Memorandum on FY 2003 Refugee Admissions Consultations

Memorandum for the Secretary of State

Subject: FY 2003 Refugee Admissions Consultations

In accordance with section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), you are authorized to consult with the appropriate committees of the Congress concerning refugee admissions as follows:

1. The authorization of 70,000 refugee admissions during FY 2003, to be allocated by specific region as follows:

Africa ................................................ 20,000

East Asia (including Amerasians) ......... 4,000

Latin America/Caribbean .................... 2,500

Near East/South Asia ......................... 7,000

Former Soviet Union ........................ 14,000

Eastern Europe ........ ......................... 2,500

Unallocated Reserve ........................ 20,000

2. The authorization of an additional 10,000 refugee admissions numbers to be made available for the adjustment to permanent resident status of persons who have been granted asylum in the United States;

3. The designation, pursuant to section 101(a)(42)(B) of the INA, of persons in Cuba, Vietnam, and the former Soviet Union, who, if they otherwise qualify for admission as refugees, may be considered refugees under the INA even though they are still within their country of nationality or habitual residence.

GEORGE W. BUSH