7</^ ° AMERASIAN IMMIGRATION PROPOSALS ^^

HEARING W c^-*#

BEFORE THE • '•

SUBCOMMITTEE ON

IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE POLICY

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY

UNITED STATES SENATE

NINETY-SEVENTH CONGRESS

SECOND SESSION

ON

S. 1698

A BILL TO AMEND THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT TO PROVIDE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT IN THE ADMISSION OF CERTAIN

CHILDREN OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL

JUNE 21, 1982

Serial No. J-97-121

Printed for the use of the Committee on the Judiciary

j

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

99-291 O WASHINGTON : 1982
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY

[97th Congress]

STROM THURMOND, South Carolina, Chairman

CHARLES McC. MATHIAS, JR., Maryland JOSEPH R. BIDEN, JR., Delaware

PAUL LAXALT, Nevada EDWARD M. KENNEDY, Massachusetts

ORRIN G. HATCH, Utah ROBERT C. BYRD, West Virginia

ROBERT DOLE, Kansas HOWARD M. METZENBAUM, Ohio

ALAN K. SIMPSON, Wyoming DENNIS DECONCINI, Arizona

JOHN P. EAST, North Carolina PATRICK J. LEAHY, Vermont

CHARLES E. GRASSLEY, Iowa MAX BAUCUS, Montana

JEREMIAH DENTON, Alabama HOWELL HEFLIN, Alabama

ARLEN SPECTER, Pennsylvania

VINTON DEVANE LIDE, Chief Counsel

QUENTIN CROMMELIN, Jr., Staff Director

SUBCOMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE POLICY

ALAN K. SIMPSON, Wyoming, Chairman

STROM THURMOND, South Carolina EDWARD M. KENNEDY, Massachusetts

CHARLES E. GRASSLEY, Iowa DENNIS DECONCINI, Arizona

RICHARD W. DAY, Chief Counsel and Staff Director

DONNA ALVARADO, Counsel

CHARLES O. WOOD, Counsel

ARNOLD H. LEIBOWTTZ, Special Counsel

<n>

tA-CoSln
3.

^ aflfr CONTENTS

OPENING STATEMENTS

Page

Simpson, Hon. Alan K., a U.S. Senator from the State of Wyoming, chairman,

Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Policy 1

Kennedy, Hon. Edward M., a U.S. Senator from the State of Massachusetts 2

PROPOSED LEGISLATION

S. 1698, a bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide

preferential treatment in the admission of certain children of U.S. Armed

Forces personnel 4

Amendment No. 1306, to provide substitute language amending the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide preferential treatment in the admission

of certain children of U.S. citizens 8

Section 204 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154), proposed

amendments 12

CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF WITNESSES

Denton, Hon. Jeremiah, a U.S. Senator from the State of Alabama 12

Levin, Hon. Carl, a U.S. Senator from the State of Michigan 20

McKinney, Hon. Stewart B., a Representative in Congress from the State of

Connecticut 26

Asencio, Hon. Diego, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, Department of

State 28

Nelson, Hon. Alan, Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service,

Department of Justice 37

Keane, Rev. Alfred V., director of Americans for International Aid, Marietta,

Ga., and St. Vincent's Home for Amerasians, Inchon, Korea 45

Shade, John A., executive director, Pearl S. Buck Foundation, Perkasie, Pa 66

Martindale, Walter, American International Trade Group, Washington, D.C.... 77

Foster, Judith, attorney-at-law, Springfield, Va 79

ALPHABETICAL LISTING AND MATERIALS SUBMITTED

Asencio. Hon. Diego:

Testimony 28

Prepared statement 31

Letter to Senator Thurmond, from Powell A. Moore, Assistant Secretary

for Congressional Relations 35

Denton, Hon. Jeremiah:

Testimony 12

Letters from Gonzaga University 16

Foster, Judith: Testimony 79

Keane, Rev. Alfred V.:

Testimony 45

Supporting documents 46

Levin, Hon. Carl:

Testimony 20

Prepared statement 22

Martindale, Walter: Testimony 77

McKinney, Hon. Stewart B.: Testimony 26

(ill)

^3
IV

Nelson, Hon. Alan: Pa««

Testimony 37

Prepared statement 38

Letter to Senator Alan K. Simpson 40

Shade, John:

Testimony 66

Prepared statement 69

APPENDIX

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD

American Council of Voluntary Agencies for Foreign Service, Inc 87

Fort Sanders Obstetrical and Gynecological Group P.C 88
AMERASIAN IMMIGRATION PROPOSALS

MONDAY, JUNE 21, 1982

U.S. SENATE,

'SUBCOMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE POLICY

OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY,

Washington, D.C.

The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:40 p.m., in room

2228, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Alan K. Simpson (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding.

Present: Senator Kennedy.

Staff Present: Richard W. Day, chief counsel and staff director;

Donna M. Alvarado, counsel; and Arnold Liebowitz, special counsel.

OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. ALAN K. SIMPSON, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF WYOMING, CHAIRMAN, SUBCOMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE POLICY

Senator SIMPSON. Good afternoon. We are pleased to have you

here.

I have assured the sponsors of this measure an appropriate hearing, and am holding it on this occasion. I appreciate their patience

as we process the entire package known as S. 2222.

Today's hearing concerns the plight of thousands of children

fathered by American servicemen and other U.S. citizens serving

in Asia, and born of Asian mothers. We understand that such children frequently become social outcasts in their homelands because

of their mixed parentage, and often have difficulty in finding employment and making lives for themslves.

As chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, I have a special

interest in this issue, and particularly with regard to the long-term

solutions as we continue to station troops in Asia to further U.S.

strategic and defense interests.

I do feel that the support which has been demonstrated in the

Congress and by this administration for various proposals to assist

Amerasians indicates a willingness on the part of the American

people to provide some relief for these children. But I also believe

that the American people wish to be certain that we are admitting

an identifiable group of persons, that we are avoiding fraud, and

that we are not creating new financial burdens on the Federal

Treasury.

Many of the proposals which will be discussed this afternoon

have attempted to address these concerns, and certainly our witnesses include experts who have been working with and for these

children, and these adults, because many of them indeed are adults

now, and have been working with them throughout the years.

(l)
So I am therefore pleased to welcome you to this hearing and

look forward to your testimony.

I would ask my good colleague from Massachusetts, Senator Kennedy, who I know has been very interested in this area as we have

pursued the entire package of S. 2222, if he has opening remarks.

OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. EDWARD M. KENNEDY, A U.S.

SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS

Senator KENNEDY. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I want

to express all of our appreciation to you for holding this hearing.

As you remember during the course of the markup on the immigration legislation, there was a good deal of interest in this issue,

and you pointed out to me and to the other members of the Immigration Committee that we had not been able to develop the kind

of information that would be required to accept an amendment at

that time that would guarantee us an opportunity to at least have

this hearing and to listen to those who are the most concerned

about this issue, and who have spent a good deal of their lives

trying to shake the Congress and Democratic and Republican administrations over the past years into action, and I just want to

thank you for holding these hearings today, and again commend

your concern to all of our friends that will be appearing here today

as witnesses, and our colleagues on the committee.

I had an opportunity both in 1965 and again in 1968 to visit a

number of the orphanages in Vietnam. The problem was never as

dramatic in 1965 as it was in 1968. You could see at that time the

increasing concerns that were present about how children that

were fathered by American servicemen were going to be considered, and also the orphans, because there were a number of orphans at that particular time.

We provided some help and assistance to those particular communities. A number of the religious organizations were enormously

active, and the voluntary agencies themselves, and of course, after

the change in the political situation and after the Vietcong took

over, that help and assistance was terminated even though there

were a number of children that had been fathered by American

servicemen and also a number of orphans still remaining in that

setting, and some outside that setting, and some with other members of an extended family.

Then in 1978, the Senate accepted an amendment which I offered

to the foreign relations bill that provided $2 million to help and

assist the developing of orphanages and supporting foundations

that were working with the voluntary agencies to facilitate help

and assistance to the orphans.

Then, as you remember, Mr. Chairman, in 1978 we adjusted the

immigration law to permit greater ease in the adoption of Ameriasian children, and I think this was some progress.

But I think all of us must recognize that it has been the voluntary agencies that have been knocking on the doors of Congress.

There have been some Congressmen and Congresswomen who have

long been committed to that cause, and some will testify today.

The voluntary agencies have presented us with this issue. The

Congress has taken very small steps, although not unimportant
3

ones, but we have not had the kind of support from past administrations, whether they have been Democrat or Republican, to

really express the true humanitarian concern.

