 |
| For Immediate Release Tuesday, October 23, 2007
|
Contact: Naomi Steinberg, SEARAC,
202/667-4690, naomi@searac.org
|
|
Material Support Waivers Issued—Need for a Comprehensive Solution Continues
Washington, DC — On October 22, 2007, the Departments of State and Homeland Security announced that material support waivers for the Hmong and Montagnard communities were signed by Secretaries Chertoff and Rice on October 20, 2007. Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) believes that these waivers are a very important step in the long fight to address the unintended consequences material support has on the Hmong and Montagnard communities. The issuance of these waivers mean that many applications for permanent residency and naturalization that were submitted by Hmong and Montagnard community members and have been on hold due to material support will now be reviewed and processed. In addition, the waivers would also help in exempting certain individuals abroad affected by material support who are seeking refuge in the U.S.
These waivers are a move in the right direction, however they do not provide a complete fix to the material support issue. The waivers are limited because they only offer relief for people who provided “material support”, such as food, water and shelter to groups and individuals who actually fought on behalf of Americans in Laos and Vietnam during the Vietnam War. In order for the Administration to have the discretion to expand the current waiver, a legislative fix is required. To this end, SEARAC continues to strongly support the material support language contained in the Senate passed, State Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. Among other things, this language provides “automatic relief for the Hmong and other groups (including Montagnards) that do not pose a threat to the United States.” This language has yet to go to conference.
Doua Thor, Executive Director of SEARAC states, “Material support has a tremendous impact on the Hmong and Montagnard communities. Untold numbers of individuals have been unable to move forward and adjust their immigration statuses in this country and individuals overseas have been unable to resettle in this country. The announcement of the waivers for these communities is important news, but the struggle to comprehensively fix material support will not be over until there is a legislative fix that helps refugees and asylum seekers from around the world.”
The Hmong and Montagnard are two ethnic minority groups from Laos and Vietnam, respectively, and were recruited by the U.S. CIA and the Special Forces to fight alongside U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War.
SEARAC will continue to monitor the situation, work to ensure the efficient implementation of these waivers, and advocate for a legislative solution. SEARAC will continue to provide updates on any new
developments as they occur.
|
