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1505204
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Indochina Refugees - Status Reports
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1505204
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Indochina Refugees - Status Reports
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https://catalog.archives.gov/id/1505204
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Theodore C. Marrs Files (Ford Administration)
Theodore Marrs' General Subject Files
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Vietnam (Republic)
Refugees
Vietnamese Americans
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1975-05-31
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1975
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1975-04-01
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1975
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The original documents are located in Box 12, folder "Indochina Refugees - Status Reports" of the Theodore C. Marrs Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Copyright Notice The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public 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. APR 28 1975 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE GERALD R. FORD LIBRARY PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO AT WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536 April 28, 1975 AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO. CO 212.28a-P VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #14 1. Associate Commissioner E. F. O'Connor was dispatched to Guam on Saturday, April 26, 1975 to coordinate INS activities there. The assistant to Mr. Powell, Supervisory Inspector Gullage has been sent to Wake Island with a detail of 8 persons to set up an immigration inspection operation at that location. Mr. O'Connor will be responsible for liaison activi- ties in Guam with the press, post officials and agency representatives. 2. A World Airways flight arrived at Honolulu on April 26, 1975. Five orphans were removed and taken to the hospital for treatment. Four U. S. citizens also deplaned. The plane then proceeded to Oakland, California, where 196 orphans, 11 adult Vietnamese attendants and one British doctor were admitted as transits without visas. The group was taken to the Presidio and when physically able to do so will be moved forward by World Airways to Denmark. Thirty five additional Vietnamese (five. singles and 30 family member groups) all undocumented, were placed in deferred inspection status and housed in the Sadler Motor Inn in Hayward, California at the request of and expense of World Airways. There were a total of 252persons involved in this flight. It is of interest to note that the orphans involved are the surviving members of the Montagnard tribe of Vietnam. The ultimate plan is that Denmark will return them to Vietnam when conditions permit. 3. On April 27, 1975, Mr. Jack Ryder, Washington representative of World Airways requested permission to move the 110 aliens in deferred inspec- tion status at Los Gatos, California Christian Church to the Sadler Motor Inn noted in Item 2. This undocumented group was previously brought to the United States by World Airways. Permission was granted with the understanding that World Airways would continue responsibility for the group and pay all expenses. 4. As of 7PM, April 28, 1975, 4,023 persons had been processed by our officers on Guam. About 25 percent of these have been identified as United States citizens. The remainder were aliens of the relative group. The Air Force has advised our officers that they are running about 2,000 behind in removing those processed to Mainland United States. To expedite the movement of the group that has been processed, Mr. Powell was authorized to waive security clearances until later for immediate relatives and preference eligibles. In addition, Mr. Powell was authorized to clear in his discretion, the parents and brothers and sisters of permanent residents if consular records brought to Guam from Saigon showed that the Digitized from Box 12 of the Theodore C. Marrs Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library - 2 - individual had been checked with the CIA and had a negative record in the consular file. 5. There are 39 officers and 32 clerks now on duty in Guam. Also, 5 officers and 4 clerks are in Wake. Eleven additional personnel are en route. Nreen James F. Greene Deputy Commissioner UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE PLEASE ADDRESS REALY P. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536 May 1, 1975 AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO. CO 212.28a-P VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - - #17 1) At the close of business on May 1, 1975, there were 27,640 evacuees on Guam and 4,576 on Wake Island. There are a reported 40,000 evacuees en route to Guan by ship. The following were cleared by INS on May 1, 1975: FORD is LIBRARY USC Aliens Wake 123 511 Guam 104 4,775 Total 227 5,286 The total number of evacuees who have been cleared by INS and still remain on Guam is 8,097. 2) Evacuees began arriving in Camp Pendleton on April 29, 1975. Through April 30, 1975, 2,728 had arrived and 1,263 had been processed and departed from the base for final destinations in the United States. 97 were held for further processing. 3) Advance teams of immigration officers and clerks are at Camp Chaffee and Camp Eglin. Camp Chaffee will become operational on May 2 and Camp Eglin on May 3. These two camps will be long term operations as compared to Camp Pendleton which will be a very short term facility. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536 AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO. May 5, 1975 CO 212.28a-P VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #19 FORD At the close of business on May 5, 1975, the following represents the DERALD situation on Guam: Total number of refugees received on Guam to date: 47,728 Total lifted out of Guam 20,433 Number now on Guam 26,743 Cleared by INS and waiting to be transported (shortage of aircraft) 21,677 Category breakdown for Guam: May 5, 1975 Cumulative Category 1 (Relatives) 358 3,724 Category 2 (High Risk) 3,668 24,557 4,026 28,281 Aliens held on Guam with no category eligibility 2,234 Cleared persons staying with ineligibles 531 The latest figures for Wake as of the close of business May 3, 1975 are as follows: Number of evacuees on Wake 4,318 Processed on May 3, 1975: USC Aliens Wake 6 896 Processed by categories on May 3, 1975: First (relatives) 119 Second (high risk) 777 896 Number of persons cleared by INS and waiting transportation to Mainland: Wake 800+ - 2 - The following represents the situation at Fort Eglin as of 6PM, May 4, 1975: Cumulative Arrivals 373 Processed (ready to go) Aliens 164 Citizens 22 Dependents of USC's 28 Partially processed (no sponsor) 145 359 Not yet processed 14 373 At Fort Chaffee as of May 5, 1975 the following statistics are available: Cumulative Arrivals 2,695 Departures 22 Processed 2,045 USC 36 LPR 0 Vietnamese 1,994 Cambodians 5 Other 10 Holds 650 At Camp Pendleton the statistics as of 6AM, May 5, 1975 are as follows: Daily Cumulative Arrivals 3,291 14,750 Departures 926 5,355 Processed: USC 21 487 - 3 - Daily Cumulative LPR 0 60 Vietnamese/Cambodians 828 4,896 Temporary hold 736 3,948 Other Indochina 0 4 James Aprena Greene Deputy Commissioner UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536 AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO. May 6, 1975 CO 212.28a-P VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT -- #20 At the close of business on May 6, 1975, 56,559 refugees had been received on Guam. Of this number 25,523 had been lifted out of Guam and the number remaining on Guam was 31,036. Camp Pendleton has received as of 6AM, May 6, 1975, a total of 16,651 evacuees. Of this number 5,910 have departed the camp to relatives or agency sponsors. The remainder are in various stages of processing. Fort Chaffee has reported the arrival of 5,016 refugees of whom 120 have departed and the remainder are in various stages of processing. Eglin Air Force Base has reported the arrival of 373 evacuees, all of whom are in various stages of processing. Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Inspections Thomas J. Brobson was at Camp Pendleton from May 2, 1975 until May 4, 1975 to oversee the operation there and will be at Fort Chaffee from May 6, 1975 until May 8, 1975. FORD June James Greene RALD Deputy Commissioner 1975 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536 AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO. May 8, 1975 CO 212.28a-P VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #22 At the close of business on May 8, 1975, 74,456 refugees had been received on Guam. 32,251 had been lifted out of Guam and 42,205 had cleared Immi- gration and were awaiting transportation. the remainder were in various stages of processing. Camp Pendleton has received 22,217 refugees. Of this number 6,735 have departed and the remainder were in various stages of processing. Fort Chaffee reports that it has received 9,059 refugees of whom 757 have departed and the remainder are in various stages of processing. Eglin Air Force Base has received 373 arrivals of whom 256 have cleared Immigration. Deputy Commissioner James F. Greene testified before the House Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship and International Law, May 7, 1975. The authoriza- tion bill for the program passed the Subcommittee with a minor modification. FORD & GERALD OFFICE OF RECEIVED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY 8 1975 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536 AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO. May 9, 1975 CO 212. 