I perceive a change now, and I just hope that we can work out

both an amendment on the immigration bill that will recognize the

importance of the voluntary agencies, the importance of the families here in the United States, in trying to work out a process and

a program that will reach out to those children, who have every

right to expect some help and some assistance if the opportunity

presents itself.

So I thank the chairman, and appreciate the hearing, and I look

forward to working with my colleagues to see that some action is

taken.

Senator SIMPSON. Thank you very much, Senator Kennedy.

[S. 1698 and related documents follow:]
97TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. 1698

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide preferential treatment

in the admission of certain children of United States Armed Forces personnel.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

OCTOBER 1 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 9), 1981

Mr. DENTON (for himself and Mr. LEVIN) introduced the following bill; which was

read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide

preferential treatment in the admission of certain children of

United States Armed Forces personnel.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 That (a) chapter 1 of title II of the Immigration and Nation4 ality Act is amended by inserting after section 209 (8 U.S.C.

5 1159) the following new section:
1 SPECIAL PKEFEBENCE FOB CBBTAIN CHILDEEN OP

2 UNITED STATES ABMED FOBCES PEBSONNEL

3 "SEC. 210. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of

4 this Act, an unmarried or married alien shall be deemed, for

5 purposes of preference in allotting visas under this chapter, to

6 be an unmarried son or daughter of a citizen of the United

7 States or a married son or daughter of a citizen of the United

8 States, respectively, if the alien applies to the Attorney Gen9 eral (in such form and manner as he may provide) for such

10 treatment and if•

11 "(1) the appropriate consular officer determines,

12 pursuant to subsection (b), that the alien•

13 "(A) was born in Korea, Vietnam, Laos,

14 Thailand, Japan, the Philippines, or Taiwan (as

15 defined in paragraph (2) of section 15 of the

16 Taiwan Relations Act) after 1950, and

17 "(B) was fathered by a United States citizen

18 who, at the time of the alien's conception, was

19 serving on active duty in the Armed Forces of the

20 United States; and

21 "(2) the alien provides the Attorney General with

22 a guarantee of financial support for the alien which

23 meets the standards established under subsection (c).

24 "(b) In reviewing applications under subsection (a), the

25 consular officer shall consult with appropriate governmental

99-291 0-82-2
3

1 officials and officials of private voluntary organizations in the

2 country of the alien's birth in order to review and determine

S the matters described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsec4 tion (a)(1). In making such a determination, the consular offi5 cer shall consider evidence provided by the, applicant, includ6 ing but not limited to birth and baptismal cetificates, local

7 civil records, photographs of, and letters or proof of financial

8 support from, an American citizen described in subsection

9 (a)(1)(B), and the testimony of witnesses, to the extent it is

10 relevant or probative. * •

11 "(C) A guarantee of financial support for an alien

12 must• !

13 "(1) be signed, in the presence of an immigration

14 officer or consular officer, by an individual (hereafter in

15 this subsection referred to as the 'sponsor'), who is

16 twenty-one years of age or older and is a citizen of the

17 United States or an alien lawfully admitted for perma18 nent residence; and

19 "(2) provide that the sponsor agrees to provide•

20 "(A) during the five-year period beginning on

21 the date of the alien's admission for permanent

22 residence, or

23 "(B) during the period beginning on the date

24 of the alien's admission for permanent residence
4

1 and ending on the date on which the alien be2 comes twenty-one years of age,

3 whichever period is longer, such financial support as is

4 necessary to maintain the alien's income at a level

5 equal to at least 125 per centum of the current official

6 poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management

7 and Budget), as revised by the Secretary of Health and

8 Human Services pursuant to section 652 of the Omni9 bus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, for a family of

10 the same size as the size of the alien's family residing

11 in the United States.

12 "(d)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the guarantee of finan13 rial support described in subsection (c) may be enforced with

14 respect to an alien against his sponsor in a civil suit brought

15 by the Attorney General in the United States district court

16 for the district in which the sponsor resides

17 "(2) A sponsor and his estate shall not be liable under

18 such a guarantee under paragraph (1) if the sponsor dies or is

19 adjudicated a bankrupt under title 11, United States Code.".

20 (b) Chapter 1 of title II of the table of contents of such

21 Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section

22 209 the following new item:

"SEC. 210. Special preference for certain children of United States Armed Forces
AMENDMENT NO. 1306

Purpose: To provide substitute language amending the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide preferential treatment

in the admission of certain children of United States citizens.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES•97th Cong., 2d Sen.

S.1698

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide

preferential treatment in the admission of certain children

of United States Armed Forces-personnel.

February 11 (legislative day, January 25), 1982

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary and ordered to be

printed

AMENDMENT intended to be proposed by Mr. DENTON (for

himself and Mr. LEVIN)

Viz: Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu

thereof the following:

1 That (a) chapter 1 of title II of the Immigration and Nation2 ality Act is amended by inserting after section 209 (8 U.S.C.

3 1159) the following new section:

4 "SPECIAL PBEFEBENCE FOE CEBTAIN CHILDEEN OF

5 UNITED STATES CITIZENS

6 "SEC. 210. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of

7 this Act, an unmarried or married alien shall be deemed, for

8 purposes of preference in allotting visas under this chapter, to

9 be an unmarried son or daughter of a citizen of the United
9

2

1 States or a married son or daughter of a citizen of the United

2 States, respectively, if the alien applies to the Attorney Gen3 eral (in such form and manner as he may provide) for such

4 treatment and if•

5 "(1) the appropriate consular officer determines

6 that the evidence examined pursuant to subsection (b)

7 strongly suggests that•

8 "(A) the alien was born in Korea after 1950

9 and before the date of enactment of this section,

10 "(B) the alien was fathered by a United

11 States citizen, and

12 "(C) the admission of such alien to the

13 United States is in the best interests of such alien;

14 and

15 "(2) the alien provides the Attorney General with

16 a guarantee of financial support for the alien which

17 meets the standards established under subsection (c).

18 "(b) In reviewing applications under subsection (a), the

19 consular officer shall consult with appropriate governmental

20 officials and officials of private voluntary organizations in the

21 country of the alien's birth in order to review and determine

22 the matters described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of

23 subsection (a)(1). In making such a determination, the consul24 ar officer shall consider the physical appearance of the appli25 cant and any evidence provided by the applicant, including
10

3

1 but not limited to birth and baptismal certificates, local civil

2 records, photographs of, and letters or proof of financial sup3 port from, an American citizen described in subsection

4 (a)(1)(B), and the testimony of witnesses, to the extent it is

5 relevant or probative.

6 "(c) A guarantee of financial support for an alien

7 must•

8 "(1) be signed, in the presence of an immigration

9 officer or consular officer, by an individual (hereafter in

10 this subsection referred to as the 'sponsor'), who is

11 twenty-one years of age or older and is a citizen of the

12 United States or an alien lawfully admitted for perma13 nent residence; and

14 "(2) provide that the sponsor agrees to provide•

15 "(A) during the five-year period beginning on

16 the date of the alien's admission for permanent

17 residence, or

18 "(B) during the period beginning on the date

19 of the alien's admission for permanent residence

20 and ending on the date on which the alien be21 comes 21 years of age,

22 whichever period is longer, such financial support as is

23 necessary to maintain the alien's income at a level

24 equal to at least 125 per centum of the current official

25 poverty fine (as defined by the Office of Management
11

4

1 and Budget), as revised by the Secretary of Health and

2 Human Services pursuant to section 652 of the Omni3 bus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, for a family of

4 the same size as the size of the alien's family residing

5 in the United States.

6 "(d)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the guarantee of finan7 cial support described in subsection (c) may be enforced with

8 respect to an alien against his sponsor in a civil suit brought

9 by the Attorney General in the United States district court

10 for the district in which the sponsor resides.

11 "(2) A sponsor and his estate shall not be liable under

12 such a guarantee under paragraph (1) if the sponsor dies or is

13 adjudicated a bankrupt under title 11, United States Code.".

14 (b) Chapter 1 of title H of the table of contents of such

15 Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section

16 209 the following new item:

"Sec. 210. Special preference for certain children of United States citizens.".
12

SECTION 204

On page 49, line 5, strike all after the heading "Amerasian Children" on line 4

and insert the following:

Section 204. (a) Section 204 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1154)

is amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new Subsection:

"(gXD Any alien claiming to be an alien described in paragraph (2) of this subsection (or any person on behalf of such an alien) may file a petition with the Attorney

General for classification under Section 201(b), 203(aX4), as appropriate. After an investigation of the facts of each case the Attorney General shall, if he has reason to

believe that the alien is an alien described in paragraph 2 of this subsection, approve the petition and forward one copy to the Department of State.

