Memo from Dick to Alan K. Simpson, February 18, 1988

The memo discusses Thailand’s policy shift in 1988 to push back Vietnamese refugees arriving by sea and the resulting increase in overland migration through Cambodia. Reports suggest that these pushbacks led to fatalities, raising concerns among refugee advocates and U.S. officials. The memo also highlights tensions over U.S. immigration and refugee policies, the need for better screening processes, and the political challenges of managing resettlement commitments.