Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 101 Part 3.djvu/106

 101 STAT. 1404

PUBLIC LAW 100-204—DEC. 22, 1987

the Department of State in the refugee program with recommendations for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the program. SEC. 905. AMERASIAN CHILDREN IN VIETNAM.

(a) FINDINGS AND DECLARATIONS.—The Congress makes the following findings and declarations: (1) Thousands of children in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam were fathered by American civilians and military personnel. (2) It has been reported that many of these Amerasian children are ineligible for ration cards and often beg in the streets, peddle black market wares, or prostitute themselves. (3) The mothers of Amerasian children in Vietnam are not eligible for government jobs or employment in government enterprises and many are estranged from their families and are destitute. (4) Amerasian children and their families have undisputed ties to the United States and are of particular humanitarian concern to the United States. (5) The United States has a longstanding and very strong commitment to receive the Amerasian children in Vietnam, if they desire to come to the United States. (6) In September 1984, the United States informed the Socialist Republic of Vietnam that all Amerasian children in ...;.K',:. Vietnam, their mothers, and qualifying family members would be admitted as refugees to the United States during a three-year period. (7) Amerasian emigration from Vietnam increased significantly in fiscal year 1985 under the Orderly Departure Program of the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees. (8) On January 1, 1986, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam unilaterally suspended interviews of all individuals seeking to leave Vietnam legally under the auspices of the Orderly Departure Program for resettlement in the United States. (9) On the 19th and 20th of October 1987, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam permitted the United States to resume 8 ' t. •?'i-;' interviewing Amerasians and their families. Oo) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the Congress that— (1) the United States should maintain its strong commitment to receive the Amerasian children in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and their families; (2) the Socialist Republic of Vietnam should cooperate fully in facilitating the processing of all Amerasians who desire to be resettled in the United States; and aiJ i,. 1; -;; s!-! (3) the Socialist Republic of Vietnam should cooperate fully in the processing of Amerasians for emigration. Thailand. SEC. 906. REFUGEES FROM SOUTHEAST ASIA. Vietnam. (&) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that— Laos. (1) the United States remains firmly committed to the security of Thailand and to improving relations between our two nations; (2) the United States refugee resettlement and humanitarian assistance programs constitute an important factor in bilateral relations between the United States and Thailand; .c Jj "•:• 7n;:e 0 i (3) the preservation of first asylum for those fleeing persecution is one of the primary objectives of the United States _, refugee program; _ _

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