28a-P VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #23 At the close of business on May 9, 1975, 76,713 refugees had been received on Guam. 39,275 had been lifted out of Guam and 21,747 had cleared Immi- gration and were awaiting transportation. The remainder were in various stages of processing. Camp Pendleton has received 25,333 refugees. Of this number 6,948 have departed and the remainder were in various stages of processing. Fort Chaffee reports that it has received 10,578 refugees of whom 933 have departed and the remainder are in various stages of processing. Eglin Air Force Base has received 375 arrivals of whom 285 have cleared Immigration. General Chapman testified before the Senate Foreign Appropriations Sub- committee on May 8, 1975. The authorization bill for the Program which passed the House Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship and International Law on May 7, 1975, passed the full House Judiciary Committee on May 8, 1975. FORD Mar 9 1975 ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE RECEIVED OF THE THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE Dr. Ted marro Rm. 103- EOB UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536 May 12, 1975 AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO. CO 212.28a-P VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #24 On May 12, 1975, there were 92,495 refugees who had been received on Guam. 63,271 had been processed and 13,521 were awaiting transportation to mainland camps. 25,834 refugees have been received at Camp Pendleton. 7,253 have departed and the remainder are in various stages of processing. Fort Chaffee has received 19,789 of whom 1,145 have departed, with the remainder in various stages of processing. Eglin Air Force Base has received 2,777 with 236 departures. The remainder are in various stages of processing. General Chapman will testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at 10AM on May 12, 1975. He is also scheduled to testify before the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee at 2PM on May 12, 1975. Deputy Commissioner James F. Greene accompanied the Task Force group on an inspection trip to Camp Pendleton on May 10, returning on May 11, 1975. FORD GERALD MAY 12 1975 ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE OF THE RECEIVED THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE Dr. Ted mark Rm. 103-EOB UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Dr. marrs PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536 AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO. CO 212.28a-P May 13, 1975 VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - - #25 As of May 13, 1975, 102,925 refugees had been received on Guam. 53,036 had been lifted out of Guam and 49,889 remain, of which 17,254 have been processed by Immigration. Camp Pendleton has received 25,834, of whom 7,253 have departed. Fort Chaffee has received 22,586, of whom 1,290 have departed. Eglin Air Force Base has received 2,777, of whom 263 have departed. General Chapman will testify at 9:30 a.m. before the Senate Sub- committee on Refugees and Escapees and at 2 p.m. before the Senate Appropriations Committee. assh Mrs League Schrie Beach FORD + LIBRARY CERALD MAY 13 1975 ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE RECEIVED OF THE D UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536 May 14, 1975 AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO. CO 212.28a-P VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #26 As of May 14, 1975, 103,813 refugees had been received on Guam. 53,578 had been lifted out of Guam and 50,235 remain, of which 18,751 have been processed by Immigration. Camp Pendleton has received 25,834, of whom 7,294 have departed. Fort Chaffee has received 23,617, of whom 1,490 have departed. Eglin Air Force Base has received 2,777, of whom 266 have departed. Deputy Commissioner Greene is scheduled to give a briefing at 10:00 a.m. to Subcommittee Chairman Eilberg and Representatives Fish, Sarbanes, and Cohen. An Authorization and Appropriation Bill for Vietnamese/Cambodian Refugee Assistance will be voted on today in the House. FORD & 07VH2 MAY 141975 1975 ATTORNEY RECEIVED GENERAL THE WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM TIME SENT: WHITE HOUSE RECEIVED: SITUATION ROOM '75 MAY 17 PM 12.12 12:16 LDX NR: 502 PAGES: I CIA DIA/G STATE Y DIA/H NMCC TREAS ANMCC NPIC NSA ERDA X FROM: VELMA SHELTON 2735 TO: AMB. DEAN BROWN RM. 7516 FORD i LIBRARA BERALD THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON May 18, 1975 MEMO TO SITUATION ROOM Please LDX to Ambassador L. Dean Brown Director Interagency Task Force on Vietnam Room 7516 - Operations Center Department of State Washington, D. C. 20520 Velmo H.Shalter Velma H. Shelton Room 103, Old EOB Ext. 2735 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE MAY AT, 15 OFF TORNEY 1975 OF GENERAL THE RECEIVED PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536 May 15, 1975 AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO. CO 212.28a-P VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #27 As of May 15, 1975, 104,535 refugees had been received on Guam. 55,306 had been lifted out of Guam and 49,229 remain, of which 20,120 have been processed by Immigration. Camp Pendleton has received 25,982, of whom 7,429 have departed. Fort Chaffee has received 24,329, of whom 1,663 have departed. Eglin Air Force Base has received 2,777, of whom 276 have departed. At the request of the House Judiciary Committee, Deputy Commissioner Greene and other Task Force members were present in the Speaker's Gallery while the bill for Vietnam/Cambodia Refugee Assistance was being debated. Regarding today's Washington Post story on the release of high level Vietnam officials from camp, early directives included the authorization to release certain highest level Vietnamese officials whose background and activities were well-known to U. S. Government officials, prior to the receipt of the results of a security check. This was part of the effort to reduce the camp populations. Following discussion with the chairman and ranking members of the House Judiciary Committee on May 8, INS made a commitment to the Congressman that all refugees except for close relatives of U. S. citizens and per- manent resident aliens would be held at the camps until results of the security check were obtained. At that time the earlier authorization was rescinded. The director of Camp Pendleton reports that to the best of his knowledge only four persons were released under that authorization, and all were destined to join relatives or other persons who had agreed to be respon- sible for them. Since the determination as to who is released and the conditions of release is solely an Immigration Service responsibility, other agency representatives are not routinely consulted with on these actions. THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON May 18, 1975 MEMO TO SITUATION ROOM Please LDX to Ambassador L. Dean Brown Director Interagency Task Force on Vietnam Room 7516 - Operations Center Department of State Washington, D. C. 20520 Velma H. Shelton Room 103, Old EOB Ext. 2735 R. FORD UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE 5161.51 5261 51 1914 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536 May 15, 1975 AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO. CO 212.28a-P VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #27 As of May 15, 1975, 104,535 refugees had been received on Guam. 55,306 had been lifted out of Guam and 49,229 remain, of which 20,120 have been processed by Immigration. Camp Pendleton has received 25,982, of whom 7,429 have departed. Fort Chaffee has received 24,329, of whom 1,663 have departed. Eglin Air Force Base has received 2,777, of whom 276 have departed. At the request of the House Judiciary Committee, Deputy Commissioner Greene and other Task Force members were present in the Speaker's Gallery while the bill for Vietnam/Cambodia Refugee Assistance was being debated. Regarding today's Washington Post story on the release of high level Vietnam officials from camp, early directives included the authorization to release certain highest level Vietnamese officials whose background and activities were well-known to U. S. Government officials, prior to the receipt of the results of a security check. This was part of the effort to reduce the camp populations. Following discussion with the chairman and ranking members of the House Judiciary Committee on May 8, INS made a commitment to the Congressmen that all refugees except for close relatives of U. S. citizens and per- manent resident aliens would be held at the camps until results of the security check were obtained. At that time the earlier authorization was rescinded, The director of Camp Pendleton reports that to the best of his knowledge only four persons were released under that authorization, and all were destined to join relatives or other persons who had agreed to be respon- sible for them. Since the determination as to who is released and the conditions of release is solely an Immigration Service responsibility, other agency representatives are not routinely consulted with on these actions. