Reports from Western journalists and other visitors indicate that these children are ineligible for ration cards. and many beg in the streets. peddle black market items or. in some cases. prostitute themselves just to survive. Their future in Vietnam has little to promise for a number of reasons including the fact that they are not allowed to attend school. I have been concerned about these children for many years and am eager to identify the most appropriate and efficient way to assist the emigration of the children and their families. During consideration of the fiscal year 1986 foreign assistance bill. I offered an amendment asking the Department of State to report to Congress on the quality of life for Amerasian children and the status of any initiatives to enhance their lives through adoption. Mr. Chairman. as you know. the U.S. immigration policy for these children has been addressed in several legislative initiatives. The most success. though. has been achieved as a result of the declaration made by the Secretary of State in September 1984 that the United States would accept all Amerasian children and their qualifying family members through the Orderly Departure Program of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees ideally over the following 3 years. In the year following. fiscal year 1985. cooperation by the Vietnamese officials and the progress in emigration had improved significantly. resulting in the granting of 3.828 Amerasianrelated departures. Unfortunately. Mr.
Keywords matched
Refugees emigration immigration