(2011-1039-F) Haitian and Cuban Migrants

239 folders, approximately 5,402 pages

This collection contains records regarding Haitian and Cuban migrants and refugees. These records include correspondence, memoranda, reports, briefing and meeting materials, schedules, newspaper articles, and emails.

The materials in FOIA 2011-1039-F are a selective body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related material. This FOIA contains records from Eric Schwartz, NSC Senior Director for Multilateral and Humanitarian Affairs, regarding Haitian and Cuban migrants/refugees. In early 1993, Clinton officials sought to develop a workable means to end the previous administration’s practice of direct return of Haitian boat people. By the spring of 1994, as reports of human rights violations in Haiti increased, President Clinton determined to end to the practice of direct return and begin the screening of boat people. However, large numbers of refugees outstripped the capacity to screen, and soon the Clinton administration adopted a safe haven policy, in which all boat people were given temporary refuge at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Station. This safe haven policy, which also reflected the views of the Department of Justice and the Immigration and Naturalization Service, was formally accepted by senior  NSC staff in July 1994. When the political crisis in Haiti abated, the large majority of those migrants who had been at Guantanamo were returned to Haiti. Concurrently, in the summer of 1994, severe economic hardship led to increased efforts by Cubans to depart Cuba by boat. Boat departures escalated throughout August, with thousands leaving each week. The magnitude of the numbers made it clear to Clinton officials that they would need to end the current policy of providing entry for all interdicted Cubans. In response, these Cubans were diverted to a safe haven, initially at Guantanamo, while others were later moved to Panama. At the same time, the Clinton administration entered negotiations with the Cuban government on a migration agreement. Both countries agreed to a legal migration of 20,000 Cuban citizens a year. Also instituted was a screening procedure for interdicted Cubans, in which those with credible claims to refugee status would be taken to Guantanamo for fuller refugee screening. Those deemed to be refugees would not be returned, but rather resettled in third countries. Third country resettlement was chosen due to the Administration’s concern that entry in the U.S. for such boat people would encourage large-scale departures. The majority of records processed in response to this FOIA were found in the emails (either to/from Schwartz) or the Records Management System documents, associated with Schwartz. These records include correspondence, memoranda, reports, briefing and meeting materials, schedules, newspaper articles, and emails regarding Haitian and Cuban migrants/refugees. Subject Files and Staff and Office files also reference Eric Schwartz, but these records are responsive to Cuban and Haitian refugees and migrants in general. The Subject Files in 2011-1039-F primarily contain correspondence from Members of Congress, members of state government, and humanitarian organizations regarding a variety of issues on the Cuban and Haitian refugee situation during the Clinton administration. These issues include the United States government’s role in both detaining Cuban refugees and returning these refugees to Cuba, funding issues associated with Cuban refugees, and human rights violations of Cuban refugees. The Subject Files also include correspondence from Members of Congress, local government, humanitarian groups, and individuals regarding solutions to Haitian refugee crisis, the United States judiciary’s handling of Haitian refugees, humanitarian relief (including HIV treatment) for Haitian refugees, and the detainment of Haitian refugees at Guantanamo. Form letters addressing such correspondence note the Clinton administration’s policy on refugee issues. The Agency Liaison files contain correspondence for, against, and responding to the Coast Guard’s treatment of Cuban refugees off the coast of Florida in June 1999. The Counsel’s Office file of Marvin Krislov contains a 1994 petition regarding international legal rights of detained Cuban refugees and also United Nation protocols concerning the status of refugees. Charles Ruff’s Counsel Office files includes correspondence and talking points concerning Cuban refugee resettlement in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1997. Stephen Warnath’s Domestic Policy Council files contain clippings, correspondence, and talking points primarily concerning migration criteria and also federal funding as related to agreements accepting Cuban and Haitian refugees in 1994 and 1995. Legislative Affairs files contain correspondence regarding the status of Cuban detainees with children or AIDS. The Public Liaison file includes fact sheets on federal assistance to states with Cuban refugees. The researcher should note that a number of records related to this FOIA case are closed for national security reasons.