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536 May 21, 1975 AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO. CO 212.28a-P VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT -#31 As of May 21, 1975, 104,768 refugees had been received on Guam. 58,432 had been lifted out of Guam and 46,336 remain, of whom 28,997 have been processed by Immigration. Camp Pendleton has received 26,039, of whom 8,049 have departed. Fort Chaffee has received 26,214, of whom 2,494 have departed. Eglin Air Force Base has received 4,494, of whom 413 have departed. Plans are being completed to open the military camp at Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania on May 25, 1975, for the reception of refugees. RECEIVED OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY 21 1975 FORD UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536 May 20, 1975 AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO. CO 212.28a-P VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT - #30 As of May 20, 1975, 104,768 refugees had been received on Guam. 57,759 had been lifted out of Guam and 47,009 remain, of which 27,628 have been processed by Immigration. Camp Pendleton has received 26,039, of whom 7,832 have departed, Fort Chaffee has received 25,814, of whom 2,436 have departed. Eglin Air Force Base has received 4,494, of whom 626 have departed. MAY 20 1975 ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE RECEIVED OF THE THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE Dr. Ted mass Rm. 103-EaB Refugees UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO Fite IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536 AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO. CO 212.28a-P May 27, 1975 VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT #34 As of May 27, 1975, 107,468 refugees had been received on Guam. 60,419 had been lifted out of Guam and 46,955 remain, of whom 34,996 have processed by Immigration. Camp Pendleton has received 26,595, of whom 8,998 have departed. Fort Chaffee has received 27,195, of whom 3,282 have departed. Eglin Air Force Base has received 5,464, of whom 670 have departed. President Ford signed the money authorization bill over the weekend. An intensified program was begun to expedite clearances for refugees who have sponsors, in order to move them quickly from the reception centers and make space available for those presently on Guam. The center at Indiantown Gap is staffed and operational, and expects the first arrivals tomorrow. FORD LIBRARK i LIBRAR GERALD 71 1975 OFFICE or THE RECEIVED UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536 May 28, 1975 AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO. CO 212.28a-P VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT #35 As of May 28, 1975, 107,468 refugees had been received on Guam. 60,974 had been lifted out of Guam and 46,400 remain, of whom 35,784 have been processed by Immigration. Camp Pendleton has received 26,595, of whom 9,057 have departed. Fort Chaffee has received 27,195, of whom 3,573 have departed. Eglin Air Force Base has received 5,629, of whom 1,822 have departed. The staff on Guam has been reduced from 80 to 52. OIC Powell ends his detail on June 1. The Wake Island staff will be reduced from 5 to 1 by May 30. Three officers detailed to Hong Kong have returned to Guam. PLAY 28 1975 ATTORNEY Ct NERAL OFFICE OF THE RECEIVED THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE Dr. T. Marrs Cm. 103-ENB UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536 June 3, 1975 AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO. CO 212.28a-P As of June 3, 1975, 107,964 refugees had been received on Guam. 68,986 had been lifted out of Guam and 38,873 remain, of whom 34,757 have been processed by Immigration. Camp Pendleton has received 27,910, of whom 12,583 have departed. Fort Chaffee has received 27,410, of whom 3,118 have departed. Eglin Air Force Base has received 5,826, of whom 1,464 have departed. Indiantown Gap has received 5,618, of whom 3 have departed. Guam will start to receive 250 Vietnamese refugees per day from Subic Bay and Clark Air Force Base. This should continue until June 21. Wake Island will receive 125 per week from Subic Bay. On Thursday, the Guam force will be reduced to 23 officers and 27 clerks, 12 of the latter being local. Also on Thursday 2 officers and 2 clerks from Wake will be returning to their regions. This will leave only one officer. The people have all had over 30 days on detail so when the New Refugees build up we will again send officers if necessary. There are sufficient local clerks to maintain the operation. of is estimated Susm will have a census of 10,000 by FORD LIBRARY is GERALD JUN 3 1975 ATTORNEY OFFICE RECEIVED ENERAL THE OF UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY TO IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20536 June 5, 1975 AND REFER TO THIS FILE NO. CO 212.28a-P VIETNAM-CAMBODIA REFUGEE STATUS REPORT # 41 As of June 5, 1975, 108,310 refugees had been received on Guam. 71,704 had been lifted out of Guam and 36,301 remain, of whom 33,544 have been processed by Immigration. Camp Pendleton has received 28,584, of whom 13,379 have departed. Fort Chaffee has received 27,735, of whom 3,244 have departed. Eglin Air Force Base has received 5,853, of whom 1,779 have departed. Fort Indiantown Gap has received 8,515, of whom 16 have departed. General Chapman is inspecting Fort Indiantown Gap today. FORD LIBRARY & 07V030 JUN 5 1975 ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE RECEIVED OF THE INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA DEPARTMENT OF STATE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20520 R File July 3, 1975 9 MEMORANDUM FOR: THE PRESIDENT THROUGH: Mr. James T. Lynn, Director, Office of Management and Budget FROM: Julia Vadala Taft, Director, Interagency Task Force SUBJECT: Status Report on the Indochina Refugee Resettlement Program Attached is the status report on the Indochina Refugee Resettlement Program through July 3. Attachment: As stated. cc: Mr. Marrs Mr. Eisenhower RALD R. FORD Mr. Semerad Mr. Cannon Mr. Oaxaca Mr. Puritano Mr. Barri Mr. Blaydon STATUS REPORT ON THE INDOCHINA REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM - JULY 3 REFUGEE STATUS (as of July 3) Total Refugees Entered US System 130,616 Total Released 47,657 US 43,126 3rd Countries 4,531 Repatriated -0- Avg. Daily Releases: Week ending 7/3: 687 Week ending 6/26: 755 Week ending 6/19: 749 Week ending 6/12: 796 Total in US System 82,959 Total in the Pacific 19,243 Guam 10,602 Subic Bay 800 Wake Island 7,096 Other Asian Bases 745 Total US 63,536 Eglin AFB 5,563 Fort Chaffee 23,865 Camp Pendleton 17,620 Indiantown Gap 16,488 In Transit 180 PROBLEMS RESOLVED AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS 1. Resettlement Progress At the end of May, there were about 63,000 refugees in our overseas bases and in transit, and 46,000 in US reception centers. As of today, we have about 19,000 overseas and 2 63,000 in the centers. Since the end of May, over 20,000 have been resettled in the US, and over 2,500 have been placed in third countries. 2. Repatriates All refugees from the stateside camps who have asked to be repatriated were previously moved to Camp Pendleton. The initial movement to Guam is beginning today. The repatriates will stay on Guam until the Saigon authorities allow repatri- ation. 3. Task Force Reorganization The Task Force has just completed and submitted to OMB a Management Plan which identifies objectives with detailed supporting tasks, reorganizes the Task Force along functional lines, and provides a detailed breakout of additional staff requirements. OMB is reviewing this plan and will assist in obtaining the necessary support from the departments. In addition, the move to new and larger quarters, now in progress, will also promote efficiency. 4. Director's Appearance on Hill The Director is scheduled to appear the week of July 14 before the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and International Law of the House Judiciary Committee. A previous appearance was postponed, in lieu of which Mrs. Taft sent a five page letter, dated June 25, to Subcommittee Chairman Eilberg describing Task Force accomplishments and problems to date. 5. Computer Capability Increase Early in the resettlement effort, IBM offered the Task Force, free of charge, the use of their 370/145 computer system. That system having proved inadequate to Task Force needs, IBM has now offered to upgrade it to a 370/158 system, affording increased computer capacity. The computer is critical to Task Force ability to process individual sponsorship offers for transmittal to the voluntary agencies. Priority arrange- ments for staff augmentation are in process. 3 6. State and Local Government Sponsorships The Task Force has finalized sponsorship contracts with Washington State (for 500 refugees) and Indianapolis (for 400) and is in negotiation with Maine, Texas, and Illinois to reach similar arrangements. The Task Force is developing a policy for State and local governments to act as resettle- ment agents or to participate closely with existing ones. A letter has been sent forward via OMB for Presidential signature asking Governors to follow Washington State's lead. It is extremely important that the letters be signed soon so a major initiative can be launched with the assistance of the Federal Regional Councils. The President's Advisory Committee on Refugees sent the Governors a similar letter this week. 7. Chairman Eilberg Visits Reception Center Chairman Joshua Eilberg of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and International Law of the House Judiciary Committee visited the Indiantown Gap Reception Center July 2 in the company of the Director of the Task Force. Repre- sentative Eilberg was pleased with the operation of the camp and conveyed this to the press entourage. 8. Task Force Staff and Civil Coordinators Meet The Director convened her top staff and the Civil Coor- dinators of the four US camps and Guam for an all-day meeting Sunday, June 29, in Washington. The meeting, which covered every aspect of the resettlement effort, afforded the participants a particularly useful forum within which to air common concerns on a face-to-face basis. 