"(2) The Attorney General may approve petitions under paragraph (1) of this subsection if he has received an acceptable guarantee of financial support as described

in paragraph (4) of this subsection and if he has reason to believe that•

(A) the alien was born in Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Kampuchea, or Thailand after

1950; and (B) the alien was fathered by a United States citizen.

"(3) In considering petitions filed under paragraph (1), the Attorney General

shall•

(A) consult with appropriate governmental officials and officials of private voluntary organizations in the country of the alien's birth in order to make the determination described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph 2; and (B) consider the

physical appearance of the alien and any evidence provided by the petitioner, including birth and baptismal certificates, local civil records, photographs of, and letters or proof of financial support from, a putative father who is a citizen of the

United States, and the testimony of witnesses, to the extent it is relevant or probative.

"(4XA) A guarantee of financial support for an alien described in paragraph (2)

must•(i) be signed in the presence of an immigration officer or consular officer by

an individual (hereinafter in this paragraph referred to as the 'sponsor') who is 21

years of age or older and is a citizen of the United States or alien lawfully admitted

for permanent residence, and (ii) provide that the sponsor agrees to furnish, during

the five-year period beginning on the date of the alien's acquiring the status of an

alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, such financial support as is necessary to maintain the family in the United States of which the alien is a member at

a level equal to at least 125 percent of the current official poverty line (as established by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget under section 673(2)

of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 and as revised by the Secretary of

Health and Human Services under section 652 of such Act) for a family of the same

size as the size of the alien's family.

(B) A guarantee of financial support described in subparagraph (A) may be enforced with respect to an alien against his sponsor in a civil suit Drought by the

Attorney General in the United States district court for the district in which the

sponsor resides, except that a sponsor or his estate shall not be liable under such a

guarantee if the sponsor dies or is adjudicated a bankrupt under title 11, United

States Code."

Senator SIMPSON. NOW, we are pleased to welcome three sponsors

of the Amerasian legislation pending both in the House and in the

Senate. Let me recognize Senator Denton first, please, my colleague from Alabama.

STATEMENT OF HON. JEREMIAH DENTON, A U.S. SENATOR FROM

THE STATE OF ALABAMA

Senator DENTON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Allow me to commend you for holding this hearing at this particular time. I recognize that you and your staff and members of the committee have

been working very industriously on the passage of S. 2222, the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1982.

From working with you on two committees, I am familiar with

the diligence of your work. I am supportive of your efforts to

reform our immigration law. Your dedication and patience shows

through, as it does on the Veterans' Affairs Committee on which I

serve with you under your chairmanship. I believe you have ere-
13

ated an immigration control bill that is both fair and realistic. You

recognize, as most of us, that as a nation of immigrants our country must maintain an equitable and humane immigration policy

that allows a reasonable number of new immigrants to make their

homes here.

This is a bipartisan bill on the Senate side in terms of sponsorship, and I am pleased to be with Senator Levin here today, and we

both believe that this bill is consistent with the goals established in

S. 2222.

I want to acknowledge, Mr. Chairman, that you have shown not

only consideration and patience as this bill has been brought to

your attention for a number of months, but you have also demonstrated an expertise which transcended that of those who were presenting this incremental aspect of immigration to you, and you

have in every way fulfilled your commitment to advance the cause

of this bill while at the same time maintaining the balance necessary to proceed in an orderly fashion with your larger responsibility, the Immigration Reform and Control Act.

We are now considering this separately, and I am a latecomer in

this bill. Many concerned Americans, as noted by Senator Kennedy, motivated by compassion, are here today and have worked selfishly for years to allow into the United States those abandoned

Amerasian children who, for reasons grounded in Asian culture,

have been treated with discrimination and, sometimes, cruelty. I

guess you could say my own interest in the cruelty in that area

began with a commitment in 1965 with respect to the tens of millions who are now being treated cruelly in the loss of that overall

cause, but this particular cause, involving sons and daughters of

Americans, was brought to my attention in 1973 by a young lady

named Judy Darrogh, and later with Father Keane I became more

heavily involved.

As Senator Kennedy said, we owe a lot to the private organizations, Americans mostly, who were just trying to help others from

other nations and love their neighbors as they loved themselves,

and that cannot be transcended in my recollection in this particular context.

The word "Amerasian," of course, derives its first two syllables

from "America," and S. 1698 would at long last give immigration

preference to young children and young adults. Amerasian children are abandoned sons and daughters, born in Asia of Asian

mothers whose fathers are U.S. citizens. They are subject to unremitting social discrimination because the Asian cultures resist assimilating children of mixed parentage. I am confident that we all

feel compassion for the Amerasians partly because of the discrimination to which they are subjected. In addition, our concern and

commitment must be vastly increased because they have American

blood. Yet, when they apply for immigration to the United States,

they are not classified as sons or daughters of U.S. citizens.

S. 1698 would give these children of Americans the benefit of

their birthright without requiring that their fathers be specifically

and individually identified. Under our proposal, Amerasians would

simply be moved into a higher preference category, still subject to

the already established quota for their country of birth. The quota

99-291 0-82-3
14

is currently 20,000 persons for each country, and would remain so

under the Immigration Reform and Control Act.

Amerasians could then apply under the first preference for unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. No more immigrants

would be able to enter the United States under this provision since

the only change would be the classification of Amerasian children

within the already existing categories.

In addition, sponsors of Amerasians would be required to guarantee financial support for them for 5 years or until the minor child

reaches the age of 21, whichever is longer. This would insure that

these immigrants do not become public charges.

During the past several months, Senator Levin and I, our staffs,

and many of the interested parties have worked to refine the language of S. 1698 to meet certain objectives. I again acknowledge

your patience as we changed the form of our approach to this, and

I think we are close to a bill which you can make only minor

changes to and find satisfactory.

I realize that S. 1698 requires that an Amerasian applicant prove

that the father was on active duty with U.S. military forces. We

now prefer language that would strike the proof standard and the

finding that the child's father was on active duty with U.S. military forces. We would prefer to insert language that would provide

a "reason to believe" standard to the determination that the child's

father was a U.S. citizen. These changes would extend the provisions of the bill to benefit those children who were fathered by

non-military and non-Government personnel.

Currently, S. 1698, as you know, applies to Amerasians born in

Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and

Taiwan. I believe that all the parties involved now agree that this

bill could be limited to fewer countries, and we solicit your advice

on that. One proposal that was circulated included Kampuchea,

which is not now included in H.R. 808 or S. 1698.

You brought to my attention that the bill, as presently drafted,

may force sons and daughters with two American parents to compete with Amerasians for available visa numbers in the first preference. This has not seemed quite equitable in the truest sense of

the word "just." It is my understanding, however, that the first

preference is not as heavily backlogged generally and that including Amerasians in the first preference would not place substantial

pressure on this category. However, there may be technical

changes necessary to improve the bill, and I welcome, therefore,

any expert counsel the subcommittee may provide.

I note, Mr. Chairman, that in 1979, of 17,894 immigrants from

Korea who applied in the family reunification categories, only 28

individuals were in the first preference category, so there would

appear to be some room there for adjustment if that is the way you

choose the committee to go.

Other Amerasian relief proposals have been considered, such as

the one originally included in S. 2222. I believe that particular solution, however well intended, would not adequately respond to the

problems faced by Amerasians. I share the view of the administration, as stated before the joint hearing of the House and Senate Immigration Subcommittees on April 20, 1982, that it is doubtful that

Amerasians of the ages stated in the original S. 2222 provision
15

would be adopted. Under current law, citizens may adopt children

under the age of 16 from foreign countries. Few adolescents, however, have been or will be adopted.

In addition, I believe that it is necessary to include all Amerasians born after 1950, in recognition of the fact that our largest

troop commitment to Korea occurred between the years of 1950-54.

Many have charged that Amerasians in the 21 to 32 age group

would be unsuitable immigrants because they have either been assimilated successfully into Asian cultures, or because they may

have personality problems resulting from the circumstance of their

dubious parentage, or because they would face a language barrier

too great to overcome. There is compelling evidence to the contrary. I submit for the record a letter and several documents that I

received from Father Alfred Carroll, S.J., associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Gonzaga University, where most of the

Amerasians who study in the United States have been enrolled.

