An attempt to prevent the deportation of 108 displaced Jews to Germany and Austria–their native countries–and send them instead to Italy where they would become eligible to reenter the United States as displaced persons under the DP law signed last week by President Truman, was made today by interested Jewish organizations.
The Jewish refugees, who arrived in this country from Shanghai last month and were held at Ellis Island pending the passage of the new DP bill in Congress, are scheduled to leave on Wednesday for Germany and Austria, where their status as displaced persons would cease since they were born in these countries. The order for their deportation was issued by the Department of Justice in view of the fact that the DP’s do not hold any immigration visas and were passing through the United States from Shanghai.
In Washington it was emphasized today that the refugees are not being repatriated but are being sent to Germany and Austria “for temporary resettlement.” Under the temporary resettlement many of the refugees will be eligible to enter the United States as displaced persons, Washington officials said.
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