An Act to authorize the creation of a record of admission for permanent residence in the cases of certain refugees from Vietnam, Laos, or Cambodia, and to amend the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1975 to extend the period during which refugee assistance may be provided, and for other purposes.
PL 95-145 (H.R.7769), enacted 10/28/1977

PUBLIC LAW 95-145—OCT. 28, 1977 
91 STAT. 1223 
Public Law 95-145 
95th Congress 
An Act 
To authorize the creation of a record of admission for permanent residence in 
the cases of certain refugees from Vietnam, Laos, or Cambodia, and to amend 
the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1975 to extend the 
period during which refugee assistance may be provided, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United 
States 
of America 
in Congress 
assembled, 
T I T L E I — A D J U S T M E N T O F STATUS O F I N D O C H I N A 
R E F U G E E S 
SEC. 101. That (a) the status of any alien described in subsection 
(b) of this section may be adjusted by the Attorney General, in his 
discretion and under such regulations as he may prescribe, to that of 
an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence if— 
(1) the alien makes an application for such adjustment within 
six years after the date of enactment of this title; 
(2) the alien is otherwise eligible to receive an immigrant visa 
and is otherwise admissible to the United States for permanent 
residence, except for the grounds for exclusion specified in para-
graph (14), (15), (20), (21), (25), and (32) of section 212(a) 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act; and 
(3) the alien has been physically present in the United States 
for at least two years. 
(b) The benefits provided by subsection (a) shall apply to any alien 
who is a native or citizen of Vietnam, Laos, or Cambodia and who— 
(1) was paroled into the United States as a refugee from those 
countries under section 212(d)(5) 
of the Immigration 
and 
Nationality Act subsequent to March 31, 1975, but prior to Janu-
ary 1, 1979; or 
(2) was inspected and admitted or paroled into the United 
States on or before March 31, 1975, and was physically present 
in the United States on March 31,1975. 
SEC. 102. Upon approval of an application for adjustment of status 
under section 101 of this title, the Attorney General shall establish a 
record of the alien's admission for permanent residence as of March 31, 
1975, or the date of the alien's arrival in the United States, whichever 
date is later. 
SEC. 103. Any alien determined to be eligible for lawful admission 
for permanent residence under this title who acc[uired that status 
under the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act prior 
to the date of enactment of this title may, upon application, have his 
admission for permanent residence recorded as of March 31, 1975, or 
the date of his arrival in the United States, whichever date is later. 
SEC. 104. When an alien has been granted the status of having been 
lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence pur-
suant to this title, his spouse and children, regardless of nationality, 
may; also be granted such status by the Attorney General, in his dis-
cretion and under such regulations he may prescribe, if they meet the 
requirements specified in section 101(a) of this title. Upon approval 
Oct. 28, 1977 
[H.R. 7769] 
Indochinese 
refugees. 
Permanent 
residence status, 
adjustment and 
refugee 
assistance, 
extension. 
Conditions. 
8 u s e 1255 note. 
8 u s e 1182. 
Record, 
establishment. 
8 u s e 1255 note. 
Recordation. 
8 u s e 1255 note. 
8 u s e 1101 note. 
Spouse and 
children of aliens, 
grant of 
permanent 
residence status. 
8 u s e 1255 note. 
Record, creation. 
91 STAT. 1224 
PUBLIC LAW 95-145—OCT. 28, 1977 
of the application, the Attorney General shall create a record of the 
alien's admission for permanent residence as of the date of the record 
of admission of the alien through whom such spouse and children 
derive benefits under this section. 
Ineligibility. 
SEC. 105. Any alien who ordered, assisted, or otherwise particij)ated 
8 use 1255 note, in the persecution of any person because of race, religion, or political 
opinion shall be ineligible for permanent residence under any provi-
sion of this title. 
8 use 1255 note. 
SEC. 106. When an alien is granted the status of having been law-
fully admitted for permanent residence pursuant to the provisions of 
this title the Secretary of State shall not be required to reduce the 
number of visas authorized to be issued under the Immigration and 
8 use 1101 note. Nationality Act, and the Attorney General shall not be required to 
charge the alien any fee. 
8 use 1255 note. 
SEC. 107. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this title, the 
definitions contained in the Immigration and Nationality Act shall 
apply in the administration of this title. Nothing contained in this title 
shall be held to repeal, amend, alter, modify, effect, or restrict the 
powers, duties, functions, or authority of the Attorney General in the 
administration and enforcement of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act or any other law relating to immigration, nationality, and natural-
ization. The fact that an alien may be elegible to be granted the status 
of having been lawfully admitted for permanent residence under this 
title shall not preclude him from seeking such status under any other 
provision of law for which he may be eligiole. 
TITLE II—EXTENSION OF THE INDOCHINA MIGRATION 
AND REFUGEE ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1975 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
22 use 2601 
note. 
22 use 2601. 
Funds for cash or 
medical 
assistance. 
42 use 601, 
1396. 
SEC. 201. Section 2 of the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assist-
ance Act of 1975 is amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 2. (a)(1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b), there 
are authorized to be appropriated, in addition to amounts otherwise 
available for such purposes, such sums as may be necessary for carry-
ing out the provisions of paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (6) of section 
2(b) of the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 with 
respect to aliens who have fled from Cambodia, Vietnam, or Laos. 
"(2) Funds appropriated under this Act shall be made available 
to State or local public agencies to reimburse them for the non-Federal 
share of costs under titles IV and XIX of the Social Security Act for 
the provision of cash or medical assistance to aliens who have fled 
from Cambodia, Vietnam, or Laos. 
"(b) (1) None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by sub-
section (a) may be available for obligation after September 30, 1981. 
"(2) The amount of assistance (including the amount of reim-
bursement as described in subsection (a)(2)) provided to a State or 
local public agency under section 2(b) of the Migration and Refugee 
Assistance Act of 1962 for the purpose of providing cash or medical 
assistance to aliens who have fled from Cambodia, Vietnam, or Laos 
may not exceed— 
"(A) for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1979, 75 per 
centum, and 
"(B) for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1980, 50 per 
centum, and 
"(C) for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1981, 25 per 
centum, 
PUBLIC LAW 95-145—OCT. 28, 1977 
91 STAT. 1225 
of the cost (including the non-Federal share of costs as described in 
subsection (a)(2)) of the State or local public agency in providing 
such assistance for such purpose for the fiscal year ending September 
30,1978. 
"(c) In addition to amounts otherwise available for the purposes of 
this Act, there are authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000, to 
remain available until expended, for special projects and programs, 
administered in whole or in part by State or local public agencies or 
by private voluntary agencies participating in the Indochina refugee 
assistance program, to assist minor and adult refugees in resettling 
and in gaining skills and education necessary to become self-reliant.". 
SEC. 202. (a) Section 4(b) of the Indochina Migration and Kefugee 
Assistance Act of 1975 is amended to read as follows: 
"(b) Not later than December 31 of each year ending prior to Jan-
uary 1, 1982, the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare shall 
transmit to such committees a report describing fully and completely 
the status of refugees from Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos.". 
(b) Section 4(c) of such Act is repealed. 
Approved October 28, 1977. 
Additional 
appropriation 
authorization. 
Annual report to 
congressional 
committees. 
22 use 2601 
note. 
Repeal. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 95-547 (Comm. on the Judiciary). 
SENATE REPORT No. 95-471 accompanying S. 2108 (Comm. on Human Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 123 (1977): 
Sept. 27, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 10, considered and passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 2108. 
Oct. 18, House concurred in Senate amendments. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 13, No. 44: 
Oct. 28, Presidential statement.