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Press Release

October 31, 2001

Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren
16th Congressional District, California
zoelofgren.house.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Toni Wehman
(202) 225-3072

Lofgren Co-Sponsors Vietnam Refugee Measure Passed by House

(Washington, DC) The House of Representatives voted to extend eligibility for refugee status of unmarried sons and daughters of certain Vietnamese refuges.  The bill allows unmarried sons and daughters of Vietnamese refugees who had been previously erroneously barred from entering the U.S. to become refugees to America.  The bill would correct INS denials on cases adjudicated on or after April 1, 1995. 

Earlier in the Immigration Subcommittee, Republicans voted to significantly limit the number of such cases to only 500 for next year.   However, the limit was removed when the measure was brought before the full committee.  The version passed by the House yesterday did not include the earlier limit.

Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) said,  "This bill is an important measure for many Vietnamese families.   I was disappointed with the restriction of only allowing 500 visas which was included in the subcommittee version of the bill.  Thankfully, this limit was removed from the final version of the bill."

In addition, Congresswoman Lofgren joined her fellow cofounders of the Congressional Dialogue on Vietnam in a letter condemning the sham "trial" of Father Ly in Vietnam.  On October 19, 2001, the Vietnamese government sentenced Reverend Nguyen Van Ly to 15 years in prison on charges that he undermined the country's unity and violated a detention order.  With the world's attention focused-rightly-on the fight against terror, the Vietnamese government convicted Father Ly in a two-hour trial without the presence of a defense lawyer or independent witnesses.

"I was outraged to hear about the recent conviction of Father Ly in Vietnam," said Lofgren.  "This fall, by a vote of 410-1, the House passed the Vietnam Human Rights Act which required Vietnam to end its practice of religious persecution.  The legislation specifically recognized the plight of Father Ly and other religious leaders who have been repressed by the Vietnamese government.  The Vietnam government is obviously showing its contempt for human rights by this unjust action towards Father Ly and his followers.  That is why I am helping circulate a letter to Prime Minister Phan Van Khai calling for Father Ly's release among my Congressional colleagues so they can join the rest of the international community and condemn this despicable act."