9. General Quang General Dang Van Quang, the former Special Assistant for Military Affairs to President Thieu, who recently entered Canada, may be about to be expelled by the authorities there. Quang's reputation for corruption is likely to evoke protests if he attempts to settle in the US. PROBLEMS PENDING 1. Repatriation The possibility of demonstrations by repatriates now at Pendleton, but about to go to Guam, continues. A very small 4 group of agitators among the repatriates has threatened disruptions if demands to return quickly to Saigon are not met. While being careful in their statements to officials and to the media, the self-appointed leaders of some of the repatriates have indirectly communicated threats to back up their demands with violence. The authorities in Saigon have not yet agreed to accept the repatriates although the UNHCR is continuing negotiations. In spite of the fact that the UNHCR, not the US, is handling all repatriation negotiations, this has not reduced the agitators' determination to pressure the US for their immediate return to Vietnam. Once on Guam, the repatriate agitators will probably try to continue, and even to step up, their activities. The Governor of Guam is concerned about possible negative impact on tourism; indeed, we understand he may send you a cable on this matter. As for the UNHCR, it has made no visible progress in repatriating Indochinese who have asked to return to their countries. The UNHCR attempt to return 44 Vietnamese to Viet- nam from Thailand via tugboat aborted when the PRG demanded to keep the tugboat as well. At the same time, two Vietnamese did return to Vietnam the first known to have been repa- triated but via the DRV Embassy in Vientiane rather than under UNHCR auspices. The two had been GVN Embassy officials in Kuala Lumpur. 2. Stranded Escapees Not in US System We estimate that there are about 10,000 escapees stranded in Thailand, Malaysia-Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea. These people, who have been unable to find resettlement in the country of first refuge or go on to third countries, are not all able to enter the United States under the current parole program. Our Government, therefore, must soon decide whether to grant parole to additional refugees. Most of these escapees are now in internment areas under difficult living conditions. The joint leadership of the Senate has recommended that we grant paroles to those refugees not now eligible. Repre- sentatives of the US Catholic Bishops made the same recommendation to you on June 18th. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA file DEPARTMENT OF STATE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20520 William July 11, 1975 MEMORANDUM FOR: THE PRESIDENT THROUGH: Mr. James T. Lynn, Director, Office of Management and Budget FROM: Julia Julia Taft Vadala Taft, Director, Interagency Task Force SUBJECT: Status Report on the Indochina Refugee Resettlement Program Attached is the status report on the Indochina Refugee Resettlement Program through July 10, 1975. Attachment: As stated. CC: Dr. Marrs FORD LIBRAR, & GERALD Mr. Eisenhower Mr. Semerad Mr. Cannon Mr. Oaxaca Mr. Puritano Mr. Barri Mr. Blaydon STATUS REPORT ON THE INDOCHINA REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM - JULY 10 REFUGEE STATUS (as of July 10) Total Refugees Entered US System 130,866 Total Released 52,464 US 47,634 Third Countries 4,830 Repatriated 0 Avg. Daily Releases: Week ending 7/10: 687 Week ending 7/3: 687 Week ending 6/26: 755 Week ending 6/19: 749 Week ending 6/12: 796 25,000 Total in US System 78,402 Total in the Pacific 15,968 103,000 Guam 8,588 Subic Bay 0 Wake Island 6,844 Other Asian Bases 536 Total US 62,117 Eglin 4,973 Fort Chaffee 23,333 Camp Pendleton 17,978 Indiantown Gap 15,833 In Transit 317 PROBLEMS RESOLVED AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS CLOSING OF SUBIC BAY CENTER The last refugees left the processing center at Subic Bay in the Philippines July 6. Subic Bay is thus the first of the Pacific centers to close. There remains a total of 15,968 refugees in the U.S. system in the Pacific, at the following locations: Guam 8588, Wake Island 6844, Clark AFB 91, Hickam AFB 109, and Thailand 336. 1 1 2 REPATRIATES TO GUAM The majority of the refugees who have asked to be repatriated have now left Camp Pendleton for Guam and those remaining at Pendelton are leaving as military flights are available. Despite fears of demonstrations or possibly more serious disruptions by a small group of agitators who had been criticizing the U.S. for allegedly hindering their return to Vietnam, the flights have proceeded without incident. VOLUNTARY AGENCIES OPTIMISTIC The voluntary resettlement agencies have again revised upward their estimates of their own resettlement capabilities. A poll of agency representatives has revealed that the agencies now feel they can resettle 104,000 refugees before the end of the year. Their last estimate, made in late June, was 92,000, an upward revision of a previous estimate of 65,000. The voluntary agencies, therefore, are more confident of their ability to move quickly in resettling refugees than at any time since resettlement began. Voluntary agency ability to meet goals remains to be proved. We continue, therefore, to supplement their efforts by negotiating resettlement contracts with state and local governments (see below) and by trying to interest non- governmental entities in the resettlement task. STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS The Task Force continues to encourage state and local governments to assume responsibility for refugees. We will send an information package to all state governments as soon as the President signs the letter to Governors requesting their support. Cities and counties will receive similar packets explaining ways in which they can help in resettlement. Having concluded contracts with the State of Washington and with Indianapolis the Task Force is in the final stages of negotiations with the State of Maine. Cincinnati has expressed an interest in resettling some 5,000 refugees, and we are studying their proposal. VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND OTHER PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS AGREE TO COOPERATE Interagency Task Force officials met July 5 in New York with representatives of the nine voluntary agencies involved in refugee resettlement and with representatives of some five additional non-governmental organizations (NGO's), including United Way and the YMCA. The NGO's expressed their willingness to assist the resettlement agencies in mobilizing community resources to help 1 1 w the Indochina refugees, and they agreed to meet with the agencies this week to find ways of coordinating their efforts. PRINTED MATERIALS FOR REFUGEES The Task Force has printed and is presently distributing a dual language orientation handbook for Vietnamese refugees. The handbook describes life in America from several facets -- social, economic, governmental -- and is designed for use by refugee and sponsor together. Also presently in distribution is a 1,500 word Vietnamese- English phrase book, printed by the Red Cross and English- Vietnamese dictionaries. PROBLEMS PENDING REPATRIATION EFFORT AT STANDSTILL There has been no movement in the UNHCR effort to send repatriates home. The authorities in Saigon have not yet been willing to receive repatriates, though the UNHCR has forwarded to Saigon the applications of some 600 Vietnamese who have requested repatriation. In a trial effort last week, the UNHCR made specific repatriation travel arrangements for a group of 44 Vietnamese to fly from Thailand to Saigon, but the PRG refused to allow entry without the return of the tugboat on which the repatriates were located. The U.S. Government has contested the return of the tugboat since it may be American property. The U.S. has refused to allow the tugboat to leave Thailand pending a determination of U.S. legal claims to the asset. The Thais, on the other hand, refused to allow the refugees to land in Thailand. As of this writing, both tugboat and repatriates -- who were under orders to wait off the Thai coast -- are missing. There has been no contact with the boat since early in the week of July 7. As for Cambodian repatriates, some 340 Khmer Army personnel went home from Thailand in late May and early June as a result of local arrangements without UNHCR involvement. About 100 of them were reliably reported to have been executed. The Royal Thai Government thereupon ceased its efforts to arrange further repatriation of Khmers. - 4 - MEDIA CRITICISM OF ALLEGEDLY HIGH SPONSORSHIP BREAKDOWN RATE 1 The Washington Post of July 9 carried an article quoting a critic of the refugee resettlement program alleging that the breakdown rate in refugee sponsorship matches is alarmingly high. We believe that the overall breakdown rate is low and that, where breakdowns have taken place, they have occurred primarily among Vietnamese families of American citizens who now find that they are unable to care for their Vietnamese relatives. In most of these cases, refugees exited the U.S. refugee system directly into the hands of their American relative (which they were legally entitled to do) without ever having been handled by a voluntary agency. Regarding their own resettlement programs, the voluntary agencies have each told us that they are having no particularly serious breakdown problems. All say the breakdown rate is low. The Red Cross has told us that, since the beginning of the resettlement program, only five families have applied for more than one week of emergency assistance. Although we have no reason to believe that the breakdown rate is higher than for previous refugee