Mr. Noro. When the policy decisions and the implementations for the program were being prepared in the early stages, in the latter part of October, and particularly, during the entire month of November, there were a series of constant meetings because of the refinements that were necessary. Since then we have had several other meetings that have been more. or less for the purpose of ironing out any little difficulties or working out some of the kinks that may have existed in the program. But in the last month or so, there has been no occasion for any kind of detailed meeting because the program has been working rather satisfactorily and there haven't been too many questions arising for a meeting. We do have consultations on the telephone with individual agencies. Chairman KENNEDY. And there isn't any basic problem in the coordination? Mr. Noro. No. Chairman KENNEDY. You described, in considerable detail, the procedures established regarding the master list in Cuba and the United States. How has this worked out? Have you been satisfied that Mr. Castro was not using the refugees as a means for exploiting individuals who later may be active in the fields of subversion and infiltration? Mr. Noro. I am satisfied. Chairman KENNEDY. You are satisfied that the refugees which are even on Mr. Castro's list are legitimate in the sense that Mr. Castro was not using this vehicle to export the Communist revolution? Mr. Noтo. I can't say the refugees on his list are legitimate, but the refugees from the matched cases selected by our Government are legitimate. Chairman KENNEDY. You have reviewed in detail his list? Mr. NoTo. His list submitted to the United States; yes, sir. Chairman KENNEDY. From your information, and you indicate in your testimony that you use the materials which are checked in the Embassy prior to the Castro takeover and your own information and intelligence, have you determined that Mr. Castro's list is not being used as a vehicle for subversion and infiltration in this country or Latin America? Mr. Noro. It is my opinion that the list is not being used to infiltrate into the United States. Chairman KENNEDY. And you conclude that even the refugees suggested by Mr. Castro are legitimate within the general definition? There are always going to be on any list those who would be suspect, but would you make the observation that that is a legitimate and good faith effort by Mr. Castro to permit people to leave Cuba? Mr. Noro. I would be so inclined. Mr. FRENCH. Yes. Chairman KENNEDY. I am also on the Juvenile Delinquency Subcommittee. In January, the 25th, we had Mr. Thomas Lynch, attorney general of the State of California, here before that committee to give testimony. I will just read part of page 17 of that testimony in which he was describing the narcotic threat in the United States: We are told that progress is being made in the burning of poppy fields and marijuana plants. At the White House Conference in 1962, we were assured that the then five-year old program of internal cooperation "demonstrates the results which are being achieved under the intensified program. Today we are only aware that the supply is plentiful and the price is falling. Nothing, I believe illustrates the flagrancy of the Mexican boarder drug traffic more than the story of displaced Cuban refugees who settled in Los Angeles in late 1962. I should like to stress that the majority of these refugees from Castro have settled in our community in a law abiding manner and are working diligently to overcome their language and employment handicaps. However, a number of individuals, perhaps 100, set out to organize a marijuana transshipment operation which would supply their fellow refugees and Puerto Ricans in New York City. Within a matter of weeks these Cubans who, until the time they arrived in Los Angeles, California, were able easily to establish contacts and enter the illicit traffic with a large-scale smuggling and transshipment operation. The activities of this particular network have resulted in seizures running as high as 700 pounds. Since early 1963, enforcement agencies in southern California have had to devote a significant portion of their drug enforcement effort to this nation-wide Cuban refugee ring. In this regard, I should like to compliment the efforts of the Bureau of Immigration, the Bureau of Customs and the Los Angeles City Police Department. The latter agency has more than the major enforcement and surveillance burden but the cooperation of the two Federal agencies has been invaluable. I cite the Cuban refugee operation for two reasons. It illustrates the unparalled access of this particular illegal market entry is for the asking. It also illustrates that parts of the United States, other than California, are being supplied by this narcotics suppermarket which lies at our border. Mr. Noro. My comment on that, Senator Kennedy, is from the information which is available to us in the Immigration Service with respect to Cubans. I do not believe that the Cubans have any additional percentage of their nationals involved in the illicit traffic of drugs than any other group. If there are—and I am sure there must be-Cuban nationals who have been engaged in the traffic, and I suppose they have been indicted and convicted, but they are no more than the proportionate share which any other group or groups would have in respect to involvement in crime. Mr. FFRENCH. I have nothing to add to that, sir. Mr. Noro. I might add for the chairman's information that when I referred to the number of persons we had denied access to in the screening