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OSCE / Credit: Curtis Budden

Implementation of the Helsinki Accords Vol. IX – U.S. Visa Policies

Members

Hon. Dante Fascell

Chairman

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

Hon. Claiborne Pell

Co-Chairman

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

Hon. George McGovern

Commisioner

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

Hon. Jacob Javits

Commissioner

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

Hon. Jonathan Bingham

Commissioner

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

Witnesses

Michael Egan

Associate Attorney General

Department of Justice

Arthur Goldberg

U.N. Ambassador and Chief U.S. Delegate to the Belgrade Review Meeting

Department of State

Barbara Watson

Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs

Department of State

Leonel Castillo

Commissioner

Immigration and Naturalization Service

Mario Noto

Immigration and Naturalization Service

David Carliner, Esq.

General Counsel

ACLU

Donald J. Mucha

Executive Vice President and Treasurer

Unitronex Corporation

John Tileston Edsall

Professor of Biochemistry, Chairman

Harvard, of Association for Advancement of Science

Kenneth Young

Director, Department of Legislation

AFL-CIO

This briefing discussed how the Helsinki Accord’s provisions on the free flow of people apply to the United States.  The briefing followed President Carter’s commitment to embody the principles outlined in the Helsinki Final Act.  Representatives from  U.S. government agencies, such as the Department of State and the Department of Justice, and interested civil society organizations testified about their experiences with the current visa regime. The witnesses were asked to make recommendations about the advisability of changing U.S. law to align with the freedom of movement provisions in the Helsinki Accords.

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