Textual

Records that are responsive to this FOIA request were found in these collection areas— Clinton Presidential Records: White House Office of Records Management (WHORM) Subject Files; Clinton Presidential Records: WHORM Subject Files CF; Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files; Clinton Presidential Records: Automated Records Management System [Email]; and Clinton Presidential Records: NSC Cable, Email, and Records Management System. The White House Office of Records Management (WHORM) contains a variety of series created to organize and track documents and correspondence. The WHORM Subject file was compiled by the White House Office of Records Management and is a series of categories designated by a letter/number combination. In addition, there are WHORM, WHORM Counsel, WHORM (CL), WHORM (OP), WHORM (Too Late); WHORM (Various Offices); and WHORM (Alpha Project) series. Staff and Office files were maintained at the folder level by staff members within their individual offices and document all levels of administration activity. WHORM files are processed at the document level; whereas, Staff and Office files are processed at the folder level, that is, individual documents are not selected and removed from a folder for processing. While this method maintains folder integrity, it frequently results in the incidental processing of documents that are not wholly responsive to the subject area. FOIA 2011-1039-F includes WHORM records from these subject codes: CO045 Cuba, Republic of CO072 Haiti, Republic of CO084 Jamaica FG001-06 Appointments – Interviews, Meetings with, Presidential FG006-06 National Security Council FO Foreign Affairs FO003-02 Foreign Affairs: Mutual Security - Foreign Aid IM Immigration - Naturalization ND016 Wars - Conflicts PP012-01 Degrees Tendered or Conferred on the President PU001-07 Clippings to the President

Collection is open to all researchers. Access to Clinton Presidential Records is governed by the Presidential Records Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. Chapter 22, as amended) and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552, as amended) and therefore records may be restricted in whole or in part in accordance with legal exemptions.

Official records of William Jefferson Clinton’s presidency are housed at the Clinton Presidential Library and administered by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) under the provisions of the Presidential Records Act (PRA)

Staff Archivist, 2016. Previously restricted materials are added as they are released.

