cribs. B. Volunteer Vietnamese language interpreters where available. 10. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Airlines may already have contacted you with regard to the stationing of ticket issuing personnel in your travel unit. Red Cross/Travellers' Aid will contact you by June 2nd. Request you provide appropriate office space and equipment as well as necessary telephone facilities in your travel unit sufficient for use by one Travelers Aid representative, one American Red Cross representative, and one part-time local-hire secretary.) 32 RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM FORD & GERALD RESETTLEMENT AGENCY PROGRAMS AND PROGRESS Nine Voluntary Agencies have been contracted by the Government to resettle Indochina refugees in the U. S.: -- US Catholic Conference (USCC) -- American Fund for Czechoslovak Refugees (AFCR) -- Church World Services (CWS) -- Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) -- Tolstoy Foundation, Incorporated -- International Rescue Committee (IRC) -- American Council for Nationalities Service (ACNS) -- Traveler's Aid-International Social Services -- United HIAS Service, Incorporated (LDS Social Services -- agency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints -- is also participating on a more limited, non-contractual basis.) Excluding about 15,000 relatives of American citizens and permanent residents, and about 10,000- 15,000 who will probably settle in third countries, over 100,000 refugees remain for whom new homes and jobs will be found. The "Volags" are the principal agents for that task. In a variety of distinct ways, each of the nine voluntary agencies works to mobilize local community resources to resettle Indochinese families. For example, the Catholic Conference calls upon its 157 diocesan offices throughout the country to energize local parishes; the Lutherans work directly with some 18,000 Lutheran congregations; Church World Services functions through the headquarters of the 10 Protestant denominations that comprise its consti- 33 2 tuency; while non-sectarian groups such as the American Council of Nationalities Service have affiliates in major cities to call upon. The local parish or affiliate serves as the primary agent for identifying and verifying suitable sponsors -- an individual family, a private company, or an entire congregation. In addition, it often coordinates assistance from the myriad of other volunteer civic groups -- PTAs, chambers of commerce, etc. -- which typically serve American communities. Thus, the resettlement effort depends upon a wide range of grass roots support to provide housing, jobs, medical care, education, and counselling to facili- tate the refugee family's assimilation into American society. The nine resettlement agencies operate offices at each of the four refugee reception centers. (The only exception is the American Fund for Czechoslovak Refugees, which has representation at two of the four camps.) Their staffs include a core of professional case workers, assisted by volunteers drawn from the local American community and the refugee population. During camp in-processing, each refugee selects a resettlement agency of his choice. If a refugee has no preference, the government staff assigns his case to an agency. For refugees whose sponsors have specified them by name, the agency contacts the sponsor to verify both his intentions and his capacity to fulfill the financial and moral responsibilities toward the refugee family. After determining that the refugee and sponsor are agreeable to the arrange- ment and it appears viable, the agency gives its authorization to begin processing the refugee out of the camp. It takes an average of 1-2 weeks to complete arrangements for such refugees to join pre-designated sponsors. The resettlement agency's responsibilities do not end when the refugee leaves the camp, however, as it remains the backstop to assist the sponsor and refugee if needed. For refugees without specific sponsors -- which includes the majority of refugees -- the placement 34 3 process can take from a few days to several weeks, depending largely on the refugee's professional qualifications and the availability of sponsors. The voluntary agencies must call upon their national organizations to accomplish resettlement in these cases. At the reception center, the case workers interview the refugee to determine family particu- lars--size, composition, job skills, and geographic preferences. Then the agency matches the refugee family with an available sponsor. The resources and expertise of the resettlement agencies provide a critically important service. Were the federal government to attempt such a task on its own, it would have to resort to far more costly public welfare programs. Even in that event, the govern- ment could not provide the refugee with the kind of moral support and guidance that are so essential for a successful transition to self-sufficiency in our society. In recent weeks, the resettlement agencies have been feverishly "tooling up" to handle the mass of unsponsored refugees. Throughout the country, con- gregations and local resettlement agency affiliates have been lining up sponsorship commitments and organizing themselves to receive refugee families. It is not an easy process to arrange for the many immediate and longer term needs of refugees. But the flow has already begun in earnest -- most of the 700-800 refugees leaving camps daily are being processed by the resettlement agencies -- and the pace should pick up in the coming weeks. Although the nine principal resettlement agen- cies have nationwide organizations, the Inter-Agency Task Force has encouraged proposals from other groups such as state governments and other "volags" to assist in the resettlement effort. This broadening of participation is not intended to draw on the same resources now used by the principal resettlement agencies, but rather to tap new areas and groups. 