Many of these students are above the age of 21 and, as Father Carroll states in his letter, "It is clear to me that these young students

are not delinquents, but industrious scholars and outstanding

people."

I met two Amerasian youths today, and I am sure Senator Levin

shares with me the most favorable impression we got from them

which is consistent with Father Carroll's description.

Father Carroll shows that the average grade point average for

these students is 2.6, and for those in the English language program the average is 3.2. I feel confident that we would find similar

motivation and achievement among thise Amerasians who would

benefit from the legislation.

Mr. Chairman, let me close by saying that I applaud you for your

fine work with this subcommittee. I am confident that your humanitarian and considered views about immigration policy in general will extend to the consideration of the plight of the Amerasian

children.

I thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Chairman.

Senator SIMPSON. Thank you, Senator Denton. We appreciate

your remarks.

[Correspondence submitted by Senator Denton follows:]
16

IS.; •

Q»fc» oXx BllHW

Gonzaga University/»«««, WASHINGTON msi an ra-ait

December 3, 1981

Dear Senator Denton:

In response to your letter of November 23 with reference to S.1698, I am

enclosing a copy of a letter from Alfred Carroll, S.J., Associate Dean of

the College of Arts and Sciences at Gonzaga University. Father Carroll

has worked closely with the Ameraslan students who are attending Gonzaga.

He has visited Korea and has come to know the Americans who have-been

working with the Ameraslan students in Korea over many years.

His letter speaks for Itself. I have had contact, as President, with all

of the Ameraslan students and have come to know several of them very well.

You would be proud of them. They are a source of pride to the administration of Gonzaga University; they are fine students, excellent people,

and extremely well accepted here on our campus by American students.

They deserve American citizenship, and I hope the United States Senate

will support that policy.

Best wishes.

Ver/Jsincerely,

President

The Honorable Jeremiah Denton

Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

cc: The Honorable Alan K. Simpson
17

Gonzaga University/spOKANE.vwswNGTON9925*•(5091328-4220

College ol Arts and Sciences

Ollice ol the Dean

Father Bernard Coughlin, S.J.

Office of the President

November 20, 1981

Dear Father Coughlin,

This letter is to supply information to answer Senator Denton.

When the first Amerasians arrived at Gonzaga University in January, 1980, I too had some of the questions the Senator raised. There

were fears and hesitations in my mind before I met the students. After

two years of very close association with these young people, it is clear

to me that these young students are not delinquents, but industrious

scholars and outstanding people.

I have daily contact with the sixteen Amerasian students now attending the university. I am aware of their academic progress, and

take an active interest in their lives as a whole. Everyday brings

at least one Amerasian into my office.

As I have watched these students, I believe that the following

factors strongly influence their conduct: a deeply rooted philosophy

of goodness and industry; a strong sense of gratitude and loyalty to

friends and benefactors; a determination to prove themselves as good

Americans; and an openness to express their problems and situations

in order to obtain advice.

None of these students have violated American laws. They not

only exert great caution in this regard, but often inquire about the

morality and legality of future activities.

Although Christianity is not the major religious persuasion in

Korea, it is prominent. There are no efforts at prosletizing or discriminating against non-Christian students by the university, yet most

of the Amerasians are practicing Christians. I wish I could say the same

thing about our nominal Christian Americans.

The Amerasians have a strong commitment to become exemplary and

successful. They do not wish to repeat the mistakes of their American

fathers. These students have manifested better academic industry than

any other foreign group on campus. Their work, both in the classroom

and in positions of employment, has been seriously undertaken.
18

Gonzaga University/SPOKANE.WASHINGTON9925a• iso9)328-4220

Colltf* ol Ant and Sciwnctt

OHict o! Ih, Dotn

Before the students arrived, the Director of the English Language

Program and the Committee on Admissions and Academic Standing were

skeptical about their initial admissions. Their performance, however,

has changed this skepticism to an almost automatic acceptance of

Amerasian applicants. They are.welcomed into the university with high

expectations, and they work accordingly.

The Senator may also wonder about the possibility that Ameraslans

may become dependents on taxpayers. These students do not wish to accept

charity or public assistance. They came, asking for employment.

Because of their student visas, they are allowed to work only on campus.

Just this last week, a manager of our food service told me that they

were the best student workers that he had. 1 cannot eat a meal in our

Jesuit dining room without the cook telling me how hard the Ameraslans

work, how high is the quality of their work, and what excellent persons

they are.

It is difficult to exoress the high quality of character in these

young people without focusing on each individual. As you are aware,

the Jesuits who are experienced educators and are perceptive of young

people have very high regard for the Amerasians. They foster the intelligence and potentials in each person. Therefore, 1 wish to tell you

of Danny Lee's great efforts, Jini Choi's talented art work, and Yong

Cha Yi's friendliness. I cannot tell you enough of the qualities of

each young person.

On the negative side, the Amerasians have difficulty understanding

the flexibility of the American family system. In Korea, not only

does the family revolve around the father, but its authoritarian

structure forces each individual into extreme positions of inferior

or superior positions.

In conclusion, I appreciate the concerns of Senator Denton and

I want to assure him as strongly as possible that our experience with the

Amerasians provides the solid hopes that if thev are allowed citizenshin they will bo exemplary Americans.

I am enclosing a picture of the Amerasians at Gonzaga University.

Yours Sincerely,

%GS2Q*M2Ud)^

J. Alfred Carroll, S.J.

JAC/ss
19

;.'J,\ i,

SR?

CESSSi

1

ftiaii. * k•» '

Gonzaga University/SPOKANE.WASHINGTON 9925s•iso9!328-4220

(,/to/f:

College ol Arts end Sciences

Office Of (he Dean AMERICANS FROM KOREA

REGULAR UNIVERSITY

CUMULATIVE

Credit G P A

*

I. 21 2.7

2. 42 2.4

3. 25 3.1 '

4. 21 2.7

5. 25 2.8

6. 59 2.6

7. 19 2.3

8. 52 3.5

9. 5 2.2

10. 13 2.5

11. 15 2.7

12. 19 2.4

Average: 2.6

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM

13. 3.4

14. 3.8

15. • 3.0

16. 2.6

Average: 3.2
20

Senator SIMPSON. NOW, my good colleague from Detroit, who

came to this place when I did, Senator Carl Levin.

STATEMENT OF HON. CARL LEVIN, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE

STATE OF MICHIGAN

Senator LEVIN. Thank you. Mr. Chairman and Senator Kennedy,

first of all I want to thank you and commend you for holding these

hearings as reflective of your own decency and humanity shown in

all things you touch around the Senate.

I am grateful for the opportunity to testify because the legislation about which we speak today is vital and humane.

Before I begin my brief remarks I would like to thank our colleague from the House, Congressman Steward McKinney, for the

generous assistance and support that he and his staff have given us

on this issue. Congressman McKinney has long been the champion

in this effort. I would also like to add my commendation and

thanks to the kind and courageous Father Alfred Keane for his efforts on behalf of the Amerasian children and John Shade of the

Buck Foundation for his extraordinary and gifted work.

I will not review the provisions of the bill, because Senator

Denton has already outlined them ably for the committee. I would,

however, like simply to share with the committee the remarks

made by a couple from my own State of Michigan, Kris and Annie

Lee of Grand Rapids, the adoptive parents of several Amerasian

children.

I quote from their letter:

We are the parents of six children (five adopted). Two of these children are from a

home of mixed race children in Korea. They are the children of a Korean woman

and an American serviceman. We are concerned about the many other half-American children who live in Korea.

The children of Americans in certain Asian countries are not wanted by their

birth countries. They are shunned and excluded from full participation in education,

marriage and employment opportunities. Because of this rejection an Amerasian

person comes to feel that he is a freak of nature, the punishment for his parent's

disregard of social norms. He learns that he has no right to expect the basic things

in life that other purer Asians take for granted. Cruel as this is, we cannot be too

quick to blame his mother's world for their insensitivity to the Amerasians without

also looking at ourselves and our own responsibility to our children born in other

countries.

American is in a better position to accept children of mixed parentage than are

the homogenous societies in Asia. In America there are many minority groups

where individuals can derive a sense of identity. Culturally, financially and practically we have the ability to help the Amerasian children and young people.

There are many tragic situations in the world that we can do little about. But in

this situation we can do something and we should feel especially compelled since

this involves our own children. How can we as a country speak about human rights

if we turn our backs on the rights of the American-Asian child? We do not believe

that America will continue to ignore these children and young people.