programs, we will con- tinue to monitor closely the sponsorship breakdown situation since lasting and effective sponsorship matches are at the heart of the resettlement effort. GENERAL QUANG Lieutenant General Dan van Quang, President Thieu's former Special Assistant for Military and Security Affairs who recently entered Canada, has been issued a deportation order by the Canadian authorities. Quang, who the Canadian Immigration Min- ister is quoted as saying was "guilty of nefarious activities in the drug trade," was asked to leave Canada as soon as he can arrange for admission to another country. Publicly stated U.S. policy on Quang is that we will examine his application if he requests entry here. The U.S. Consulate General in Montreal today received a letter from Quang requesting that he and his family "be authorized to settle in the USA." INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA DEPARTMENT OF STATE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20520 July 18, 1975 MEMORANDUM FOR: THE PRESIDENT 151 oniel THROUGH: form Mr. James T. Lynn, Director, Office of Management and Budget FROM: Julia Interagency Vadala Task Taft, Force Director Julia Jaft SUBJECT: Status Report on the Indochina Refugee Resettlement Program Attached is the status report on the Indochina Refugee Resettlement Program through July 17, 1975. Attachment: As stated CC: Dr. Marrs - WH FORD i LIBRARY Mr. Eisenhower Mr. Semerad Mr. Cannon Mr. Oaxaca Mr. Puritano Mr. Barri Mr. Blaydon Ogiluie " O'neill STATUS REPORT ON THE INDOCHINA REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM - JULY 17 REFUGEE STATUS (as of July 17) Total Refugees Entered US System 130,851 Total Released 57,793 US 52,834 Third Countries 4,959 Repatriated 0 (Requesting Repatriation - 2,435) Avg. Daily Releases: Week ending 7/17: 761 Week ending 7/10: 687 Week ending 7/3: 687 Week ending 6/26: 755 Week ending 6/19: 749 Week ending 6/12: 796 Total in US System 73,058 Total in the Pacific 13,197 Guam 6,707 Wake Island 6,024 Other Asian Bases 466 Total US 59,526 Eglin 4,427 Fort Chaffee 22,680 Camp Pendleton 17,084 Indiantown Gap 15,335 In Transit 335 PROBLEMS RESOLVED AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS TESTIMONY BEFORE THE HOUSE IMMIGRATION SUBCOMMITTEE On July 17, I testified for six hours before the House Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and International Law, chaired by Congressman Joshua Eilberg. Major issues covered were: the role of the voluntary agencies, their responsibilities in settling the refugees, particularly in the long run, and their funding; the employment outlook; the issue of military enlistment for refugees; actual and potential problems of sponsors; and press criticism of the resettlement effort. GENERAL QUANG General Chapman, who accompanied me during the testi- mony, told the Subcommittee that controversial Lieutenant General Dan Van Quang, former military assistant to Nguyen Van Thieu, will not be readmitted to the US refugee sys- tem, having voluntarily left it to enter Canada. If Quang wants to enter the US, he said, he will have to file for immigration and undergo the normal requirements of waiting his time for admission under the quota as well as complet- ing the normal processing including rigorous screening. ADDITIONAL REFUGEE ARRIVALS We have sent new instructions to all overseas posts to facilitate the movement of processing of refugees stran- ded abroad, principally in Asia. We are mainly interested in reuniting immediate families and in bringing to the United States former employees of the U.S. Government. INS Commissioner Chapman has sent a letter to the Chairmen of both the House and Senate Judiciary Committee indicating our plans for an additional 12,000 Vietnamese and Cambodians not now in the U.S. system. These refugees will include inter alia extended family members of Indo- chinese already here, as well as politically important Indo- chinese who cannot resettle in Southeast Asia. In dis- cussions with Congressional Committees, we are reassuring them that no more than approximately 130,000 refugees will be <permanently resettled in the United States. -2- PRINTED MATERIALS FOR REFUGEES USIA has a number of materials that would be suitable for orientation of the refugees which cannot be used because of the statutory prohibition of domestic USIA activities. At our request, Congressman Hays is planning to introduce a joint reso- lution to allow the use of relevant USIA materials specifically for the refugees. A number of magazines are providing complimentary subscriptions to the camps. The Governors' Conference and the National Geo- graphic Society have donated maps, and we are soliciting more from the AAA, Rand McNally, and oil companies. BREAKDOWNS The press has recently focused on a number of breakdowns and implied that these are indicative of a weakness in the program, and, in particular, in the activities of the voluntary agencies. Our investigations have shown a remarkably low voluntary agency (VOLAG) breakdown rate, and concluded that many of the serious breakdowns have occurred among refugees who were either released directly from Travis AFB or who otherwise bypassed Volag processing. Volags have been for some time resolving such breakdown cases, and last month we issued guidelines authorizing reimbursement of costs up to $500 per individual in such instances, providing that no pre- vious payments were made. STATES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS Los Angeles' Mayor Bradley has expressed interest in sponsoring 2,000 refugees in addition to those who have already been settled in Los Angeles through private or organizational sponsorships. The Mayor may run into opposition on this proposal on the basis that California has already accepted more refugees than any other state, although his interest indicates a great deal of generosity and courage. A contract is ready for signature with Jackson County, Missouri which will take 250 people. There have been new inquiries and expressions of interest from Illinois. Maine will accept all of its 300 refugees by August 7. -3- PROBLEMS PENDING REPATRIATION EFFORT STILL STALLED There has still been no repatriation of refugees from the US system. The UNHCR has sent 600 applications to Saigon for would-be Vietnamese repatriates, and although it has received no response, remains confident that one will be forthcoming. UNHCR has not yet been able to contact Cambodian authorities regarding repatriation. The tugboat with 44 Vietnamese refugees which, as of last week's report, was missing after having been ordered to stand off the coast of Thailand, is still missing and is assumed to have gone to Vietnam. MILITARY ENLISTMENT OPTION FOR REFUGEES One of the major groups we have identified as being diffi- cult to resettle is about 8,000 single young men, many of whom have only military experience. We have asked DOD to draft legislation to offer military enlistment as an option to these men. The legislation will have the following characteristics: the requirement for permanent resident alien status should be waived or granted; English language aptitude should not be a precondition of enlistment; and the special enlistment category should be large enough to include all potential recruits. In addition to the 8,000 men above, we have asked DOD to plan for an additional 2,000 married persons. Congressman Rodino has also written to the House Armed Services Committee requesting similar legislation. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA DEPARTMENT OF STATE Refuguer WASHINGTON, D.C. 20520 August 15, 1975 MEMORANDUM FOR: THE PRESIDENT THROUGH : for Mr. James T. Lynn, Director, 151 o'Neill FROM : Office Julia Interagency Vadala of Management Task Taft, Force Directo and Budget Juliedaft SUBJECT : Status Report on the Indochina Refugee Resettlement Program Attached is the status report on the Indochina Refugee Resettlement Program through August 14, 1975. Attachment: As stated. CC: Dr. Marrs Mr. Eisenhower Mr. Semerad FORD i LIBRARY GERALD Mr. Cannon Mr. Oaxaca Mr. Puritano Mr. Barri STATUS REPORT ON THE INDOCHINA REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM - August 14 REFUGEE STATUS (as of August 14) Total Refugees Entered US System 133,132 Total Released 79,303 US 74,660 Third Countries 5,643* Repatriated 0 (Requesting repatriation) 1,830 Avg. Daily Releases: (As a percentage of those in US System as of date shown) Week ending 8/14 709 (1.32% of 53,829) Week ending 8/7 796 (1.38% of 57,580) Week ending 7/31 790 (1.26% of 62,460) Week ending 7/24 778 (1.14% of 68,260) Week ending 7/17 761 (1.04% of 73,058) Week ending 7/10 687 (0.88% of 78,407) Total in US System 53,829 Total in the Pacific 3,929 Guam 3,410 Thailand 478 Clark 17 Hickam 24 Total US 49,900 Eglin 2,504 Fort Chaffee 21,020 Camp Pendleton 15,397 Indiantown Gap 10,979 In Transit 0 * Based on adjusted CINCPAC figures. The highlight of the week was your visit to Fort Chaffee. What a warm and wonderful gesture it was! The staff and the refugees were elated with your visit, which will give a big boost to the entire sponsorship program. I hope that in the coming weeks you can high- light in your speeches the continuing need for groups and individuals as sponsors. PROBLEMS RESOLVED AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS Instructions Regarding Refugees Remaining in East Asia We have sent instructions to posts in East Asian countries where Indochina refugees are still stranded telling them that we will take in all those unable to be resettled elsewhere who are relatives of American citizens, permanent resident aliens, or refugees in the U.S. system, or who are former U.S. Government employees, and their families. The number of remaining refugees in these categories is about 6,000. We also