35 4 From the beginning, the nine resettlement agencies mentioned above have been joined by a number of other "volags" which have contributed significantly to the refugee program. Most notably, the American Red Cross, YMCA and Salvation Army leaped into the breach at recep- tion centers around the country to provide needed services at no cost to the Government. Their initiative and cooperative spirit have been gratifying. 36 State and Local Government Interest in Refugee Sponsorship Status as of June 15, 1975 The following is a list of the State and local governments which have indicated an interest in sponsorship with a summary status report. 1. The State of Washington was the first State to become actively involved in refugee resettle- ment and has the biggest program to date. A letter of intent has been signed, a credit advance of $250,000 has been forwarded to the State, and a proposed contract has been submitted to the State by cable. The State has received 378 refugees from Pendleton, of whom 297 have been placed with spon- soring and 81 are still living in temporary quar- ters at Camp Murray. Washington has initially requested a total of 500 refugees and claims to have a backfile of about 150 prospective sponsors. 2. The States of Texas, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania have indicated interest in similar programs, but have not formalized their commitments. 3. Jackson County, Missouri (Kansas City) has indicated a strong interest. A letter of intent and model contract have been prepared which should be transmitted shortly. 4. San Diego County sent a delegation to visit the Task Force during the week of June 8. The county officials have asked to reword the proposed contract, which they will be transmitting to the Task Force. 5. The Cities of Cincinatti, Honolulu, and Indianapolis have all indicated interest. A representative of the Task Force will be visiting Cincinatti in the coming week and a delegation from that city is planning a visit to the reception center at Indiantown Gap. 37 MODEL FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT GROUP SPONSORSHIPS 1. AGREEMENT TO INITIATE GROUP SPONSORSHIP As a first step, State and local governments inter- ested in undertaking group sponsorship should bring together political, business, union, church and volun- tary agency leadership to decide: -- if group sponsorship is desirable, -- what numbers of refugees can best be absorbed into the area or community (e.g. some considera- tions are labor market, housing availability, and community services), -- how to organize a task force or appropriate mechanism to coordinate the group sponsorship. If there is enough leadership consensus to move forward, an initial contact should be made with the U.S. State Department Indochina Task Force (202-632-3172). 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF A LOCAL REFUGEE TASK FORCE Having agreed to initiate group sponsorship, and after preliminary discussions with the Inter-Agency Task Force, an operational coordinating body, representative of public and private sector organizations, should be established to set up procedures in the context of a proposal to be discussed in person with the civil coordinator of the resettlement center nearest you. 3. PROPOSAL DISCUSSION WITH TASK FORCE The proposal will be reviewed and discussed with the Chief Civilian Coordinator and his senior staff at the resettlement center. If approved by this group, the State or local representative returns to his or her homesite. 4. IDENTIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION OF SPONSORSHIP The State or local Task Force should set up a system to solicit sponsorships. Such offers need to be checked in order to certify the ability of sponsor volunteers to perform sponsorship responsibilities. Once an adequate number of certified sponsorship offers are certified a Task Force representative should return to the Resettlement Center. 38 -2- 5. SIGN MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT Memorandum between the State or local official and Interagency Task Force officials will be signed confirming the terms of the group sponsorship policies and procedures. 6. SELECT REFUGEES AND ASSIST IN TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS With the assistance of the Civil Coordinator Staff, the State/local representative will select refugees to participate in the group sponsorship and arrange for transportation. The costs of transportation of refugee families from the Resettlement Center to the sponsors' locations will be borne by the Federal Government. 7. SUGGESTIONS -- State or local governments may wish to consider formation of a non-profit organization to administer the resettlement program. The possibility of receiving tax-deductible contributions to defray non-reimbursable administrative expenses might be explored with the Internal Revenue Service. -- In calling for sponsorship offers, the State or local organization should concentrate on identifying actual family sponsors, but should encourage individual offers of housing, employment, clothing, etc., as part of the total sponsorship program. These latter types of offers can be matched with possible requirements of individual family sponsors. 39 MODEL FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATION SPONSORSHIP Organizations who wish to sponsor a number of refugees may wish to use the following procedure and checklist in preparing a program. A. Undertake a survey to determine the number and kinds of jobs available in the community for the refugees. B. Determine the approximate number of families who will undertake the temporary housing and feeding of the newly arrived families. This may also be done on a community basis where two or three families living in adjacent houses could handle a large family by splitting the housing and support burden. Another plan could utilize public and private facilities such as unused college housing and messing facilities or other centrally located buildings for group support maintenance. C. Sub-committees should be formed to handle on the single-point of contact basis the following logistics: 1. Contact with the local voluntary agency being asked to process the families (Tab A list). Liaison with the reception center pro- viding the refugees. Meeting refugees at airports or bus stations and providing transport to sponsoring family. 