The United Hias Service today announced the adoption of a 1961 budget of $2,319,420 for anticipated migration, resettlement and related services to more than 30,000 Jewish men, women and children over the world.
James P. Rice, executive director of the agency, said that indications are that United Hias Service, a beneficiary of the New York United Jewish Appeal, will be called upon to serve more than 30,000 Jews during the current year. He pointed out that close to 4,000 persons from Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Far East will be resettled by the agency in countries of the Western world.
In addition, the agency is planning ahead for vital pre-migration services in the United States and Latin America to about 6,000 relatives and sponsors of prospective immigrants; naturalization assistance and adjustment of status in the United States for about 4,500 persons; successful location of relatives throughout the world for 2,500 persons; and integration aid in Latin America through cash relief, housing, job placement, medical assistance and counseling for approximately 14,000 persons.
Despite the expanded program, “the direct and far-reaching effect of requests for services by Cuban refugees may make additional expenditures necessary before the year is over,” Mr. Rice cautioned. Since the summer of 1960, he estimated, close to 2,500 Jews from Cuba have come to the United States, concentrated largely in the Miami area and to a lesser extent in New York and other cities. In cooperation with the United States Government, United Hias Service established a field office in the Cuban Refugee Center in Miami to assist with the resettlement of Jewish refugees from Cuba.
Mr. Rice reported that Jews have been leaving that country for the same reason as other Cubans, who have found it impossible to continue to make a livelihood at their former trades, professions or businesses. “There has been no evidence of anti-Semitism in Cuba but for those Jews who had to leave it was doubly tragic, since many of them have been refugees who have come to Cuba as a haven, 10,20 or 30 years ago.” he reported.
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