plan to take in some additional "high risk" refugees, primarily from Thailand, who might face persecution if they were repatri- ated and whose continued presence in friendly East Asian countries might pose problems for U.S. relations with those governments. We hope that our acceptance of a total of 3,800 additional refugees from Thailand, including some Laotians, will induce the Thai to begin a program as soon as possible, with UNHCR support, to provide relief to and eventually resettle about 35,000 refugees, mostly Meo tribesmen from Laos and some Cambodians, who are expected to remain in Thailand. We have told the posts that, after the parole of those listed in the above categories has been undertaken, we will take another look at the remaining refugees who cannot be resettled locally or in third countries. Depending on how many refugees have been paroled into the U.S., and how many have been resettled from the U.S. system into third coun- tries, we may be able to bring in up to 50 percent of the remaining refugees (those classified as "high risk") in East Asian countries other than Thailand, and an additional 1,400 from Thailand. We expect the expanded parole authority to result in the entry of a total of not more than 10,000 additional refugees from third countries by September 15. -2- Third Country Resettlement We are preparing a message to the resettlement centers publicizing resettlement opportunities in Malawi and Morocco. We are also preparing messages to our Embassies in West Germany and Australia asking them to make demarches to their host governments to take more refugees. More Local Government Interest in Resettlement In addition to the eleven states, ten cities, and two countries mentioned in last week's report, the states of Louisiana, Michigan and Utah have expressed interest in re- settling refugees, as have the cities of Albuquerque and Roswell, New Mexico, and Andrews, Texas. Pillsbury Ad The Pillsbury Company on August 10 took full page ads in the Washington Post and the New York Times promoting sponsorship. The Task Force did not solicit the ad, and we are grateful for Pillsbury's spontaneous generosity. The ad's statement, "You or your sponsoring group may also be eligible to receive up to $300 in federal funds for each member of your sponsored family through the agency with which you worked," while not technically inaccurate, has caused a surge of inquiries to the resettlement agencies, since, in fact, only the US Catholic Conference routinely passes along as much as $300 in cash to the sponsor for each refugee. PROBLEMS PENDING Decline in Average Daily Resettlement Rate While we hope that the decline in the resettlement rate this week is a temporary phenomenon, we are asking the resettle- ment centers for their assessment of the reasons for it and possible remedies. Fort Chaffee's resettlement effort slowed somewhat during the week because of the excitement surrounding your visit there and because of some displacement brought about by the setting up of a streamlined outprocessing system. -3- August vacations appear to be delaying some sponsors' plans to take in refugees. A shift of resources to Eglin from other centers to assist in the phase-out of that center by September 1 may also have contributed to the decline. In addition, movements from the U.S. system to Canada and France declined during the week, because of France's decision to take only heads of families from U.S. camps initially until they find jobs in France, and, in the case of Canada, for reasons explained below. Still, if the average daily resettle- ment rate is expressed in terms of a percentage of those remaining to be resettled out of the U.S. system, as is done in the statistical table, this week's resettlement rate is surpassed only by last week's. We hope next week's will be better. Resettlement to Canada Canada's Ambassador to the United States called on the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs on August 13 to press Canada's request that we accept Mr. Thieu's former Security Adviser, Lt. General Dan Van Quang. Mr. Sisco told Ambassador Warren that the U.S. would not accept General Quang as a deportee from Canada, but would consider an application from him for an immigrant visa, subject to the normal requirements for such visa appli- cations. Canada has, since requesting that we accept General Quang from them last week, apparently reduced its rate of acceptance of refugees from the U.S. system. Canada has just withdrawn its consular team from Camp Pendleton; the team processed visa applications for 3,000 refugees during its two months of operation. Drugging Incident at Utapao A press release issued by the Defense Department has essentially confirmed press accounts of an incident of which the Task Force had no prior knowledge that occurred on May 1 at Utapao Air Base in Thailand. The incident involved the administration of sodium pentathol and thorazine to 13 Vietnamese who had become hysterical and threatened to commit suicide when told they would have to leave Utapao for Guam, and could neither remain in Thailand nor return to South Viet Nam. The 13 were among some 3,000 Vietnamese who flew from Viet Nam to Thailand on Vietnamese aircraft during -4- the evacuation, and were allowed by the Thai Government to land with the stipulation that they could not remain in Thailand. The 13 said that when they boarded the Vietnamese aircraft in Saigon and Bien Hoa, they were told that their destination would be in the Mekong Delta of South Viet Nam. They are now in the repatriate Camp on Guam. Strikebreakers We have received complaints from the AFL/CIO regarding a small number of Vietnamese refugees who have been employed by firms involved in labor disputes. While the Department of Labor tells us that the refugees can legally work for such firms (as can any citizen or resident alien) we are concerned that our cordial relationship with George Meany and the labor movement not be allowed to deteri- orate. It is the situation at the Head Ski plant in Boulder, Colorado that Mr. Meany is most concerned about. Four out of 180 "strikebreakers" employed at that plant are Vietnamese refugees. We have asked the voluntary agency working with the four refugees to try to find alternative employment offers and we are working on a strategy to avoid any major con- frontations between the labor movement and our program in the future. A similar situation exists at "Egg City" in Southern California where 14 out of 112 people employed by the plant during a 4 months labor dispute are Vietnamese refugees. The unions concerned there are associated with Cesar Chavez, and the AFL/CIO is not particularly concerned. In terms of public support for the resettlement program, we want to avoid having refugees hired in a situation where they will be accused of strikebreaking. Our ability as a federal agency to control this is limited, as it should be. Nevertheless it is quite a sticky situation. Military Enlistment as an Option for Refugees Members of the Task Force held a meeting with Defense Department officials on August 13 and recommended that refugees not be granted permanent resident alien status for purposes of military enlistment, but that the law be amended -5- to allow them to enlist prior to being given that status. Senator Scott is considering proposing legislation along those lines which would give qualified Indochina refugees the same options as Hungarian and Cuban refugees. It is envisioned that refugees who were trained in U.S. service schools would be given preference for enlist- ment if there is a demand in the military for their skills. (Helicopter pilots, for example, would not be given prefer- ence for enlistment, even if they were U.S. trained, because the military has a surplus of helicopter pilots.) Potential enlistees lacking certified skills in demand would have to compete with Americans for enlistment spaces. Repatriates The wire services have carried a story that a PRG official, while visiting Japan, announced that if the U.S. wants to make arrangements for repatriation of those on Guam, the U.S. would have to deal directly with South Vietnam. If this report accurately reflects the official attitude of the Saigon authorities, we are in for a particularly difficult situation with regard to the future of the would-be repatriates. Planned Closing of Eglin With the impending closing of Eglin on September 1, we are concentrating all sponsorship initiatives and staff talent on the drawdown there to avoid having to transfer a large number of people to Fort Chaffee. We are concerned that the public perception of such a transfer would be that those refugees represent hard core residuals and that Fort Chaffee was being used as a "dumping ground.' There are now 2,504 people at Eglin, and we hope our concentrated effort will result in a rapid and effective phasedown. * * * It has been quite a week. Thank you very much for your wonderful support of the program. We won't let you down. