The United Hias Service concluded its sixth annual migration conference here today with an “urgent plea” to the United States Government “to effectively take the lead on behalf of the uprooted during the World Refugee Year.” Reports by Hias field representatives from five continents indicated that more than 12,000 persons were currently registered with the organization for migration help.
James Rice, United Hias executive director, stressed the plight of 1,100 Jewish victims of persecution who had registered with Hias for immigration to the United States for whom no visas were available. He said that during the past 18 months more than 1,500 such refugees from Egypt had been able to come into the United States, thanks to special legislation.
Mr. Rice said that “every effort must be made, when the United States Congress reconvenes in January, to persuade Congress to adopt migration liberalization measures consonant with American leadership in the free world, and consonant with the magnitude of refugee and migration hardships.”
“This unfortunately was not the case during the last session of Congress,” he added, “although one law was passed which did increase the possibilities for reunion of broken families and some other measures of positive value were adopted.”
United Hias leadership is urging, as a minimum program, the adoption by the United States of the recommendations of the U.S. Committee for Refugees. These recommendations include: approval of new legislation permitting the entry annually of 20,000 refugees beyond present United States quotas and appropriation of $10,000,000 over and above present United States expenditures for refugee programs.
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