The following is a list of documents and folders processed in response to FOIA 2011-1039-F:
Box 1
Clinton Presidential Records: WHORM: Subject File
Category Case Number
CO045 056444
CO045 076553
CO045 076580
CO045 076624
CO045 078129
CO045 078140
CO045 079211SS
Clinton Presidential Records: WHORM: Subject File (continued)
Category Case Number
CO045 081157
CO045 088843
CO045 088846
CO045 091125
CO045 096574SS
CO045 109481SS
CO045 111207
CO045 113221
CO045 113907
CO045 114589
CO045 115509
CO045 115851
CO045 162111SS
CO045 202399SS
CO045 203036
CO045 309884
CO045 311106SS
CO072 000151
CO072 003274
CO072 004142CU
CO072 020403CU
CO072 071958
CO072 104995
[CO072] 410449
FG001-06 006765
FG006-06 006843
FG006-06 013416
FG006-06 016692
FO 136327 [Cuban Refugee] [1]
FO 136327 [Cuban Refugee] [2]
FO 137874 [Haitian refugees]
IM 006151SS
IM 012710
IM 017182
IM 023694
IM 030885SS
IM 142820
IM 182364
IM 252835
ND016 004011
ND016 105350
ND016 242712
PP012-01 010910
PU001-07 002019SS
Box 2
Clinton Presidential Records: WHORM: Subject File – CF
Category Case Number
CO045 090450SS
CO084 063825SS
FO003-02 069681SS
FO003-02 077563SS
FO003-02 102582SS
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Agency Liaison
Correspondence
[Folder 5 – 409329 – Bulk Mail on Coast Guard Treatment of Cuban Refuges] [1]
[OA/ID 15141]
[Folder 5 – 409329 – Bulk Mail on Coast Guard Treatment of Cuban Refuges] [2]
[OA/ID 15141]
[Folder 5 – 409329 – Bulk Mail on Coast Guard Treatment of Cuban Refuges] [3]
[OA/ID 15141]
Counsel’s Office
Krislov, Marvin
Cuban Refugee Petitions [OA/ID 7049]
Neuwirth, Stephen
Haitian Refugee [OA/ID CF 386]
Ruff, Charles
Albuquerque Cuban Resettlement [OA/ID 13213]
Domestic Policy Council
Warnath, Stephen
Cuban/Haitian Mass Migration etc. [1] [OA/ID 9578]
Cuban/Haitian Mass Migration etc. [2] [OA/ID 9578]
Box 3
Cuban/Haitian Mass Migration etc. [3] [OA/ID 9578]
Cuban/Haitian Mass Migration etc. [4] [OA/ID 9578]
Haiti Refugees and Migrants [OA/ID 9585]
Legislative Affairs
Griffin, Pat; Brophy, Susan; Paster, Howard
[November 15, 1994 – To: Pat Griffin, Susan Brophy, Steve Ricchetti – From:
Tracey Thornton – Re: Cuban Detainees] [loose] [OA/ID 11006]
Subject Files
HIV & Guantanamo Bay Refugees: HIV Immigration & Guantanamo Bay
[OA/ID 9994]
Public Liaison
Herman, Alexis; Moy, Ruby
Federal Assistance to Florida and Cuban-Haitian Entrants [OA/ID 5914]
Cuban Affairs
Nuccio, Richard
Cuba: Migration Talks [OA/ID CF 830]
Monitoring of Cuban Migrant Returnees [OA/ID CF 830]
Clinton Presidential Records: Automated Records Management System [Email]
NSC [OA/ID 1200000]
[Schwartz and Cuba…]
[02/26/1996-11/16/20000]
Clinton Presidential Records: NSC Cable, Email, and Records Management System
NSC Emails
A-1 Record (Jan 93-Sept 94) [OA/ID 570000]
[Schwartz and Cuba…]
[02/04/1993-05/04/1993]
[05/11/1993-12/09/1993]
[12/15/1993-04/21/1994]
Box 4
[04/21/1994-05/16/1994]
[05/17/1994-09/09/1994]
A-1-Non-Record (Jan 93-Sept 94) [OA/ID 580000]
[Schwartz and Cuba…]
[05/04/1994-09/22/1994]
MSMail-Record (Sept 94-Sept 97) [OA/ID 590000]
[Schwartz and Cuba…]
[09/26/1994-10/28/1994]
[11/02/1994-12/29/1994]
[01/04/1995-04/25/1995]
[05/02/1995-06/29/1995]
Box 5
[07/12/1995-03/06/1996]
[03/13/1996-08/26/1996]
[08/27/1996-05/26/1997]
MSMail-Non-Record (Sept 94-Sept 97) [OA/ID 605000]
[Schwartz and Cuba…]
[09/27/1994-12/15/1995]
Exchange-Record (Sept 97-Jan 01) [OA/ID 620000]
[Schwartz and Cuba…]