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA Refuge DEPARTMENT OF STATE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20520 August 22, 1975 MEMORANDUM FOR : THE PRESIDENT 5 O'nill THROUGH : Mr. James T. Lynn, Director, Office of Management and Budget FROM : Julia Vadala Taft, Director Interagency Task Force Julia SUBJECT : Status Report on the Indochina Refugee Resettlement Program Attached is the status report on the Indochina Refugee Resettlement Program through August 21, 1975. Attachment: As stated. cc: Secretary David Mathews Dr. Marrs FORD & Mr. Eisenhower Mr. Semerad ALD Mr. Cannon Mr. Oaxaca Mr. Puritano Mr. Barri STATUS REPORT ON THE INDOCHINA REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM - August 21 REFUGEE STATUS (as of August 21) Total Refugees Entered US System 133,876 Total Released 84,073 US 78,164 Third Countries 5,909 Repatriated -0- (Requesting repatriation) 1,831 Avg. Daily Releases: (As a percentage of those in US System as of date shown) Week ending 8/21 681 (1.37% of 49,803) Week ending 8/14 709 (1.32% of 53,829) Week ending 8/7 796 (1.38% of 57,580) Week ending 7/31 790 (1.26% of 62,460) Week ending 7/24 778 (1.14% of 68,260) Week ending 7/17 761 (1.04% of 73,058) Week ending 7/10 687 (0.88% of 78,407) Total in US System 49, 49,803 Total in the Pacific 3,100 Guam 2,554 Thailand 518 Clark 7 Hickam 21 Total US 46,703 Eglin 2,049 Fort Chaffee 19,935 Camp Pendleton 15,022 Indiantown Gap 9,696 In Transit 0 PROBLEMS RESOLVED AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS Meeting with Secretary Mathews HEW Secretary Mathews received a briefing from the Task Force Director this week which concerned the current status of the program and longer term responsibilities of HEW when the Interagency Task Force terminates its opera- tions. Dr. Mathews was most interested in and supportive of the resettlement program and the Task Force will soon begin discussing the transfer of long range resettlement efforts to HEW. HEW Regional Meetings State and local officials and voluntary agency repre- sentatives were brought together in three Federal Regions this past week for briefings on the refugee program. HEW Regional Offices in San Francisco, Chicago, and Philadelphia were hosting the sessions and each had an excellent turnout and favorable press coverage. Public Assistance and Medicaid Guidelines The HEW Task Force and the Social and Rehabilitation Service are in the process of improving and clarifying guidelines to the States on Public Assistance and Medicaid. The revised guidelines will be forwarded to the States next week. Third Country Resettlement We are preparing a message to the camps informing them of resettlement opportunities in the Ivory Coast. About 200 refugees have responded to previous offers of resettle- ment in Africa; all of these want to go to Gabon and we are sending a message to our Embassy in Libreville urging the Gabonese Government to complete the necessary formalities for their entry. There has not yet been any response from refugees in the U.S. system to opportunities to resettle in Malawi or Morocco. Taiwan has expressed willingness to resettle refugees of Chinese descent, and we have so informed the resettlement centers and concerned overseas posts. -2- Labor Relations The situation mentioned in last week's report which led to complaints from the AFL/CIO about refugee strike- breakers has been resolved. The four refugees employed at the Head Ski plant in Boulder, Colorado, which is in- volved in a labor dispute, have accepted other jobs. The refugees employed by "Egg City," California are members of one of two competing unions and the AFL/CIO is not concerned. PROBLEMS PENDING Refugees Stranded in Third Countries Immigration and Naturalization Service officials and consular officers making a tour of refugee camps in Thailand have reported that in one camp housing 1,400 Cambodian refugees, only 21 persons are eligible for parole as relatives of persons already in the United States or former U.S. Government employees and their families. Many of those not eligible for parole are from military back- grounds and might be eligible for parole in the "high risk" category after processing of relatives and employees is completed. About 3,300 refugees have already been brought into the U.S. system from third countries under the expanded parole authority, or will be brought in shortly under arrangements already made. Most of those eligible under present criteria for parole are Vietnamese. By comparison, few of the Cambodians stranded in third countries are former U.S. Government employees or have relatives in the United States. Repatriation 410 refugees in the repatriate camp on Guam demonstrated peacefully on August 19 and presented U.S. officials with a petition proposing that they be given a ship which they could sail on their own to Viet Nam. -3- Further Decline in Out-Processing Rate Although the daily out-processing rate for the last three days has been good, an extremely low rate last week- end produced a decline in this week's average daily re- lease figure. We asked the civil coordinators at the resettlement centers for their assessment of the decline and their responses indicate that the problem is not so much in finding sponsors willing to take the refugees as it is with refugees sometimes being reluctant to accept offers of sponsorship. Some refugees are apparently holding out for a "better deal." Others are timid about leaving the relatively protective atmosphere of the camp where all physical ne- cessities are provided and where there is an abundance of Vietnamese companionship. In some cases, large groups of refugees, tied by geo- graphic or religious, rather than family relationships, object to being broken up for resettlement purposes. Another problem appears to be that some of the voluntary agencies, having started the processing of a refugee, are reluctant to turn him over to another agency which might have a made-to-order resettlement opportunity for the individual. We are considering several solutions to these problems and will implement new processing and counseling procedures next week. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA the DEPARTMENT OF STATE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20520 November 7, 1975 MEMORANDUM FOR: THE PRESIDENT THROUGH: Mr. James T. Lynn, Director, /S/ O'Neill Office of Management and Budget FROM: Julieft Julia Vadala Taft, Director, Interagency Task Force SUBJECT: Status Report on the Indochina Refugee Resettlement Program Attached is the status report on the Indochina Refugee Resettlement Program through November 6, 1975. Attachment: As stated. CC: Secretary Mathews Dr. Marrs Mr. Eisenhower Mr. Semerad GETAL FORD James Mr. Cannon Mr. Oaxaca Mr. Puritano Mr. Barri STATUS REPORT ON THE INDOCHINA REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM - NOVEMBER 6 REFUGEE STATUS (as of November 6) Total Refugees entered US System 140,823 Total Released 126,403 Total Remaining in US System 14,420 Total Released 126,403 US 118,263 Third Countries 6,594 Repatriated 1,546 (Requesting Repatriation - 192) Average Daily Releases Total Releases (for the week) Week ending 11/6 312 (2,186) Week ending 10/30 518 (3,628) Week ending 10/23 513 (3,590) Week ending 10/16 449 (1) (3,145) (1) Week ending 10/9 490 (3,432) Week ending 10/2 498 (3,486) Total Remaining in US System 14,420 Total in the Pacific 0 Guam 0 Thailand 0 Total US 14,420 Fort Chaffee 10,391 Indiantown Gap 4,029 In Transit 0 (1) adjusted to correct report of October 16 PROBLEMS RESOLVED AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IATF Comments to OMB on Refugee Status Bill The Justice Department has prepared a draft bill which would allow the Indochina refugees to obtain permanent resident alien status in two years, retroactive to the date of arrival in the United States. This legislation is necessary because of the limited number of immigrant visas allotted annually to parolees. Without this legislation, it could take over 20 years to adjust the status of the Indochina refugees paroled into the United States. In a report to OMB on the draft bill, the Task Force indicated it supported the bill in principle, but strongly recommended that the waiting period be reduced from two years to one year. Several VOLAG representatives indicated their approval of this bill, but with the one year provision, when it was discussed at a mid-week meeting. I strongly urge the Administration to move quickly to have a bill introduced. IRS Releases Pamphlet on Tax Status for Refugees and Sponsors The Internal Revenue Service has completed work on a pamphlet discussing income tax questions of interest to refugees and sponsors. The pamphlet, which is prepared in a question and answer format, is being distributed to IRS offices and national private tax publication services. Fifty thousand copies are also being printed for distribution to refugees, sponsors, and potential sponsors. Of particular interest is the IRS position that, generally, a charitable contribution deduction is allowed for food, clothing and other incidentals given to a refugee living in a sponsor's home. A - 2 -- deduction is also allowed for the value of hous- ing, food, clothing and medical needs donated to a church committee sponsoring a refugee. PROBLEMS PENDING Outprocessing Decreases This Week As I anticipated, our outprocessing rates this week have decreased as a result of Camp Pendleton's closing. We need to maintain an average weekly outprocessing rate of 250 refugees to meet our end of year deadline to close the remaining resettlement centers. I have assigned an IATF Management Team to Indiantown Gap to assist in expediting refugee outprocessing, and the numbers of refugees departing Indiantown Gap have begun to increase over previous weeks. I plan to assign a similar team to Fort Chaffee. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA DEPARTMENT OF STATE Jule WASHINGTON, D.C. 20520 November 14, 1975 MEMORANDUM FOR: THE PRESIDENT THROUGH: Mr. James T. Lynn, Director, Office of Management and Budget FROM: Uulia Vadala Taft, Director, Interagency Task Force SUBJECT: Status Report on the Indochina Refugee Resettlement Program Attached is the status report on the Indochina Refugee Resettlement Program through November 13, 1975. Attachment: As stated. CC: Secretary Mathews Dr. Marrs Mr. Eisenhower Mr. Semerad Mr. Cannon Mr. Oaxaca FORD LIBRARY i GERALD Mr. Puritano Mr. Barri STATUS REPORT ON THE INDOCHINA REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM - NOVEMBER 13 REFUGEE STATUS (as of November 13) Total Refugees entered US System 140,716 (1) Total Released 128,101 (1) Total Remaining in US System 12,615 Total Released 128,101 (1) US 120,065 Third Countries 6,490 Repatriated 1,546 (Requesting Repatriation - 222) Average Daily Releases Total Releases (for the week) Week ending 11/13 261 (1,825) Week ending 11/6 312 (2,186) Week ending 10/30 518 (3,628) Week ending 10/23 513 (3,590) Week ending 10/16 449 (3,145) Week ending 10/9 490 (3,432) Total Remaining in US System 12,615 Fort Chaffee 9,259 Indiantown Gap 3,356 In Transit 0 (1) excludes 127 Third Country Nationals PROBLEMS RESOLVED AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS UNHCR Visits Indiantown Gap UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, accepted my invitation and accompanied me on a visit to Indiantown Gap on November 12. It was his first visit to one of our reception centers and, given his considerable knowledge of refugee camps throughout the world, I was pleased when he said he was impressed with the administration and facilities at Indiantown Gap, and in particular the educational programs there. The High Commissioner spoke with the refugees who are requesting repatriation and promised them he would continue to seek approval for their return to Indochina. Many, apparently satisfied with his promise, accepted sponsorship offers and arrangements were started the following day for them to leave camp and join sponsors to await the opporunity to be repatriated. There is still a group of about 150 repatriates in Chaffee who will not accept sponsorships. Special arrange- ments will be made for them. Resettlement Progress The voluntary agencies working at Fort Chaffee and Indiantown Gap have assured me that there are sufficient sponsorship offers to meet the needs of the 12,615 refugees remaining in the system. Below is a list of the resettlement agencies showing the impressive number of refugees they have already processed: Agency Refugees Resettled Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service 14,800 Church World Service 15,000 United HIAS Service, Inc. 3,275 U.S. Catholic Conference 42,000 International Rescue Committee 16,700 Tolstoy Foundation, Inc. 2,900 American Council for Nationalities Service 2,000 Travelers Aid-International Social Services 390 American Fund for Czechoslovak Refugees 810 State of Maine 167 City of Indianapolis 71 State of Washington 1,502 State of Oklahoma 359 State of Iowa 631 Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association 838 - 2 - PROBLEMS PENDING Transportation We have been advised to expect some difficulty in scheduling flights for refugees to leave the reception centers and join sponsors during the holiday season from November 15 through January 1. Airport congestion may also cause confusion for refugees, particularly those who don't speak English. We will be working with CAB and the Department of Transportation to sensitize the airlines and buslines to the special needs of the refugees. Awards With the desire to provide suitable recognition to all the dedicated people who have contributed to the resettlement of the Indochina refugees, I have written you two memos, dated November 10 and 11, proposing the award of Presidential Citations and certificates of commendation and the creation of a military Humanitarian Service Medal. I believe such awards would be appropriate recognition of the work of those who served in or with the Presidential Task Force. Manpower Programs In a recent meeting with Department of Labor officials I requested that some funds appropriated under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) for specific target groups be earmarked for Indochina refugees. DOL said there was very little flexibility in any funds available for such use, but indicated that funds already allocated by DOL to local and state governments might be made available to refugees resettled in the area. I hope that during the next fiscal year, CETA funds can be made available for the needs of the refugees. Chicken-pox at IGMR Indiantown Gap has been struck by chicken-pox. Aside from the obvious discomforts of the disease for the children among the refugee population of the camp, and the difficulties of containing the disease within the camp, the only other problem is that the departure of several refugee families from the camp has been delayed temporarily by the epidemic. - 3 - Labor Disputes The AFL-CIO has been calling our attention to some isolated incidents where refugees are being hired as strikebreakers. We continue to do our best, through the resettlement agencies, to avoid placing refugees in such situations and to offer alterna- tives when the problems develop. THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON Wear Julia in me Gram typlwon That wasn't luch INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE FOR INDOCHINA File DEPARTMENT OF STATE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20520 November 21, 1975 MEMORANDUM FOR: THE PRESIDENT THROUGH: Mr. James T. Lynn, Director, /3/ O'Apice FROM: Print Office of Management and Budget Julia Vadala Taft, Director, Interagency Task Force SUBJECT: Status Report on the Indochina Refugee Resettlement Program Attached is the status report on the Indochina Refugee Resettlement Program through November 20, 1975. Attachment: As Stated. CC: Secretary Mathews Dr. Marrs Mr. Eisenhower Mr. Semerad Mr. Cannon Mr. Oaxaca Mr. Puritano Mr. Barri FORD & LIBRARY GERALD STATUS REPORT ON THE INDOCHINA REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM - NOVEMBER 20 REFUGEE STATUS (as of November 20) Total Refugees entered US System 140,718 Total Released 130,453 Total Remaining in US System 10,265 Total Released 130,453 US 122,383 Third Countries 6,524 Repatriated 1,546 (Requesting Repatriation - 217) Average Daily Releases Total Releases (for the week) Week ending 11/20 336 (2,352) Week ending 11/13 261 (1,825) Week ending 11/6 312 (2,186) Week ending 10/30 518 (3,628) Week ending 10/23 513 (3,590) Week ending 10/16 449 (3,145) Total Remaining in US System 10,265 Fort Chaffee 7,689 Indiantown 2,576 In Transit 0 PROBLEMS RESOLVED AND MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS Iran Resettlement Program Fifteen truck drivers and some dependents comprising a total of 23 refugees arrived in Tehran on November 20. At the request of the Iranian Ministry of Labor, Fort Chaffee officials made last minute arrangements for inter- national drivers licenses for the drivers. Some other truck drivers, some pilots, and a few people in medically related fields are also interested in going to Iran, and we are working with the Iranian Government to attempt to overcome some difficulties involved with their applications. Typhoon in Guam The miraculous luck we have had seems to be still with us. The recent typhoon on Guam, had it occurred a month earlier, would literally have swept some of the refugee facilities out to sea. Transportation of Refugees during the Holidays We had a cordial meeting with officials of the CAB, ICC, and the Department of Transportation earlier this week. Officials of those agencies have been extremely helpful in suggesting and implementing ways to assist refugees traveling during the holiday season. As a result of the meeting, the Air Transport Association will send a letter to all airlines asking for special treatment for the refugees. Special airline ticket covers are being prepared for the use of refugees and ticket agents. The period from December 22 through January 3 will still be a difficult one for traveling, though, and un- less we can clear the reception centers before December 22, we may find it necessary to continue operations into January, 1976. Repatriate Ship Thank you for your kind letter on the successful return of the 1,546 repatriates aboard the Vietnam Thuong Tin I. I have passed along your thanks to all the Task Force and military personnel involved in the operation. - 2 - "Tomorrow" Show I will be taping an interview with NBC today to be used on the "Tomorrow" show on Thanksgiving night. The showing date seems a most fitting and symbolic one. PROBLEMS PENDING Additional Parole Authority I have sent a memorandum to the State Department suggesting that joint efforts be undertaken with INS to parole additional refugees on a selective basis, particu- larly from Thailand where the quotas have been outstripped by the number of eligible refugees. I believe low-key consultations with Congress could result in flexibility to bring in additional refugees within the overall parole ceiling of 150,000 agreed to in May. This would permit us to more fully meet our obligations to refugees closely associated with the United States or former Indochinese governments who are stranded in countries where permanent resettlement is not feasibile. Any refugees admitted as a result of such consultations would come in through traditional resettle- ment channels--not our camp system. Mass Sponsorships A number of isolated incidents have been brought to my attention where the needs of certain individual refu- gees have been overlooked in the processing of mass spon- sorships. In response, in addition to investigating each case reported, I have sent a telegram to each of the resettlement agencies reminding them of the need for metic- ulous attention to detail in mass sponsorships and at least the same degree of care that characterizes their handling of individual sponsorships. Awards As the resettlement program draws to a close, I am concerned that appropriate recognition be given to all the people who made the effort a success. My memoranda to you of November 10 and 11 on this subject outline some of the ways I believe the country can show its gratitude for the extraordinary work of all connected with the Presidential Task Force.