Letter from Rafael Hernandez-Colon, Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, to President Gerald R. Ford concerning assistance efforts in the resettlement of Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees seeking new homes in the United States.

[typed] EXECUTIVE [handwritten] ND18-2/COI/Indochina [circle with numeral 2 within] ST51-2 BB James [illegible] [printed letterhead] [circular seal] [italics] The Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico [/italics] [/letterhead] [typed] August 1, 1975 The President The White House Washington, D.C. Dear Mr. President: Thank you for your letter of July 11, 1975, concerning assistance efforts in the resettlement of Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees seeking new homes in the United States. At the present time, some eleven refugee families have been settled in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and I wish to assure you that they are receiving all of the assistance and benefits to which they are entitled. The several Commonwealth agencies responsible for the provision of the appropriate services have moved to provide this aid in an efficient and rapid manner and will continue to do so when the situation requires it. For the foreseeable future, however, the Commonwealth will be unable to play a leading role in this important resettlement effort. As you know, we are facing severe economic difficulties with exceptionally high unemployment rates and a diminished number of new job openings available which obviously have far reaching social and economic implications for the population already residing in the Commonwealth. Nevertheless, all families and individuals who may desire to act as sponsors for the Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees who remain to be resettled will be encouraged to do so. Additionally, we shall continue to examine other possibilities for our participation in this humanitarian effort. Sincerely, [handwritten signature, illegible] [typed] Rafael Hernandez-Colon Governor [circular stamp with text within] GERALD R. FORD LIBRARY [stamp] RECEIVED AUG20 1975 CENTRAL FILES [handwritten] NAN