Mr. Chairman, the United States is partly liable for the current

conditions of Amerasian individuals. This country should meet its

responsibility by providing the opportunity for a better future for

these children of U.S. citizens.

In closing, I would like to quote briefly from an article entitled

"The Warrior's Children," written by David Devoss in the November issue of GEO. He wrote about the approximately 8,000 homeless Amerasians in Siagon that were left there.
21

When the last U.S. helicopter rose fron Tan Son Nhut Airport five years ago, an

estimated 8,000 of them were left behind. Adorned with cowlicks and spattered with

freckles, many resemble midwesterm members of Future Farmers of America. Only

their tattered pajamas and the pox they have acquired from sleeping in fetid back

alleys brand them as "bui doi"•"dust of life." The rumpled, bureaucratic men who

control South Vietnam today insist that Ameriasians are not their responsibility.

For them, the children and their mothers are "American" and thus ineligible to

attend public schools, hold a job, or receive a government ration card.

Mr. Chairman, in the words of Jean Mitchell of Grand Rapids,

Mich., adoptive mother of two Amerasian girls, "America owes

these children a chance to become good citizens in the country of

their fathers."

Mr. Chairman, time is of the essence. Condemned children are

waiting and hoping for the opportunity to come to a land that will

accept them as our children.

Again, I want to thank the chairman and Senator Kennedy and

other members of the subcommittee for the real concern they are

showing on this matter.

Senator SIMPSON. Thank you, Senator Levin. It is also typical of

your efforts in things that have to do with issues like the plight of

Armenians or these persons we address today, and it is certainly

consistent for you.

[The prepared statement of Senator Levin follows:]

99-291 0-82
22

PREPARED STATEMENT OF SENATOR CARL LEVIN

MR, CHAIRMAN, 1 WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU AND THE MEMBERS

OF THIS SUBCOMMITTEE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON S. 1698,

WHICH I HAVE JOINTLY INTRODUCED WITH MY COLLEAGUE FROM ALABAMA,

SENATOR JEREMIAH DENTON. I AM PARTICULARLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS

OPPORTUNITY MR, CHAIRMAN BECAUSE THE LEGISLATION ABOUT WHICH

WE SPEAK IS BOTH VITAL AND HUMANE.

MR. CHAIRMAN I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO COMMEND

AND THANK MY COLLEAGUE FROM THE HOUSE CONGRESSMAN STEWART MCKLNNEY

FOR THE GENEROUS ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT HE AND HIS STAFF HAVE

AFFORDED ME AND MY STAFF ON THIS ISSUE. CONGRESSMAN MCKLNNEY

HAS LONG BEEN THE CHAMPION IN THIS EFFORT.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO COMMEND THE KIND AND COURAGEOUS

FATHER ALFRED KEANE FOR HIS EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF AMERASIAN

CHILDREN, AND FINALLY MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO

JOHN SHADE OF THE PEARL S, BUCK FOUNDATION, PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR

EXTRAORDINARY AND GIFTED WORK.

THE PROPOSAL BEFORE US SEEKS TO CORRECT A FLAW IN THE

CURRENT IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT WHICH DENIES THE

CHILDREN OF U.S. CITIZENS THEIR LEGITIMATE CLAIM TO PROPER

IMMIGRATION STATUS, S, 1&98 SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF

THOSE INDIVIDUALS, OFTEN REFERRED TO AS AMERASIANS, WHO HAVE

BEEN ABANDONED BY THEIR U.S. SERVICEMEN-FATHERS IN KOREA,

VIETNAM, LAOS AND THAILAND.

UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS BILL, AS OFFSPRING OF U.S.

CITIZENS, AN AMERASIAN WOULD BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR IMMIGRATION

TO THE UNITED STATES UNDER THE FIRST PREFERENCE (UNMARRIED SONS

AND DAUGHTERS OF U.S. CITIZENS) AND FOURTH PREFERENCE (MARRIED

SONS AND DAUGHTERS) CATEGORIES OF THE IMMIGRATION ACT.

CURRENTLY AN AMERASIAN CAN ONLY APPLY FOR A PERMANENT

RESIDENT VISA UNDER THE SIXTH PREFERENCE (SKILLED AND UNSKILLED

WORKERS IN SHORT SUPPLY) AND THE NONPREFERENCE CATEGORY WHICH

GUARANTEES A 5 TO 10 YEAR WAIT BEFORE RECEIVING A VISA.
23

THE LEGISLATION REQUIRES THE APPLICANT TO HAVE A U.S.

SPONSOR. THIS SPONSOR WOULD BE LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR

SUPPORTING THE APPLICANT FOR A PERIOD OF 5 YEARS BEGINNING ON

THE DATE OF THE ALIEN'S ADMISSION FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE,

THE IMMIGRATING AMERASIAN MUST ALSO COMPLY WITH ALL OTHER

REQUIREMENTS OF THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT IN ORDER

TO QUALIFY FOR ADMITTANCE TO THE UNITED STATES.

MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS LEGISLATION RESPONSIBLY ADDRESSES THE

NEEDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERASIANS AND THE OBLIGATION INCUMBENT

UPON US AS A NATION TO BE SENSITIVE TO THOSE NEEDS. THE

AMERASIAN WOULD COME AT NO EXPENSE TO THE TAXPAYER. HE OR SHE

WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE PRESENT QUOTA OF IMMIGRANTS FROM

THEIR COUNTRIES AND WOULD NOT INCREASE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF

PERSONS COMING TO THIS COUNTRY. THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO

MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF HEALTH AND CHARACTER EXPECTED

FROM OTHER IMMIGRANTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH ALL OF YOU THE REMARKS OF

A COUPLE FROM MY OWN STATE OF MICHIGAN, KRIS AND ARNIE LEE OF

GRAND RAPIDS, THE ADOPTIVE PARENTS OF SEVERAL AMERASIAN CHILDREN.

AND I QUOTE:

WE ARE THE PARENTS OF SIX CHILDREN (FIVE ADOPTED),

TO OF THESE CHILDREN ARE FROM A HOME OF MIXED RACE

CHILDREN IN KOREA. THEY ARE THE CHILDREN OF A

KOREAN WOMAN AND AN AMERICAN SEVVICE MAN, WE ARE

CONCERNED ABOUT THE MANY OTHER HALF AMERICAN CHILDREN

WHO LIVE IN KOREA.

THEY WENT ON TO SAY:

THE CHILDREN OF AMERICANS IN CERTAIN ASIAN COUNTRIES

ARE NOT WANTED BY THEIR BIRTH COUNTRIES. THEY ARE

SHUNNED AND EXCLUDED FROM FULL PARTICIPATION IN

EDUCATION, MARRIAGE AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

BECAUSE OF THIS REJECTION AN AMERASIAN PERSON COMES TO

FEEL THAT HE IS A FREAK OF NATURE, THE PUNISHMENT FOR
24

HIS PARENT'S DISREGARD OF.SOCIAL-NORMS. HE LEARNS THAT

HE HAS NO RIGHT TO EXPECT THE BASIC THINGS IN LIFE

THAT OTHER PURER ASIANS TAKE FOR GRANTED. CRUEL AS THIS

IS, WE CANNOT BE TOO QUICK TO BLAME HIS MOTHER'S WORLD

FOR THEIR INSENSITIVITY TO THE AMERASIANS WITHOUT ALSO

LOOKING AT OURSELVES AND OUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR

CHILDREN BORN IN OTHER COUNTRIES,

AMERICA IS IN A BETTER POSITION TO ACCEPT

CHILDREN OF MIXED PARENTAGE THAN ARE THE HOMOGENEOUS

SOCIETIES IN ASIA. IN AMERICA THERE ARE MANY MINORITY

GROUPS WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN DERIVE A SENSE OF IDENTITY.

CULTURALLY, FINANCIALLY AND PRACTICALLY WE HAVE THE

ABILITY TO HELP THE AMERASIAN CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE.

THEY WENT ON TO SAY:

THERE ARE MANY TRAGIC SITUATIONS IN THE WORLD THAT WE CAN

DO LITTLE ABOUT. BUT IN THIS SITUATION WE CAN DO SOMETHING

AND WE SHOULD FEEL ESPECIALLY COMPELLED SINCE THIS INVOLVES

OUR OWN CHILDREN. HOW CAN WE AS A COUNTRY SPEAK ABOUT HUMAN

RIGHTS IF WE TURN OUR BACKS ON THE RIGHTS OF THE AMERICANASIAN CHILD? WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT AMERICA WILL CONTINUE

TO IGNORE THESE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE.

