Twist in arrivals policy: Haiti, fewer; Asia, more

President Reagan has moved to halt the flow of illegal immigrants from the Caribbean into the United States and at the same time urged Congress to welcome thousands of political refugees from Southeast Asia. Late Tuesday he ordered the Coast Guard to stop and board any ships on the high seas believed to be carrying illegal refugees into the US.

While the Coast Guard order did not identify any countries, it appeared to be directed chiefly at Haitians, who have been arriving in Florida in large numbers. US officials suspect the Haitians are trying to escape proverty at home and thus do not qualify as genuine political refugees.

Meanwhile, a State Department official told Congress the administration increased its proposed ceiling on Indochinese refugee admissions in 1982 to retain the confidence of cooperating nations.