2. General orientation to refugee families such as the "welcome wagon" concept. Collection of clothing and other life support items donated by the community. 3. Central point of contact for refugees seeking employment. Telephone assistance for appointments, etc. 4. Briefings and assistance regarding taxes - deductions - medical insurance, etc. Obtaining driving permits - enrollment of children in schools. 40 -2- 5. Permanent housing assistance. When employment is secured by the refugee and he begins to have an income, the securing of permanent housing is a major step on his road to self-sufficiency. HUD projects, FHA support, and/or community-supported loans or rentals may be considered. When your organization has familiarized itself with the above requirements soon to be needed by the refugee it is then time to contact one or more of the volunt organizations. Your local chapter of a voluntary organization is the place to start. Discuss with this local office the type of individuals, skills and quan- tity of refugees your organization is capable of handling. We suggest your organization pick out a planning figure based on your survey. If say, 100 families can be resettled in your area, start with 10 families until you gain experience. You can always go back for more. Major objective of your efforts must be to assist the refugee to become self-sufficient and prevent him from becoming a public charge. 41 PESETTLEMENT SUPPORT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE A. Health Upon release from the reception centers and resettle- ment in communities, direct responsibility for medical services to the Indochinese refugees by the Department of Defense and Public Health Service terminates, and health care will be obtained through community resources and facilities. In those cases where the refugees with the help of their sponsors are unable to obtain health insurance, state medical assistance similar to the Title XIX Program has been made available to the states to cover medical services. Sponsors will assist the refugee in registering for medical assistance at local agencies where existing state eligibility criteria regarding the income and assets of the refugee will be ascertained. B. Education Clearinghouse: Negotiations are underway with a proposed sole source contractor to develop language and cultural orientation materials and to provide information and technical assistance to school districts. The Department expects the Clearinghouse to be operational by June 30. Grants to School Districts: Plans are being developed which will detail how a program of this type will be implemented. Regulations should be published in July. Post-secondary Student Assistance: Refugees have been declared eligible for HEW's direct student aid programs. Immediate funding will be available under the Basic Educational Opportunity Grants (BEOG) and Guaranteed Student Loans (GSL) programs. Instructions will be sent to post-secondary institutions within 30 days describing refugee eligibility for these programs and advising them to publicize the availability of these programs. 43 2 Vocational Training: The Department of Labor, in cooperation with State and local employment agency representatives, is presently identifying occupational skills of refugees and providing counseling about employment and training possi- bilities in areas where they are resettling. C. Social and Rehabilitation Service The Social and Rehabilitation Service, working through State welfare agencies, is responsible for the provision of financial assistance, medical assistance, and social services to Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees, as the need arises, after their resettle- ment in communities throughout the Nation. In accordance with commitments made to the Congress, Federal funds under the refugee assistance program will be utilized to reimburse the States 100 percent for such assistance and services so that a refugee will not become a burden on State or local resources if a resettlement plan breaks down. SRS will also reimburse State welfare agencies on a 100 percent basis, within certain limitations, for administrative costs incurred in the provision of assistance and services to needy refugees. Tentative SRS policies on assistance to the refugees, pending enactment of legislation, were transmitted to the States on April 29, 1975 (Action Transmittal SRS-AT-75-8). Effective policies were transmitted June 9, 1975 (Action Transmittal SRS-AT-75-27). The following are the principal provisions of the program to provide financial assistance, medical assistance, and social services to needy refugees: 1. Needy individuals and families will be assisted regardless of composition. Requirements of the presence of children, which apply to the program of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), and of age or disability, which apply to the program of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), are waived. This waiver enables federally funded assistance to be provided on the basis of need and 44 3 avoids a refugee's becoming a burden on State or local public or voluntary resources if the resettlement plan has broken down. 2. State welfare agencies are required to verify with the sponsors of refugees that the resettle- ment has broken down before assistance can be granted. The State agency is also asked to make sure that the resettlement agency is endeavoring to develop another sponsorship. If the State welfare agency should find that refugees in a given community are applying for assistance within a few days after arrival or that a substantial portion of the resettlements are breaking down, it is instructed to immediately notify the SRS Regional Commissioner, including the names of the resettlement agencies responsible for the resettlements, so that corrective action together with better future resettlement planning can be achieved. Emphasis is thus placed on the responsibilities undertaken by the resettlement agencies and the sponsors -- responsibilities which apply equally whether the resettlement and the sponsorship are effected through voluntary agencies and local groups or individuals or through State or local governments. 