We cannot hope to build a just and humane society at home if we ignore the
humanitarian claims of refugees, their lives at stake, who have nowhere
else to turn. Our country can be proud that hundreds of thousands of people
around the world would risk everything they have--including their own
lives--to come to our country.
This Administration initiated and implemented the first comprehensive
reform of our refugee and immigration policies in over 25 years. We also
established the first refugee coordination office in the Department of
State under the leadership of a special ambassador and coordinator for
refugee affairs and programs. The new legislation and the coordinator's
office will bring common sense and consolidation to our Nation's previously
fragmented, inconsistent, and in many ways, outdated, refugee and
immigration policies.
With the unexpected arrival of thousands of Cubans and Haitians who sought
refuge in our country last year, outside of our regular immigration and
refugee admissions process, our country and its government were tested in
being compassionate and responsive to a major human emergency. Because we
had taken steps to reorganize our refugee programs, we met that test
successfully. I am proud that the American people responded to this crisis
with their traditional good will and hospitality. Also, we would never have
been able to handle this unprecedented emergency without the efforts of the
private resettlement agencies who have always been there to help refugees
in crises.
Immigrants to this country always contribute more toward making our country
stronger than they ever take from the system. I am confident that the
newest arrivals to our country will carry on this tradition.
While we must remain committed to aiding and assisting those who come to
our shores, at the same time we must uphold our immigration and refugee
policies and provide adequate enforcement resources. As a result of our
enforcement policy, the illegal flow from Cuba has been halted and an
orderly process has been initiated to make certain that our refugee and
immigration laws are honored.
This year the Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy will
complete its work and forward its advice and recommendations. I hope that
the recommendations will be carefully considered by the new Administration
and the Congress, for it is clear that we must take additional action to
keep our immigration policy responsive to emergencies and ever changing
times.