[09/03/1997-01/16/1998]
[02/03/1998-07/14/1999]
[07/16/1999-12/06/1999]
Box 6
[12/07/1999-05/03/2000]
[05/04/2000-09/20/2000]
[09/27/2000-01/12/2001]
Exchange-Non-Record (Sept 97-Jan 01) [OA/ID 630000]
[Schwartz and Cuba…]
[08/28/1997-06/17/1998]
[06/19/1998-08/02/1999]
[08/06/1999-02/14/2000]
Box 7
NSC Records Management System
[Schwartz and Cuba…]
9300476 [OA/ID 140]
9300892 [OA/ID 140]
9303422 [OA/ID 149]
9321210 [OA/ID 3917]
9321225 [OA/ID 3917]
9321245 [OA/ID 3917]
9402486 [OA/ID 190]
9402666 [OA/ID 472]
9402746 [OA/ID 43318]
9402849 [OA/ID 192]
9403094 [OA/ID 472]
9403369 [OA/ID 473]
9403507 [OA/ID 195]
9403644 [OA/ID 473]
9403679 [OA/ID 196]
9403724 [OA/ID 474]
9403938 [OA/ID 196]
9404093 [OA/ID 197]
9404125 [OA/ID 197]
9404345 [OA/ID 475]
9404347 [OA/ID 198]
9404428 [OA/ID 199]
9404565 [OA/ID 199]
9404994 [OA/ID 201]
9405323 [OA/ID 477]
9405346 [OA/ID 477]
9405378 [OA/ID 203]
9405396 [OA/ID 477]
9405470 [OA/ID 203]
9405475 [OA/ID 203]
9405477 [OA/ID 203
]
9405479 [OA/ID 203]
9405499 [OA/ID 203]
9405512 [OA/ID 204]
9405639 [OA/ID 204]
9405711 [OA/ID 205]
9405801 [OA/ID 205]
9406004 [OA/ID 206]
Box 8
9406116 [OA/ID 478]
9406401 [OA/ID 209]
9406413 [OA/ID 479]
9406614 [OA/ID 210]
9406642 [OA/ID 479]
NSC Records Management System
[Schwartz and Cuba…]
9406760 [OA/ID 210]
9406781 [OA/ID 210]
9406797 [OA/ID 210]
9406812 [OA/ID 210]
9406813 [OA/ID 210]
9407115 [OA/ID 212]
9407124 [OA/ID 212]
9407490 [OA/ID 213]
9407631 [OA/ID 214]
9407996 [OA/ID 216]
9408139 [OA/ID 216]
9408166 [OA/ID 217]
9408195 [OA/ID 481]
9408349 [OA/ID 217]
9408402 [OA/ID 218]
9408656 [OA/ID 219]
9408738 [OA/ID 219]
9408745 [OA/ID 482]
9408849 [OA/ID 220]
9409262 [OA/ID 222]
9409852 [OA/ID 225]
9409853 [OA/ID 225]
9410095 [OA/ID 226]
9421116 [OA/ID 3918]
9421315 [OA/ID 3919]
9500118 [OA/ID 558]
9500504 [OA/ID 561]
9500549 [OA/ID 561]
9500658 [OA/ID 562]
Box 9
9501033 [OA/ID 564]
9501239 [OA/ID 566]
9502263 [OA/ID 572]
9502659 [OA/ID 575]
9502792 [OA/ID 576]
9503210 [OA/ID 43314]
9503408 [OA/ID 580]
9503500 [OA/ID 581]
9503562 [OA/ID 581]
9503600 [OA/ID 581]
9503628 [OA/ID 581]
9503671 [OA/ID 582]
9503756 [OA/ID 582]
9503919 [OA/ID 583]
9503951 [OA/ID 584]
NSC Records Management System
[Schwartz and Cuba…]
9503954 [OA/ID 584]
9504332 [OA/ID 586]
9504444 [OA/ID 587]
9504493 [OA/ID 587]
9504583 [OA/ID 588]
9504596 [OA/ID 588]
9505737 [OA/ID 596]
9506010 [OA/ID 598]
9600050 [OA/ID 1080]
9600374 [OA/ID 1082]
9600419 [OA/ID 1082]
9602081 [OA/ID 1093]
9602807 [OA/ID 1098]
9603420 [OA/ID 1102]
9603564 [OA/ID 1103]
9604553 [OA/ID 1110]
9604984 [OA/ID 1113]
9604988 [OA/ID 1113]
9605121 [OA/ID 1114]
9605242 [OA/ID 1114]
9605271 [OA/ID 1115]
9606803 [OA/ID 1125]
9606917 [OA/ID 1125]
9607751 [OA/ID 1131]
9702262 [OA/ID 1611]
9705114 [OA/ID 1633]
9706246 [OA/ID 1640]
9706520 [OA/ID 1642]
9707206 [OA/ID 1648]
Box 10
9707406 [OA/ID 1650]
9707442 [OA/ID 1650]
9707725 [OA/ID 1653]
9707726 [OA/ID 1653]
9707780 [OA/ID 1654]
9708285 [OA/ID 1657]
9801528 [OA/ID 2019]
9802262 [OA/ID 2026]
9803006 [OA/ID 2032]
9806277 [OA/ID 2058]
9806980 [OA/ID 2063]
9905017 [OA/ID 2738]
9905382 [OA/ID 2740]
9908511 [OA/ID 2761]
9908934 [OA/ID 2764]
NSC Records Management System
[Schwartz and Cuba…]
9909026 [OA/ID 2765]
9909045 [OA/ID 2765]
9909316 [OA/ID 2767]
0000128 [OA/ID 4072]
0000237 [OA/ID 4073]
0000266 [OA/ID 4073]
0000422 [OA/ID 4074]
0000551 [OA/ID 4074]
0001432 [OA/ID 4080]
0002498 [OA/ID 4086]
0002524 [OA/ID 4086]
0002923 [OA/ID 4088]