Congress will beasked by the Administration to pass new legislation which would provide specific aid from the United States toward solving the world’s overall refugee problem, as part of the World Refugee Year which will start July 1, under United Nations auspices.
Among the steps being planned by the Administration are a new law broadening the American immigration policy to permit the admission of refugees from areas other than Europe. Although refugees in Europe would probably gain more under the proposed new legislation, non-Europeans will also benefit. At present, the law, passed in 1957, provides for admission of a total of 14,500 refugees. The object is to allow many more visas for refugees than the 14,500 limit.
Part of the Administration’s plan calls also for an appropriation of $3, 000, 000 as this country’s contribution toward the aims of World Refugee Year. Some refugee aid organizations have proposed that that figure be set at $10, 000, 000. But it is believed that a $3,000,000 allocation is all the Administration will seek, on the thought that Congress might balk at giving more for this program.
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