3. Financial assistance to refugees will be based on the same standards of need and the same payment levels as apply in the AFDC program. This provides the closest possible approximation to the assistance available to United States citizens in similar circumstances in the same States. In order to meet emergency situations which may arise, States are instructed to be prepared to make assistance payments on an emergency basis when necessary. 4. Needy aged, blind, and disabled refugees will be referred to the SSI program but may be assisted under the refugee assistance program until SSI benefits begin. Such refugees, together with citizens and permanent-resident aliens, can be eligible for SSI 30 days after entering the United States (but not while located in the reception centers). States may claim reimbursement, through the refugee assistance program, for any State supplementary payments to refugee SSI recipients so that this cost is not imposed on the States. 45 4 5. Medical assistance will be provided to meet health needs of needy refugees and to help keep sponsorships from breaking down when major medical costs arise. In order both to encourage sponsor- ships of refugees and to help keep sponsorships functioning, medical assistance will be available to needy refugees in all States regardless of whether they are receiving financial assistance. (Under the regular Medicaid program in 22 States, eligibility for financial assistance is required in order to receive medical assistance.) Medical services to the refugees will be provided in the same manner and to the same extent as under a State's Medicaid program, but where additional services are required -- and where such services would be available to destitute U.S. citizens through public facilities such as county hospitals -- the refugee assistance program will reimburse State welfare agencies for the purchase of such services so that a refugee does not become a burden on publicly funded local facilities. 6. Social services will be provided in accordance with a State's approved plan for service programs so that refugees are eligible for the same range of services as other residents of the communities in which they settle. Services are expected to be provided when sponsorships break down or when serious problems arise which a sponsor is not able to handle. Emphasis will be placed on services designed to lead to self-support. In order to place some control on expenditures, while at the same time meeting the necessary costs incurred by the States, SRS policies limit reimbursement for administrative costs by State welfare agencies to 10 percent of financial assistance payments and 5 percent of medical assistance costs; these percentages are similar to those experienced in the regular financial and medical assistance programs. Reimburs- able costs for professional staff time devoted to social services are limited to no more than the equivalent of one professional employee for each 60 refugee service cases. 46 5 States are required to maintain separate records on costs incurred on behalf of Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees, specifically identifying staff time and other expenses. Refugees are identified by the Form I-94 issured by the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and State records are required to include the Alien Registration Number which appears on that form. States have also been instructed to record the name and address of the sponsor and the name of the resettlement agency. The SRS transmittal to the States emphasizes that the refugee assistance program is a temporary program and that it is the Congressional intent that it not develop into a permanent Federal undertaking. 47 HEALTH of HEW OF METER any DEPARTMENT NEWS U.S.A. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE (Office of the Assistant Secretary for Education) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE J. GLENN-- (202) 245-7890 Wednesday, June 11, 1975 Home -- (301) 320-3328 HEW Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger today announced that Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees wishing to enroll in postsecondary institutions this fall are eligible for financial assistance under the Basic Educational Opportunity Grants and the Guaranteed Student Loan programs. Vietnamese and Cambodian students who were in this country prior to the fall of those two governments will be able to take advantage of these funding opportunities as a result of a recent ruling of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). The INS said that Vietnamese and Cambodians who entered the U.S. as non-immigrants and who desire to stay may, upon request, be granted permission to remain indefinitely and to accept full-time employment. In addition, they may also be designated as "refugees" under the immigration laws. The INS advises that any Vietnamese or Cambodian student desiring clarification of his immigration status should contact his local INS office for advice. ### 48 1111 NEW HEALTH REPRESENT ATION : NEWS ... U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, June 12, 1975 GLENN--(202) 245-7890 HEW Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger today announced that HEW will make one-time-only grants this fall to help defray emergency costs of instructing Vietnamese and Cambodian school children in school districts enrolling high concentrations of such children. "We expect refugee families to be dispersed widely across the Nation," Secretary Weinberger said. "In those instances where concentrations develop, however, this funding opportunity will assure the refugee school children do not become