Speech #1020089858

Of these. approximately 52.000 are Hmong and 8.000 are Laotians. The procedures governing the issue of repatriation are governed by bilateral agreements between Thailand and Laos. as well as principles of international law. Under these provisions. the basic protection afforded to people comes from the determination that a party is a refugee and thereafter termed "screenedin." In general. refugee status is accorded to those that have fled Laos with a wellfounded fear of persecution on the grounds of race. religion. nationality. membership in a particular social group or political party. Once a person is deemed to have acquired refugee status. international law provides certain protections. In addition. under other international agreements. such screenedin people are provided the opportunity to be repatriated to third countries under the supervision of the U.N. High Commissioner For Refugees (UNHCR]. It is through this process that many Laotians decided to come to the United States. In fact. today. the United States remains the largest resettlement country for Hmong and Lao refugees. According to the State Department. since 1975. roughly 100.000 Hmong and