Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 101 Part 3.djvu/104

 101 STAT. 1402 s Cambodia. Vietnam. Laos. Hong Kong. Indonesia. Singapore. Philippines. Thailand. Malaysia.

PUBLIC LAW 100-204—DEC. 22, 1987 (2) The term "refugee" has the meaning given such term in section 101(a)(42) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

SEC. 904. INDOCHINESE REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT.

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(a) FINDINGS.—It is the sense of the Congress that— (1) the continued occupation of Cambodia by Vietnam and the oppressive conditions within Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos have led to a steady flight of persons from those countries, and the likelihood for the safe repatriation of the hundreds of thousands of refugees in the region's camps is negligible for the foreseeable future; (2) the United States has already played a major role in responding to the Indochinese refugee problem by accepting approximately 850,000 Indochinese refugees into the United States since 1975 and has a continued interest in persons who have fled and continue to flee the countries of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam; ' (3) Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Thailand have been the front line countries bear" ing tremendous burdens caused by the flight of these persons; (4) all members of the international community bear a share of the responsibility for the deterioration in the refugee first - asylum situation in Southeast Asia because of slow and limited procedures, failure to implement effective policies for the region's "long-stayer" populations, failure to monitor adequately refugee protection and screening programs, particularly along the Thai-Cambodian and Thai-Laotian borders, and the instability of the Orderly Departure Program (ODP) from Vietnam, which has served as the only safe, legal means of departure from Vietnam for refugees, including Amerasians and long-held "reeducation camp" prisoners; (5) the Government of Thailand should be complemented for allowing the United States to process ration card holders in Khao I Dang and potentially qualified immigrants in Site 2 and in Khao I Dang; (6) given the serious protection problem in Southeast Asian first asylum countries and the need to preserve first asylum in the region, the United States should continue its commitment to an ongoing, generous admission and protection program for Indochinese refugees, including urgently needed educational programs for refugees along the Thai-Cambodian and ThaiLaotian borders, until the underlying causes of refugee flight are addressed and resolved; ' (7) the executive branch should seek adequate funding levels to meet United States policy objectives to ensure the well-being ^ of Indochinese refugees in first asylum, and to process 29,500 Indochinese refugees within the overall refugee admissions level of 68,000 as determined by the President; and (8) the Government of Thailand should be complimented for the progress that has been made in implementing an effective antipiracy program. (b) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Congress finds and recommends the following with respect to Indochinese refugees: (1) The Secretary of State should urge the Government of Thailand to allow full access by highland refugees to the Lao Screening Program, regardless of the method of their arrival or the circumstances of their apprehension, and should intensify

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