a burden on State or local school budgets." To be eligible to apply for a grant, the number of refugees enrolled by a district must exceed either 100 students or one percent of the district's total enrollment, whichever is less. For districts exceeding that minimum enrollment, grants will be made based on number of refugees enrolled who exceed the threshold level. The amount granted to a district for each refugee student above the district's threshold will vary from $200 to $300, with the exact figure to be determined by a formula, similar to the formula used in the ESEA Title I program, which will take into account the actual cost of instruction within the State in which the district is located. # # # 49 HEALTH OF EMICATION: HEW AND NEWS U.S.A U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE Social and Rehabilitation Service FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE KELSO (202) 245-0620 Wednesday, June 11, 1975 ANGRIST- (202) 245-0936 Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger announced today that HEW will provide 100 percent reimbursement to States for welfare, medical assistance, and social services for Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees who need such help after they have been resettled in American communities. Purpose of the policy is to prevent refugees from becoming a, burden on State or local resources in instances in which a resettlement plan breaks down and a refugee may have to turn to a State agency for help or preliminary advice. Today's action, which confirmed advice to the States on April 29 pending the enactment of legislation, was taken under the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1975 which was signed by President Ford on May 23. Under that Act, $405 million was appropriated for Vietnamese and Cambodian refugee costs, of which $100 million was appropriated to HEW to cover initial medical treatment and screening, education, welfare, and health costs on behalf of the refugees. "The refugees will be resettled by national voluntary resettlement agencies or by State or local governments, and they will all have sponsors who undertake to provide shelter, food, and help in finding employment," Secretary Weinberger said. "This is our goal at all times. However, in any large-scale refugee re- settlement program, some refugees will have to seek aid from State agencies. In those instances, our policy will assure that the refugees do not become a burden on State or local resources, and so for public assistance, medical assistance, and social services the normal State matching will not be required." (More) 50 -2- John A. Svahn, Acting Administrator of HEW's Social and Rehabilitation Service, to which the refugee assistance program was assigned by Congress, said "the refugee assistance program is temporary and the funds are limited. We expect, however, that most of the sponsored families and individuals will not need welfare because they will become self-sufficient." Mr. Svahn added that "the States now manage a $25 billion a year Federal- State public assistance system. We are sure that the States represent the best means of carrying out this special program as well. The 100 percent Federal reimbursement policy will include the States' administrative expenses, within certain limitations. In its instructions to the States, SRS issued the following guidelines: --Unlike the Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program (AFDC), assistance will be provided to eligible refugees on the basis of need whether or not children are involved. --States must verify that a sponsorship has broken down before cash assis- tance can be provided. They must also notify the resettlement agency so it can try to find another sponsor. --In order to avoid a breakdown in sponsorship, medical assistance would be provided when major medical needs arise which a sponsor is unable to meet even though he can continue his other efforts on behalf of a refugee family. --If a State finds that refugees in a community apply for welfare shortly after arrival, the States must immediately inform an SRS Regional Office, which will work with the voluntary resettlement agencies to prevent a recurrence. --The amount of cash assistance to the eligible refugees will be the same as that paid by the State to its American AFDC recipients. --In order to speed up the welfare process, States can issue the first cash grant on an emergency basis. ### 51 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE SOCIAL AND REHABILITATION SERVICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201 POLICY INSTRUCTION ACTION TRANSMITTAL SRS-AT-75-27 June 9, 1975 TO: STATE ADMINISTRATORS AND OTHER INTERESTED ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES SUBJECT: VIETNAMESE AND CAMBODIAN REFUGEES BACKGROUND: This supersedes Action Transmittal SRS-AT-75-8 (April 29, 1975) with regard to Vietnamese refugees. (A further notice regarding the Repatriate Program will be transmitted when pending legislation is en- acted.) NEW LEGISLATION: The following legislation has been enacted, providing for asistance to Cambodian and Vietnamese refugees in the United States: The Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1975 (Public Law 94-23) Special Appropriations for Assistance to Refugees from Cambodia and Vietnam (Public Law 94-24). CONTENT: Under the authority of the cited legislation, the Social and Rehabilitation Service will provide reimbursement to States on a 100 percent basis for financial assistance, medical assistance, and social services to Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees in the United States. This will also include reimbursement on a 100 percent basis for administrative costs incurred in the provision of such assistance and services. Funds for this purpose have been appropriated for the period ending June 30, 1976. The authorizing legis- lation for this purpose expires September 30, 1977. States may claim reimbursement of costs, as defined by this Policy Instruction, incurred on behalf of Cambodian or Vietnamese refugees on or after April 8, 1975 (the date on which the President designated Vietnamese and Cambodians to be refugees under the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act). 