WASHINGTON: The Clinton Administration announced its new policy on admission of refugees for 1996 and proposed to resettle 4,000asylum seekers from South Asia and Near East regions out of a total of 90,000 to be allowed to enter the United States.
The total figure was 18 percent less than the current year when 110,000 refugees from world’s major disturbed areas were to be settled in the United States.
Peter Turnoff, Acting Secretary of State, revealed the new policy in testimony delivered! on August I before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary regarding the Fiscal Year 1996 refugee admissions program.
Mr. Turnoff said President Clinton had proposed an overall refugee admissions ceiling of 90,000,
The President’s proposal reflects his intention to maintain American leadership while at the same time recognizing that changed circumstances demand new and flexible approaches, he said.
For the South Asian region Mr. Tarn off said resculement was closely coordinated with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. Many referrals for United States resettlement are persons who fled Iraq but cannot remain in first asylum countries such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey or Syria, Religious minorities from Tran—particularly Bahais and Jews—also require third country resettlement he “As in the Alrica program, we are working closely with UNHCR to bring the United States processing to those who are most in need, In the coming fiscal year we will interview refugees in regional capitals that had been rarely, if over, visited by our processing teams.
Given the unpredictability of world events, the President’s proposal includes a reserve of 3,000 numbers which are not assigned to any region, As situations develop during the year, additional numbers for existing programs or numbers for new refugee groups may be required, it’s of an unallocated reserve allows the program the flexibility necessary to operate effectively in this constantly changing environment, he said.
Mr. Tam off explained that much of the reduction will result from a decline in the need for admissions numbers in the East Asia region. “The 25,000 numbers proposed for this region,” he said, “will allow us to resettle the last group of Vietnamese reeducation camp prisoners and Highlanders from Laos, to whom we have firm commitments, as well as a small number of non-Indochinese refugees.”
“In addition, in an effort to accelerate voluntary repatriation from first asylum camps in Southeast Asia and ensure the successful conclusion of the Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA), we are discussing (with our CPA partners, a proposal to provide opportunities for resettlement interviews upon return to Vietnam to those Vietnamese now in camps who agree
to return to their homes voluntarily “The exact details of this proposal ‘would be determined, in part, as a result of consultations with those governments whose cooperation would be required for its successful imple mentation,” Mr, Tarn off said.
“The United States must provide the necessary leadership within the international community to ensure that refugee reseitlement remains available to those for whom there is no other viable alternative.
“In a decade dominated by ethnic Iensions, ethnic cleansing, and ethnically inspired violence and killing, it is essential that America remain an example of tolerance and compassion,” he said.
The official said, “Given the numerous volatile situations in the world today, we believe that the United Series must retain maximum flexibility to offer resettlement opportunities, when needed, and to be in a position to encourage other countries to accept their international responsibilities, It is for this reason that we oppose any legislated numerical cap on annual refugee admissions.”
“Unfortunately, the situation of Bosnian refugees not only continues unresolved in many locations but even be deteriorating, We are working closely with UNHCR and in * 1996 we will admit at least 15 ,000 Bosnians—almost double the number expected to arrive during 1995. We will continue to monitor events in Bosnia, and will be prepared to consult with Congress if further adjustments appear necessary.”
The President’s proposed 7,000 African admissions will be available for Sudanese, Somalis, Zairians, Liberians, and numerous other nationalities.
The new limit for legal admission of 20,000 Cubans has been proposed annually.
The U.S. policy underlined the fact that by current UNHCR estimates, there were some 20 million refugees in the world and an even greater number of persons displaced within the borders of their own countries. In addition, millions of migrant workers and asylum seekers were on the move ‘around a globe.
“In the face of these growing numbers, the international community now rarely views large-scale permanent resettlement as an appropriate or manageable solution for refugee crises. As with the Kurds on the Turkish border after the Gulf War, or Rwandans fleeing of the massacres of last year, the first a concern for refugees is protection and assistance in place, followed by the hope of eventual voluntary repatriation.”
“The vast majority of the millions of refugees worldwide will never be resettled anywhere but, rather, will remain in first asylum under the care of the international community until they can return home in safety and dignity.”Courtesy:P18/18/95.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 25, 1995