Vk. CHAIRMAN, THE UNITED STATES IS PARTLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE CURRENT

CONDITIONS OF AMERASIAN INDIVIDUALS. THIS COUNTRY SHOULD MEET ITS RESPONSIBILITY

BY PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A BETTER FUTURE FOR THESE CHILDREN OF U.S.

CITIZENS.

ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE ENTITLED "THE WARRIOR'S CHILDREN," WRITTEN

BY DAVID DEVOSS IN THE NOVEMBER 1980 ISSUE OF GEO:

THIRTY YEARS OF U.S. MILITARY INVOLVEMENT IN KOREA HAVE PRODUCED

AS MANY AS 6,000 AMERASIANS. ONLY 4,500 OF AN ESTIMATED 8,000

AMERASIANS HAVE BEEN LOCATED IN THAILAND. THERE ARE MORE THAN
25

5,000 "VIETNAM ERA" AMERASIANS IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND THE

NUMBER OF UNWANTED HALF-AMERICANS IN VIETNAM ITSELF, WHICH

HOSTED BETTER THAN 2.1 MILLION U.S. SOLDIERS BETWEEN 1965 AND

1973, COULD CONCEIVABLY TOTAL 25,000. ONLY THE HOMELESS

AMERASIANS IN SAIGON WERE EVER COUNTED AND WHEN THE LAST U.S.

HELICOPTER ROSE FROM TAN SON NHUT AlRPORT FIVE YEARS AGO, AN

ESTIMATED 8,000 OF THEM WERE LEFT BEHIND. ADORNED WITH COWLICKS

AND SPATTERED WITH FRECKLES, MANY RESEMBLE MIDWESTERN MEMBERS OF

FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA. ONLY THEIR TATTERED PAJAMAS AND THE

POX THEY HAVE ACQUIRED FROM SLEEPING IN FETID BACK ALLEYS BRAND

THEM AS BUI DOI - "DUST OF LIFE." THE RUMPLED, BUREAUCRATIC

MEN WHO CONTROL SOUTH VIETNAM TODAY INSIST THAT AMERIASIANS ARE

NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. FOR THEM,THE CHILDREN AND THEIR

MOTHERS ARE "AMERICAN" AND THUS INELIGIBLE TO ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS,

HOLD A JOB OR RECEIVE A GOVERNMENT RATION CARD. "OUR SOCIETY DOES

NOT NEED THESE BAD ELEMENTS," SAYS Vo VoNH THUAN, A FORMER VlET

CONG WHO ADMINISTERS SAIGON'S DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE.

MR. CHAIRMAN, IN THE WORDS OF JEAN C. MITCHELL OF GRAND RAPIDS,

MICHIGAN, ADOPTIVE MOTHER OF TWO AMERASIAN GIRLS, "AMERICA OWES THESE

CHILDREN A CHANCE TO BECOME GOOD CITIZENS IN THE COUNTRY OF THEIR FATHERS."

MR. CHAIRMAN, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. CONDEMNED CHILDREN ARE

WAITING AND HOPING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO A LAND THAT WILL ACCEPT

THEM AS OUR CHILDREN.
26

Senator SIMPSON. NOW, Congressman McKinney, please, who

indeed has had a long-term interest in this area. I believe your efforts began many years ago, and certainly we look forward to

having your testimony, Congressman McKinney.

STATEMENT OF HON. STEWART B. McKINNEY, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT

Mr. MCKINNEY. Mr. Chairman, there is simply no way I can

thank you enough for bringing this issue to the Senate Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Policy. As you stated, this is an

issue that I have been with for quite a while, and one that disturbs

me more than just a little.

I am delighted you are having hearings on Senator Jerimiah

Denton's bill, S. 1698, which is the companion to my H.R. 808.

While there are minor differences between them, both bills recognize the legitimate and long-ignored immigration claims of a group

of children abandoned in Korea and throughout Southeast Asia.

At the same time, these bills would not increase the number of

immigrants admitted to this country each year, but would only see

that these children receive the same treatment as all other offspring of U.S. citizens. I trust and I would like to urge that after

this hearing today, the subcommittee will work quickly to move

this Amerasian legislation to the full Judiciary Committee and on

to the Senate floor. I first introduced this bill in 1979 during the

96th Congress, yet the day is fast approaching in this, the 97th

Congress, when it will once again be too late to make the Amerasian Immigration Act law.

Senator Denton's bill, the McKinney version and a recent proposal by the administration would grant the proper visa preference

category to the sons and daughters of U.S. citizens who have been

abandoned in Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos (in H.R. 808),

the Philippines and Taiwan (added in S. 1698), and Kampuchea or

Cambodia (in the administration bill). Under current immigration

law, these children, known as Amerasians, have difficulty in proving paternity and thus fall into the last preference categories for

obtaining a U.S. immigration visa. This translates into a 5- to 10-

year wait for obtaining a visa to get into this country.

All three proposals would facilitate Amerasians obtaining a visa

with three basic provisions. First, as offspring of a U.S. citizen, an

Amerasian or someone on his or her behalf could apply for immigration to the United States under the first and fourth preference

categories of the Immigration Act.

Second, the Department of State, in cooperation with the host

governments and private voluntary agencies in the Amerasian's

home country, must make greater efforts to substantiate U.S. paternity. Every possible form of evidence should be used on a caseby-case basis. This material could include, but not be limited to,

photographs, letters, proof of past financial support from a U.S.

father, and local testimony.

Let me point out, however, because there has been some confusion, that the effort will not be to identify the actual father. The

effort will be to establish only that the young person is the offspring of a U.S. citizen.
27

Third, once U.S. paternity has been determined, a U.S. sponsor

must be secured for the Amerasian. The sponsor will be legally responsible for 5 years for the Amerasian's financial security in an

amount equal to 125 percent of the U. S. Census Bureau's poverty

threshold. The sponsor provision in this bill is stricter than that required of any other immigrants, but was included to answer fears

that these children will be merely dumped on our streets, rather

than those of Korea or Vietnam.

It is well past the time for the United States to recognize these

young people for whom they are•our children•and give them the

opportunity for lives where they are not condemned to live as outcasts or, as Senator Levin said, "dust of life." I believe the approach we are proposing is both reasonable and realistic and, I

must say, Mr. Chairman, an Amerasian's situation is severe.

The House Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and International Law, as you know, has taken a somewhat different approach

to the problem. While the Senate Immigration Reform and Control

Act of 1982 does not contain a provision dealing with Amerasians,

Chairman Mazzoli has included a limited version of H.R. 808/S.

1698 in the House omnibus bill. Unfortunately, I find this more

limited approach difficult to accept. The House provision provides

only for the immigration of Amerasians who are under the age of

21 and unmarried. Those Amerasians who are 16 years old or

under would have to be adopted by a U.S. citizen and those over

the age of 16 could be sponsored by a U.S. citizen under a legally

binding sponsorship.

I seriously question the effectiveness of this approach since many

adoption agencies have stated how extremely difficult it is to place

an older child. I think we also have to recognize the fact that families who are willing to sponsor a 16-year-old have already set their

trusts, their wills, their educational plans for their children, and

probably will not willingly take on an adopted child at that age.

In limiting immigration to the United States to those Amerasians under the age of 21, the provision does not confront the real

problem of those older Amerasians who experience the most serious discrimination. We have seven Amerasians sitting here in this

hearing room right now who can personally attest to this situation.

They are all over 21, students at Gonzaga University in the State

of Washington, and all will have to go back to Korea against their

wills when they graduate if Congress does not act now.

Another problem with the House proposal is that it provides only

for a 3-year period in which Amerasians can apply for a visa and

then abolishes the entire program after 10 years. This fails to recognize that U.S. soldiers are still stationed in Korea, the Philippines and Japan, and they are still fathering babies and, Mr.

Chairman, they are there at the order of the President and the

Congress of the United States. Therefore, I think they are our responsibility.

It also would simply set up a special immigration category for

Amerasians, rather than admit these are our children and establish for them the same rights enjoyed by all other children of U.S.

citizens.

Since the House Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and

International Law first held hearings on H.R. 808 last November,
28

we have made definite progress toward correcting this sad situation. We are, indeed, fortunate to now have the administration in

support of changing U.S. policy toward Amerasians. They have in

recent weeks strongly endorsed our effort and given invaluable aid

in bringing the measure this far.