52 - 2 - The Congressional intent that this be a temporary program has been made clear. The House Appropriations Committee stated in its report (No. 94-204, May 13, 1975): "The Committee is concerned that this program could develop into a permanent Federal undertaking similar to the present Cuban refugee program. The Committee wants to state categorically that this is not its intent nor should the Executive Branch or the various States interpret the appropriation of these funds as starting a permanent Federal program. With this in mind, the Committee directs that the Executive Branch place these refugees in existing federal programs as soon as possible so that this part of the operation [the special funds for welfare, medical assistance, education, and public health] can be promptly phased out." Waiver of Categorical Relatedness Requirements of categorical relatedness for financial assistance, medical assistance, and social services are waived. This enables assistance and services to be provided on the basis of need, without regard to family composition or the presence of children. The provision of assistance on this basis is designed to avoid a needy refugee's becoming a burden on State or local public or voluntary resources if the resettlement plan has broken down. Verification with Sponsors of Refugees Most of the refugees who reach a community will have been resettled by one of the national voluntary agencies or a State or local government working with the Federal Government and will have a local sponsor. The sponsor may be an indi- vidual, a church, a civic organization, a State or local government, or other local group or organization. The responsibilities of the sponsor remain the same regardless of which of these categories a sponsor falls into. In resettling a refugee, the resettlement agency and the sponsor undertake certain responsibilities as a moral commitment. These include receiving the refugee and his family, providing shelter and food until the refugee becomes self-sufficient; providing clothing and pocket money; providing assistance in finding employment and in school enrollment for children; and covering ordinary medical costs. Once employment is obtained, the sponsor will assist the refugee to locate permanent housing, acquire minimal furniture, and arrange for utilities. Sponsors are also expected to 53 - 3 - help the refugees with some of the less tangible aspects of adjustment to a new culture. If a sponsor no longer provides for a refugee -- as may occur when a substantial period of unemployment is experienced or when major medical needs arise -- then the refugee may have to turn to the public welfare agency for assistance. As part of the regular verification process, the State agency, prior to accepting a refugee for assistance, should contact the sponsor, verify that the sponsorship has broken down, and assure itself that the sponsor has done the best he can. The State agency should also confirm that the resettle- ment agency has been notified of the breakdown in the sponsorship so that the resettlement agency can endeavor to develop another sponsorship; meanwhile assistance may need to be provided. In cases in which the State acts as the resettlement agency, the State agency will notify responsible State officials of the breakdown. States that act as a resettlement agency have the same responsibilities as the voluntary resettlement agency. Isolated instances of breakdowns in resettlement planning are expected to occur in any refugee resettle- ment program. However, if the welfare agency should find that refugees in a community are applying for assistance within a few days after arrival or that a substantial portion of the resettlements are breaking down, this information should be communicated immediately to the office of the SRS Regional Commissioner, including the names of the voluntary resettlement agencies res- ponsible for the resettlements. This will provide a basis for corrective action and future resettlement planning. 54 4 - Financial Assistance to Refugees 1. Financial assistance to all types of refugee cases, regardless of family composition, will be based upon the State's -AFDC needs standard with income and resources taken into consideration on the same basis as in the AFDC program and payments made in accordance with the State's AFDC payment levels. In determining need and the amount of assistance for the large extended family group it may be necessary and more practical to set up more than one budget unit. The State's standard for an assistance unit of one in AFDC may be used for single individuals and the two-person standard for a husband and wife. The Associate Regional Commissioner for Assistance Payments should be contacted if questions arise in the budgeting for refugee families and individuals. 2. Where there is an urgent need for assistance, the agency should make such provisions as are necessary to cope with the emergency by speeding up the application process and by issuing the initial grant to the refugee on an emergency basis. 3. No financial resources which are in fact not available to the refugee, including resources remaining in Vietnam or Cambodia owned by a refugee or a responsible relative, shall be considered in determining eligibility for financial assistance. 4. The income and resources of sponsors shall not be considered in determining eligibility for financial assistance. (Reimbursement claims for assistance to adult cases based on the SSI standards in accordance. with SRS-AT-75-8, prior to the implementation of". this Action Transmittal, will be accepted.) Relationship to SSI 1. All refugee recipients who are 65 years of age or older or who are blind or disabled will be referred immediately to the Social Security Administration to apply for SSI benefits. Such refugee will be included in the assistance benefit using the AFDC standard until SSI benefits are begun. 