Speech #970241983

I would also like to add my commendation and thanks to Father Alfred Keane for his efforts on behalf of the Amerasian children and John Shade and Jodie Darragh for their extraordinary and gifted work in this area. Mr. President. the proposal before us seeks to correct a flaw in the current Immigration and Nationality Act which denies the children of U.S. citizens their legitimate claim to proper immigration status. S. 1698 specifically addresses the needs of those individuals. often referred to as Amerasian. who have been adandoned by their U.S. servicemanfathers in Korea. Vietnam. Laos. Thailand. and Kampuchea. Under the provisions of this bill. as offspring of U.S. citizens. an Amerasian would be able to apply for immigration to the United States under the first preference (unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens) and fourth preference (married sons and daughters) categories of the Immigration Act. The legislation also directs the Department of State and the Department of Justice. in cooperation with the host government and private voluntary agencies to substantiate U.S. paternity. Although it can be difficult to substantiate U.S. parentage. every form of documentation must be used on a casebycase basis.