Mr. Chairman, I have to add as an aside that I have a difficult

time after all these years even using the word "immigration" in

the same sentence with these children. In essence, these are not

immigrants. These are American children. Mr. Chairman, if I could

borrow a quote from Father Keane, who first interested me in the

plight of these children nearly 4 years ago, "Think how long a year

is in the life of a child."

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Senator SIMPSON. Thank you very much, Congressman McKinney, and thank you again, Senator Levin and thank you particularly, Senator Denton, as principal sponsor in the Senate. You have a

firsthand and long-term observance of this very real humanitarian

issue, and I appreciate your cooperation, patience, and assistance

in this hearing today so that we can move the remaining portion of

the legislation in the Judiciary Committee.

Thank you very much.

Senator SIMPSON. We will now proceed with the administration

panel, which consists of Ambassador Diego Asencio, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, Department of State, and Commissioner Alan Nelson, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Department of Justice.

STATEMENTS OF A PANEL CONSISTING OF AMBASSADOR DIEGO

ASENCIO, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR CONSULAR AFFAIRS,

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, AND COMMISSIONER ALAN NELSON,

IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT

OF JUSTICE

Ambassador ASENCIO. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Senator SIMPSON. If you would, proceed in the order as listed in

the agenda, please.

Ambassador ASENCIO. Certainly, Mr. Chairman.

With your permission, I will give you the highlights of my prepared statement, and then go directly to the questions.

Ambassador ASENCIO. Thank you for this opportunity to appear

before the committee to present the Department of State's views

concerning various legislative proposals concerning various legislative proposals regarding Amerasian children. S. 1698, "A bill to

amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide preferential treatment in the admission of certain children of United States

Armed Forces personnel," and proposed amendment (No. 1306) to

S. 1698.

My involvement in this particular legislation is of more recent

vintage than some of the preceding speakers. It came essentially

last November when I appeared before the House Immigration

Subcommittee during which there were some sharp exchanges concerning the legislation being considered at that time. I was challenged to the effect that if the administration did not agree with
29

the terms of the proposals being considered at that time, we should

come up with something we could consider workable.

On that basis, I charged my deputy, Mr. Louis P. Goelz•Deputy

Assistant Secretary for Visa Services•a man of vast experience in

this field, to study this problem, and come up with a solution, I

would also like to acknowledge the participation of Mr. Roy A.

Mackay and Mr. Cornelias D. Scully of the Visa Office, and I am

also prepared to acknowledge as participants in this process a little

guidance from Father Keane in this area, too, spiritual guidance.

The Department's main concern with S. 1698 relates to the requirement that the putative father have been a member of the U.S.

Armed Forces at the time of conception. It is the Department's understanding that substantial numbers of these children, particularly in Vietnam, were fathered by civilian U.S. citizens. The Armed

Forces membership requirement should be dropped as too exclusive, and as an unnecessary complication which would result in an

administrative nightmare in determining that status.

I would also like to lay out some of the principal lines that we

think legislation of this sort should contain, and a number of these

have been worked out, of course, in discussions with members of

your staff. The beneficiary class should include aliens born since

the beginning of the Korean war, and the beneficiary alien should

be classified either as an immediate relative, a first family unification preference immigrant, or a third family reunification preference immigrant, depending upon age and marital status, on the

basis of a petition filed by, or on behalf of, the beneficiary.

There should be a requirement for binding financial sponsorship

of each beneficiary alien (and spouse and children, if applicable) for

a specified time period, such as is included in S. 1698.

The standard for identification of the putative father should be

that there is reason to believe that the beneficiary's father was a

U.S. citizen, but without reference to whether or not the putative

father may have been a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the

countries concerned should be Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Kampuchea,

and Thailand.

The Department suggests that section 204 of the Immigration

and Nationality Act be amended to provide a new subsection (G)

which would provide for the filing of a petition by any such alien,

or any person on his behalf, with the Attorney General for classification as an immediate relative, or as the married or unmarried

son or daughter of a U.S. citizen, as appropriate.

After the investigation, including consultation with appropriate

governmental officials, officials of private voluntary organizations

in the country of the alien's birth, the physical appearance of the

alien, and any evidence the alien provides, including but not limited to birth and baptismal certificates, local civil records, photographs of and letters of support from the putative father and relevant probative testimony of witnesses. The Attorney General may

approve the petition and forward a copy thereof to the Secretary of

State.

We also have a number of technical points and suggestions that

are made in my formal opening statement, Mr. Chairman, and I

would be delighted to answer any questions.

99-291 0-82-5
30

Senator SIMPSON. Thank you very much, Diego. You are always

very precise and helpful to the subcommittee in your remarks.

[The prepared statement of Diego Asencio and letter to Senator

Thurmond from the State Department follow:]
31

PREPARED STATEMENT OF HON. DIEGO C. ASENCIO

MR. CHAIRMAN:

THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COMMITTEE TO PRESENT THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S VIEWS CONCERNING

VARIOUS LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS REGARDING AMERASIAN CHILDREN: S.

1698, "A BILL TO AMEND THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT TO

PROVIDE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT IN THE ADMISSION OF CERTAIN

CHILDREN OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL" AND PROPOSED

AMENDMENT (NO. 1306) TO S. 1698.

S. 1698 WOULD AMEND THE INA TO PROVIDE FOR PREFERENTIAL

TREATMENT IN THE ADMISSION OF CERTAIN CHILDREN OF U.S. ARMED

FORCES PERSONNEL. IF ENACTED. THE BILL WOULD ADD A NEW SECTION

210 TO THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT. PROPOSED NEW SECTION 210(A) WOULD CONFER PREFERENCE STATUS FOR IMMIGRATION ON

ALIENS APPLYING FOR THE STATUS TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, IF THE

APPROPRIATE CONSULAR OFFICER SHOULD DETERMINE THAT THE ALIEN

WAS BORN IN CERTAIN ASIAN COUNTRIES AFTER 1950 AND WAS FATHERED

BY A UNITED STATES CITIZEN WHO. AT THE TIME OF THE ALIEN'S CONCEPTION. WAS SERVING ON ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE UNITED STATES

ARMED FORCES OR WITH THE UNITED NATIONS. A GUARANTEE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR ANY ALIEN ACCORDED PREFERENCE BENEFITS UNDER THE NEW SECTION.

THE DEPARTMENT BELIEVES THAT MOST OF THE DOCUMENTS WHICH

THE CONSULAR OFFICER WOULD NEED TO CONSIDER WHEN MAKING THE

DETERMINATIONS REOUIRED BY PROPOSED NEW SECTION 210(B) WOULD BE

FOREIGN DOCUMENTS, MANY OF WHICH WOULD BE OF QUESTIONABLE RELIABILITY, HOWEVER, WE DEFER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ON

THIS POINT.
32

THE DEPARTMENT'S MAIN CONCERN WITH S. 1698 RELATES TO THE

REQUIREMENT THAT THE PUTATIVE FATHER HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE

UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES AT THE TIME OF CONCEPTION. IT IS

THE DEPARTMENT'S UNDERSTANDING THAT SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS OF

THESE CHILDREN (PARTICULARLY IN VIETNAM) WERE FATHERED BY CIVILIAN UNITED STATES CITIZENS. THE ARMED FORCES MEMBERSHIP

REOUIREMENT SHOULD BE DROPPED AS TOO EXCLUSIVE AND AS AN UNNECESSARY COMPLICATION WHICH WOULD RESULT IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE

NIGHTMARE IN DETERMINING THAT STATUS.

SUBJECT TO SOME TECHNICAL CHANGES, WHICH HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE IN DRAFT LEGISLATION FORM, THE DEPARTMENT IS IN FAVOR OF THE MORE EFFECTIVE PROVISIONS OF AMENDMENT 1306.

AS YOU ARE AWARE. THE DEPARTMENT HAS CONTINUED TO STUDY

THE VEXING OUESTION OF THE PLI6HT OF "AMERASIAN CHILDREN". AS

STATED IN THE DEPARTMENT'S LETTER OF MAY 6 CONCERNING S.2222.

THE DEPARTMENT NOW BELIEVES THAT ANY LEGISLATION TO BENEFIT

AMERASIAN CHILDREN SHOULD BE FORMED ALONG THE F0LL0WIN6 LINES:

(1) THE BENEFICIARY CLASS SHOULD INCLUDE ALIENS BORN SINCE

THE BEGINNING OF THE KOREAN WAR. AND A BENEFICIARY ALIEN

SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED EITHER AS AN "IMMEDIATE RELATIVE". A

FIRST "FAMILY REUNIFICATION" PREFERENCE IMMIGRANT OR A

THIRD "FAMILY REUNIFICATION" PREFERENCE IMMIGRANT.

