They have been recommended by the American military. The Department of Homeland Security agreed that they are eligible for admission to the United States. To ensure that these courageous allies are able to come to America this year. the LugarKennedy bill authorizes 500 visas a year for the current fiscal year 2007 and for the next 2 years so that this critical lifeline will continue to be available. Under the bills provisions. persons who served as translators or interpreters either for our military or for the Department of State can qualify. The bill is not intended to address the much broader massive refugee crisis unfolding in Iraq. Already more than 2 million Iraqis have fled the country. and nearly 2 million more have been displaced internally. Each refugee is a personal story of courage. loyalty. heroism. and tragedy. We have a special duty to protect all of them and their loved ones who are being targeted by insurgents and sectarian death squads either because of their faith or because of their association with the United States. Obviously. we cannot take all of these refugees into America. but we have an obligation to lead an international effort to solve this dangerous crisis as well. Legislation is essential to address this problem. and I am hopeful we can enact it soon. But it is especially urgent that we act now to protect the lives of the translators who have served us so well in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Keywords matched
visas refugee refugees