2. When the State agency learns that SSI has made a payment to a refugee for the same month as the refugee assistance program, the State agency should attempt to recover the assistance payment. 3. States may claim reimbursement, through the refugee assistance program, for State supplementary payments to refugee SSI recipients. 55 - 5 - Medical Assistance The provision of medical assistance to refugees will be designed: (a) To avoid a refugee's becoming a burden on State or local resources if the resettlement plan has broken down; and (b) to avoid a complete breakdown in the resettlement plan in cases in which the sponsor can continue to meet the basic needs of the refugee but is unable to meet the cost of major medical services. State eligibility standards for title XIX will apply for medical assistance eligibility of refugees, with the following exceptions: 1. Requirements for categorical relatedness for medical assistance may not be imposed. Actual receipt of, or application for, financial assistance for living expenses may not be required as a condition of eligibility for medical assistance. 2. The State's AFDC-related financial eligibility standards adjusted for family size (including the standards used for the medically needy in States covering that group) shall constitute the medical assistance financial standard. In States without a medically needy program, medical assistance must be provided to refugees who "spend-down" to the AFDC financial eligi- bility standard in accordance with provisions for considering income and resources and deducting incurred medical expenses under 45 CFR 248.3(c)(2). 3. No financial resources which are in fact not available to the refugee, including resources remaining in Vietnam or Cambodia owned by a refugee or a responsible relative, shall be considered in determining eligibility for medical assistance. 56 - 6 - 4. The income and resources of sponsors, and the in-kind services and shelter provided to refugees by their sponsors, shall not be considered in determining eligibility for medical assistance. Medical services will be provided in the same manner and to the same extent as under the State's title XIX program. However, where additional services are required -- and where such services would be available to desti- tute U.S. citizens through public facilities such as county hospitals -- the State agency may purchase services for refugees from such facilities in order to avoid the refugee's becoming a burden on publicly funded local facilities. Social Services Social services will be provided in accordance with the State's approved plan for service programs, except that requirements of categorical relatedness are waived. 57 -07jo Definition of a Refugee For the purpose of the refugee assistance program, a refugee is defined as: A Cambodian or Vietnamese national who owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country and has been paroled into the United States by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) as a refugee or has been granted voluntary departure by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) as a refugee. Parole is granted only prior to or at entry into the United States. Voluntary departure is granted only when a refugee had entered as a non-immigrant or entered without inspection. Excluded from this definition of refugees are those persons who are dependents of repatriated U.S. citizens and would be included under the Repatriate Program. Such persons are those who are actually dependent on the U.S. citizen and meet one of the following categories of relationship to such citizen: Spouse; parents; grand- parents; unmarried minor (as defined by State law) children, including adopted children and stepchildren; unmarried adult children who are dependent because they are handicapped, including adopted children and stepchildren; spouse's parents; spouse's grandparents; and minor siblings of the repatriate and spouse. * In order to be eligible under the refugee assistance program, the refugee must possess a Form I-94 issued by INS indicating that the person either has been paroled into the United States or has been granted "voluntary departure" status. Since a dependent of a U.S. citizen may also possess a Form I-94, the State agency must inquire whether the person entered the U.S. as a dependent of a U.S. citizen and whether the relationship to the U.S. citizen is such that the person would be included under the Repatriate Program rather than the refugee assistance program. * Following the first 90 days after their arrival in the United States (the period of eligibility under the pending legislation on the Repatriate Program), those dependents of U.S. citizens who qualify as refugees, in accordance with the definition contained in this section, would be eligible to apply under the refugee assistance program. 58 Administrative Costs Reimbursement may be claimed for identifiable costs incurred by State and local agencies in providing financial assistance, medical assistance, and social services to Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees. How- ever, reimbursable administrative expenses may not exceed 10 percent of the financial assistance payments or 5 percent of the, medical assistance costs for each quarterly period beginning July 1, 1975. Claims for local agency professional staff time incurred in the provision of social services shall be on the basis of actual time devoted to this function, but for each 60 refugee service cases handled statewide, there shall be no more than the equivalent of one professional employee claimed on the State's monthly claim. In order to be claimed under the refugee assistance pro- gram, staff time and other expenses must be identified in State records, and regular procedures followed for allocation of joint expenses. Records States must maintain separate records on costs incurred on behalf of Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees. State records must include the number which appears