Speech #1100062184

BAGEL. BIDEN. and LIEBERMAN to introduce this important legislation. In January of this year. the Judiciary Committee held a hearing to examine the plight of Iraqs refugees. during which we heard from the State Department. the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. nongovernimental organizations and individuals. and Iraqi citizens who had been targeted for assisting the United States. This hearing brought the enormity of the Iraq refugee situation into sharp focus and made clear that we must do more to address this crisis and provide assistance especially to those Iraqis who have assisted the United States with its mission. If enacted. this bill would help the United States fulfill the promises it has made to the people of Iraq. In February of this year. the Bush administration announced that 7.000 Iracii refugees would be permitted to enter the United States in 2007. Over the last 8 months. however. only 70 Iraqis have been allowed into the United States as refugees. Each year there are 20.000 unallocated slots for refugees that could be applied to Iraq. and an additional 5.000 for the Middle East. Yet the Department of Homeland Security has admitted approximately 700 Iraqis since the war began in 2003. We have an obligation to do better than this when an estimated 4 million Iraqis have been displaced within Iraq or have fled the country due to our involvement there. And we have a special obligation to do all we can for those Iraqis who have made tremendous sacrifices on behalf of the United States and who continue to live under the threat of torture and death. Refugees International has called the Iraq refugee crisis the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world. It is estimated that nearly 2 million Iraqis have been internally displaced. while another 2 million have fled the country. with little more than they could carry. With this bill. we show our commitment not to repeat the tragic and immoral mistake from the Vietnam era and leave friends without refuge and subject to violent reprisals. The United States has an obligation to the people of Iraq. and especially to those who have assisted the American military in its efforts there. When an Iraqi man or woman makes the choice to help the United Stateswhether as an interpreter or in some other roleand puts his or her life on the line. the United States bears a special responsibility to do what it can to reciprocate the loyalty that so many Iraqis have shown us. The bill we introduce today will create a new P2 category for Refugees of Special Humanitarian Concern. Individuals who have assisted the United States. or who have worked for a company. NGO. or other entity that has received a grant or contract from the U.S. Government would be eligible for status as a refugee of special humanitarian concern. In order to implement this new program. the legislation would direct the establishment of consular processing facilities in Iraq to expedite the resettlement process for those Iraqis and their immediate families who qualify under the bill for special relief. The bill also sets up a special immigrant visa category for individuals who have worked as interpreters or translators for the United States for an aggregate of 1 year between 2003 and the present. This new program would augment current efforts to provide protection for those individuals who have assisted the United States by providing interpreter or translation services. The legislation would also direct the Secretary of State to establish an office of Minister Counselor in the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. This office would be responsible for overseeing the new programs set up under this bill. and would be the primary point of contact for eligible individuals seeking protection. This official would also have the authority to refer individuals directly to the United States Refugee Resettlement Program. Additionally. parallel Minister Counselor offices would be established in Egypt. Jordan. Syria. and Lebanon to effectuate the P2 refugee program. The Secretary of State would also be required to work with other nations currently hosting Iraqi refugees in order to provide support and to help ensure the safety and wellbeing of Iraqis located in countries surrounding Iraq. The legislation would also allow Iraqis who applied for asylum in the United States after 2003. and who were denied based on changed country conditions due to the overthrow of Saddamn Hussein. to have those denials reviewed due to the continuing violence and dangerous conditions in the country. This change will allow our laws to reflect the current reality in Iraq.