process that there were eight that we had remote suspicions of having possible involvement of traffic in narcotics. Chairman KENNEDY. What do your records show in regard to statistics on these refugees? Mr. Noro. I don't have the statistics before me. They would show up as a criminal class, not segregated into the narcotics class. Chairman KENNEDY. Would you comment on whether the Cuban refugees who have come to this country and have relocated are more or less law abiding than other citizens? These are always difficult generalizations. I think it would be helpful to have authoritative analyses. Mr. Noro. I will give you the benefit of my opinion not only on the basis of, officially what you learn from being in the service, but from what you gather from your acquaintances with people with Cuban background. It is my opinion that the Cuban refugee, by far and large, the majority of them, tries very, very hard to avoid any implications or any involvement in any type of illegal activity, because the largest portion of the Cuban nationals are appreciative of the asylum, to begin with, and would regard it as a reflection on them as a national group. Chairman KENNEDY. I appreciate the general sentiment, but I don't know if that is really pertinent to the specific question. Do you know from your own personal information, or have you access to informa- tion, regarding the involvement of Cubans in crime in the United Mr. Noro. I have no information on that which would be in the Im- migration Service. Mr. FFRENCH. On a particular case the Cuban would be brought before the Immigration Service. Chairman KENNEDY. If they are paroled in this country, doesn't Chairman KENNEDY. You must have some information as to whether these people are getting into any kind of trouble. Mr. Noro. Ordinarily, if they are arrested or come into conflict Chairman KENNEDY. I think it would be helpful to this committee if you could analyze, to some extent, the situation. I think it would be extremely helpful, because many charges have been made in regard I appreciate your comments, based upon your experience and knowl- edge and interest in the subject, and I don't want to suggest that this Senator FONG. If the Cuban parolee got into trouble what does the Mr. Noro. If he is arrested or commits some infraction which is brought to our attention by a law enforcement agency, we await the disposition of it, because the arrest would not be held against him. But if he were to be convicted we would then consider revocation of his parole status in the United States, which would then lead to expulsion from the United States, assuming it would be a ground Senator FONG. And you would do the same thing in the case of sub- versive activities? Mr. Noro. Yes. Senator FONG. This subversive list compiled by the Cuban Govern- a parallel list such as we do, and their list is initiated by request by Cubans in Cuba who wish to come to the United States as refugees. They submit an application to the Minister of Interior, or some depart- ment similar to that, and at that juncture the Cuban Government does have his case under consideration for selection as a possible refugee to come to the United States. Senator FONG. So, every person who wishes to emigrate from Cuba goes to the Cuban Government and requests the permission to CUBAN REFUGEE PROBLEM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1966 U.S. SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE ON REFUGEES AND ESCAPEES OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:30 a.m., in room 457, Old Senate Office Building, Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Present: Senators Kennedy and Fong. Also present: George Abrams, general counsel; Dale S. de Haan, research consultant; and Mrs. Theresa Greenly, secretary to the subcommittee. Chairman KENNEDY. Today's hearing opens public inquiry into the current flow of refugees from Cuba. Last November, through the Swiss Embassy in Havana, the United States and Cuba concluded a memorandum of understanding, which provided for a regular monthly airlift of some 4,000 refugees to Miami. Under this agreement, nearly 14,000 men, women, and children have come to the United States since the first of December. Most of them have joined immediate members of their family already present in this country. The incoming Cubans are being assisted in resettlement under the Cuban refugee program, administered by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, in cooperation with several private voluntary agencies. The Cuban refugee program is first and foremost an essential humanitarian act by the American people. But I also hope it shows to all people the willingness of this Nation to help those in need who stand with the United States for personal freedom and democratic development in the Western Hemisphere. A report issued by this subcommittee nearly a year ago recommended that every effort be made to find a formula for reuniting separated refugee families. On the Senate floor last October 5, I supported the efforts and success of President Johnson in concluding a memorandum of understanding which gave promise of reuniting these families. I was thinking of the many thousands of unaccompanied children who were sent to the United States by their parents during the earlier days of the Castro regime. I was thinking of the many refugee families whose normal breadwinner, or whose mother, remained outside this country. I was thinking of the thousands of political prisoners, many with close relatives in this country, who were suffering harsh treatment in Cuba's jails. |