in the block "Passport or Alien Registration Number" on the Form I-94 issued by INS. Records should also include the name of the national voluntary resettlement agency which resettled the refugee and the name and address of the sponsor. (Some early arrivals may not have been resettled by such an agency, but most future arrivals will be.) Claims for Reimbursement Claims for reimbursement should be submitted, until further notice, on Form 2040, striking the word "Cuban" where it appears and substituting "Indochinese." Instructions to be issued at a later date are expected to call for a statement indicating your agency's agree- ment to participate in the program. States requiring advances should contact Regional Offices to obtain information on an interim agreement that must accompany the Form 2040 before the first funds request can be paid. Claims must be submitted monthly and should be submitted not later than 30 days after the close of the month. (Retroactive claims for costs incurred during the period April 8 - May 31, 1975, may be submitted on or before June 30, 1975.) No claim under this program will be accepted for any expenditures made more than seven months prior to the reccipt of the claim. 50 - 9 - A State may submit separate monthly claims for medical assistance if desired. Each monthly claim should be complete for the entire State, if possible. The present appropriation for this program expires June 30, 1976, and the authorizing legislation for this purpose expires September 30, 1977. Additional instructions will be provided on the steps necessary to assure that all necessary fiscal data are provided on a timely basis to observe both of these expiration dates, Address claims to the SRS Regional Commissioner. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Additional information and materials will be provided as soon as possible. These will include more detailed instructions covering program, administrative, fiscal, and reporting requirements. The temporary nature of the program, the dollar limitation specified in the authorizing legislation in terms of funds that may be appropriated, and the high degree of Congressional interest as reflected in reporting requirements in the law will necessitate early information on applications for financial and medical assistance and expenditures incurred and anticipated. INQUIRIES TO: SRS Regional Commissioners Acting 60 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR JOB COUNSELING IN THE RESETTLEMENT COMMUNITY Prior to their departure from the reception center, refugees are to be provided with information as to how to locate a public employment service local office when they reach their sponsors' location. In this way a refugee can receive service in the area of resettle- ment where the most specific information is available, and where job interviews can be conducted by potential employers. Reports of the activities of these local offices, from across the country, relating to refugee activities are telephoned into Washington, D.C., on Thursday of each week. This information is provided to the Secretary of Labor and the IATF. First reports were completed on June 6, 1975 and are attached. 61 Department of Labor Occupational Skills of Indochina Refugees Requesting Services within State Employment Service Agencies Local Offices as of June 5, 1975. Applicants Served in Local Offices by region- This Week and Cumulative 1-Digit Reg. I Reg. II Reg. III Reg. IV Reg. V DOT Code Boston New York Philadelphia Atlanta Chicago 0-1 Professional Technical No Activity to Report 8 25 1 Managerial 2 Clerical & Sales " " 15 5 5 3 Service " " 0 1 2 4 Farming Fishery Forestry & " " 0 0 0 Related 5 Processing " " 0 0 1 6 Machine Trades " " 1 0 4 7 Bench Work " " 7 1 2 8 Structural Work " " 0 4 1 9 Misc. " " 2 5 0 TOTALS 33 41 16 Number of Applicants Served: Male 243 Female 153 Number Placed in Jobs - 35 Number Referred to Training or Other Services - 70 Number in Active File - 642 ATTACHMENT #1 Page 1 of 2 62 Department of Labor Occupational Skills of Indochina Refugees Requesting Services within SESA Local Offices as of June 5, 1975 1-Digit Reg. VI Reg. VII Reg. III Reg. IX Reg. X % Dis- DOT Code (Dallas) (Kansas City) (Denver) (San Francisco) (Seattle) Totals trib. 0-1 32 0 2 57 19 144 36.3% 2 14 0 3 37 23 102 25.7 3 4 0 0 42 11 60 15.1 4 0 0 0 4 0 4 1.0 5 5 0 0 1 2 9 2.2 6 2 0 1 2 1 11 2.7 7 0 0 0 3 6 19 4.7 8 5 0 0 4 3 17 4.2 9 5 0 0 14 4 30 7.5 TOTALS 67 0 6 164 69 396 RALD 63 R. FORD ATTACHMENT #1 Page 2 of 2 ESTIMATED EXPENSES FOR EVACUATION MAINTENANCE AND RESETTLEMENT OF INDOCHINA AND CAMBODIAN REFUGEES AID FUNDED PRESIDENTIAL DETERMINATION AID/IPR/FUNDED STATE FUNDED TOTAL As of 6/6/75 As of 6/6/75 As of 6/6/75 ALL FUNDS TOTAL AVAILABLE 5,000,000 98,000,000 305,000,000 408,000,000 OBLIGATIONS DOD Contract Shipping for Evacuation 9,200,000 300,000 9,500,000 Airlift 54,900,000 8,200,000 63,100,000 Facilities & Daily Maintenance 26,537,000 37,963,000 64,500,000 Medical 1,700,000 800,000 2,500,000 IMMIGRATION & NATIONAL SERVICE 2,100,000 2,100,000 AMERICAN RED CROSS 1,500,000 1,500,000 VOLUNTARY AGENCIES 2,070,000 32,250,000 34,320,000 INLAND TRANSPORTATION 346,892 220,000 566,892 CUSTOMS 40,000 40,000 NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE 10,000 10,000 INDOCHINA REFUGEES BANGKOK-CANBERRA (REFUGEE CARE) 262,000 262,000 STATE 1,172,000 1,172,000 AID 815,000 815,000 USIA 26,000 26,000 TOTAL OBLIGATIONS 2,678,892 98,000,000 79,733,000 180,411,892 65 AMOUNT AVAILABLE 2,321,108 -0- 225,267,000 227,588,108 ESTIMATED EXPENSES FOR EVACUATION MAINTENANCE AND RESETTLEMENT OF INDOCHINA AND CAMBODIAN REFUGEES HEW funded from Refugee Act of 1975 As of May 31, 1975 Total Available 100,000,000 Obligations Public Health Service Screening and Immunizations 381,342 Other Expenses 28,542 Total 409,884 Education Activities 000 Social Rehabilitation Service Social Services in unknown States as yet Staff and related 260,000 (est.) costs at Reception Centers Total 260,000 (est.) TOTAL OBLIGATIONS $ 669,884 66 TOTAL AVAILABLE $99,330,116