Mr. President. today I am introducing companion legislation to H.R. 1302. which would permit the naturalization of Filipino World War II veterans who are facing possible deportation from the United States. In March 1942. Congress amended the Nationality Act of 1940 to allow for the naturalization of Filipino veterans who served honorably in our armed services during World War II. These veterans. however. were unable to take advantage of the naturalization process for 9 months as a result of a decision made by the Attorney General to remove the naturalization examiner from the Philippines. In January 1984. the Supreme Court ruled that the Justice Department is not prohibited by a previous decision from challenging the citizenship applications of these Filipino veterans. While this decision remains on appeal. these 1.600 or so veterans who are at retirement age. and who have served their community as well as our country honorably. still face the possibility of being deported. To fulfill an American promise and to prevent the possibility of them being deported. this legislation would then assist these veterans in being naturalized by extending the date which they should petition the Immigration and Naturalization Service for naturalization. It would also restrict this opportunity to those veterans currently residing in the United States. Mr.
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