Govemnment. NGOs or the media. There have been important steps taken in Congress to address the concerns of retugees related to Afghanistan and Iraq. such as encouraging the provision ot special immigrant status for translators or interpreters serving with Federal agencies in Iraq and Afghanistan. However. since 2003. the U.S. Government has allowed only 466 Iraqi retugees to enter the U.S. It is important that the U.S. initiate more active measures to assist these retugees. such as increasing the number of Iraqis that are brought into the resettlement program. During a recent trip to the Middle East. I heard stories of Iraqi refugees and the dire threats that forced them to flee their homeland. Madam Speaker. in addition to spotlighting the situation of Iraqi refugees. it is vital that the intematlional community continue to shine a spotlight on the situation facing retugees trom and displaced persons in Burma. The military dictatorship continues its campaign against the ethnic peoples through forced labor. the use of rape as a weapon of terror. destruction of food sources. destruction ot over 3.000 villages in the last few years. and the use of ethnic peoples as human land mine sweepers. Unfortunately. certain countries believe it is in their interest to keep this regime in powerI would heartily disagree. The retugee and displacement crisis in Burma could be resolved immediately if the regime were to step down and allow the rightfully elected leaders of Burma to take office. World Refugee Day is a day for the international community. governments and citizens alike. to show our common concern for retugees and displaced persons. Most people in the wortd would love to stay in their homeland. but frequently conflicts and other situations torce them to leave. Our country was tounded by people fleeing oppression. The U.S. must continue to be the global leader in refugee protection in the Middle East. in Southeast Asia. and around the world.
Keywords matched
immigrant refugee Refugee refugees