DEPENDING UPON AGE AND MARITAL STATUS. ON THE BASIS OF A

PETITION FILED BY, OR ON BEHALF OF. THE BENEFICIARYl

(2) THERE SHOULD BE A REOUIREMENT FOR BINDING FINANCIAL

SPONSORSHIP OF EACH BENEFICIARY ALIEN (AND SPOUSE AND CHILDREN, IF APPLICABLE) FOR A SPECIFIED TIME PERIOD, S.UCH AS

IS INCLUDEO IN S. 1698i AND
33

(3) THE STANDARD FOR IDENTIFICATION OF THE PUTATIVE FATHER

SHOULD BE THAT THERE IS REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE BENEFICIARY'S FATHER WAS A UNITED STATES CITIZEN, BUT WITHOUT

REFERENCE TO WHETHER OR NOT THE PUTATIVE FATHER MAY HAVE

BEEN A MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCESI AND

(4) THE COUNTRIES CONCERNED SHOULD BE KOREA, VIETNAM,

LAOS. KAMPUCHEA, AND THAILAND.

MORE SPECIFICALLY THE DEPARTMENT SUGGESTS THAT SECTION 204

OF THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT BE AMENDED TO PROVIDE A

NEW SUBSECTION (G) WHICH WOULD PROVIDE FOR THE FILING OF A

PETITION BY ANY SUCK ALIEN (OR ANY PERSON ON HIS BEHALF) WITH

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR CLASSIFICATION AS AN IMMEDIATE

RELATIVE, OR AS THE MARRIED OR UNMARRIED SON OR DAUGHTER OF A

UNITED STATES CITIZEN, AS APPROPRIATE.

AFTER AN INVESTIGATION, INCLUDING CONSULTATION WITH APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS, OFFICIALS OF PRIVATE VOLUNTARY

ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COUNTRY OF THE ALIEN'S BIRTHI THE PHYSICAL

APPEARANCE OF THE ALIENI AND ANY EVIDENCE THE ALIEN PROVIDES

(INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO. BIRTH AND BAPTISMAL CERTIFICATES,

LOCAL CIVIL RECORDS, PHOTOGRAPHS OF, AND LETTERS OF SUPPORT

FROM, THE PUTATIVE FATHER AND RELEVANT, PROBATIVE TESTIMONY OF

WITNESSES). THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY APPROVE THE PETITION AND

FORWARD A COPY THEREOF TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

THIS NEW SUBSECTION (G) ALSO SHOULD CONTAIN A PARAGRAPH

REQUIRING AN ALIEN ENTITLED TO A PREFERENCE STATUS THEREUNDER

TO SUBMIT A GUARANTEE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT EMBODYING THE TERMS

SET FORTH IN SUBSECTION (C) OF AMENDMENT NO. 1306 TO S. 1698.

ANY BILL SHOULD EMBODY THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION (D)

THEREOF. AS WELL.
34

A TECHNICAL POINT IN THE LAST PARAGRAPH OF SUBSECTION (C)

OF AMENDMENT NO. 1306 THE REFERENCE TO THE SECTIONS OF THE OMNIBUS BUDGET RECONCILIATION ACT OF 1981 REGARDING THE POVERTY

LINE SHOULD REFER TO SECTION 673 THEREOF AS WELL AS SECTION 652.

WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE TECHNICAL SUGESTION MADE ABOVE

THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE CAN WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT "AMERASIAN

CHILDREN" LEGISLATION OF THIS NATURE.

I WOULD BE MOST HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE COMMITTEE MAY HAVE.
35

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Wajhlngton. DC. 20530 m

m\*^ 0*'*

Dear Mr. chairman:

The Secretary has asked me to reply to your letters of

October 31, 1981 and March 31, 1982, enclosing for the Department's study and report a copy of S. 1698, "A bill to amend the

Immigration and Nationality Act to provide preferential treatment

in the admission of certain children of United States Armed Forces

personnel." Your letter of March 31, 1982 enclosed also a proposed amendment (No. 1306) to S. 1698 and invited comment on either

bill or amendment, or both.

As you are aware, the Department has continued to study the

question of the plight of "Amerasian children", in part, because

S.2222, the "Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1982" which

your Committee has just reported, originally contained a provision

dealing with this issue. As stated in my letter of May 6 concerning S.2222, the Department now believes that any legislation to

benefit Amerasian children should be formed along the following

lines

(1) the beneficiary class should include aliens born since

the beginning of the Korean War, and a beneficiary alien

should be classified either as an "immediate relative", a

first "family reunification" preference immigrant or a third

•family reunification* preference immigrant, depending upon

age and marital status, on the basis of a petition filed by,

or on behalf of, the beneficiary;

(2) there should be a requirement for binding financial sponsorship of each beneficiary alien (and spouse and children, if

applicable) for a specified time period, iSuch as is included

in S. 1698; and

(3) the standard for identification of the putative father

should be that there is reason to believe that the beneficiary's father was a United States citizen, but without reference to whether or not the putative father may have been a

member of the United States Armed Forces; and

(4) the countries concerned should be Korea, Vietnam, Laos,

Kampuchea, and Thailand.

The Honorable

Strom Thurmond,

Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary,

United States Senate.
More specifically the Department suggests that Section 204

of the immigration and Nationality Act be amended to provide a

new subsection (g) which would provide for the filing of a

petition by any such alien (or any person on his behalf) with

the Attorney General for classification under Section 201(b),

203(a)(1) or 203(a)(4) of the Act, as appropriate.

After an investigation, including consultation with appropriate governmental officials, officials of private voluntary

organizations in the country of the alien's birth; the physical

appearance of the alien; and any evidence the alien provides

(including but not limited to, birth and baptismal certificates, local civil records, photographs of, and letters of

support from, the putative father and relevant, probative testimony of witnesses), the Attorney General may approve the

petition and forward a copy thereof to the Secretary of state.

This new subsection (g) also should contain a paragraph

requiring an alien entitled to a preference status thereunder

shall submit a guarantee of financial support embodying the

terms set forth in subsection (c) of Amendment No. 1306 to S.

1698. Any bill should embody the provisions of subsection (d)

thereof, as well.

A technical point in the last paragraph of subsection (c)

of Amendment No. 1306 the reference to the sections of the

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 regarding the poverty

line should refer to section 673 thereof as well as section 652.

The Office of Management and Budget has advised that from

the standpoint of the Administrations program there is no

objection to the submission of this report.

With cordial regards.

Moore,

Assistant Secretary for

Congressional Relations
37

Senator SIMPSON. NOW, please, Alan Nelson. We would appreciate having your remarks on the legislation.

STATEMENT OF ALAN NELSON

Commissioner NELSON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is good to

be back with you again.

I think Ambassador Asencio has well covered the essential recommendations that the State Department makes, and I might start

off by saying that the Immigration Service fully concurs with those

suggestions. Ambassador Asencio and the other people testifying

have gone through the provisions of the bill and the amendments. I

will not do that, and I will be very brief in stating that the Immigration Service supports the intent of S. 1698 to provide preferential treatment in this case.

Remedial legislation of this type should be enacted for humanitarian reasons as a number of the witnesses have testified. Furthermore, the Immigration Service agrees on all points with the

testimony of the Department of State regarding the bill and the

amendment. We fully support the bill with the suggested changes

that Ambassador Asencio set forth.

There was one point made in the State Department's testimony

that might raise some question, and that is the question of fraud.

Of course, as we all know, that is a potential problem in all matters, and particularly in the immigration field, but we do not believe that the administrative problems or the possibility of fraud in

the Amerasian situation are of any significance and certainly they

are far outweighed by this country's obligation to the Amerasian

children.

Moreover, we believe there are a number of procedures that can

be adopted to minimize that problem, so we do not think that

should in any way be an impediment to the passage of the appropriate legislation.

Again, Mr. Chairman, we are in support of this concept and the

changes mentioned by the State Department.

Thank you.

[The prepared statement of Commissioner Nelson follows:]
PREPARED STATEMENT OF HON. ALAN C, NELSON

I am pleased to have the opportunity to appear before you

today to testify on S. 1698, a bill to amend the Immigration and

Nationality Act to provide preferential treatment in the admission

of certain children of United States Armed Forces personnel, and

proposed amendment No. 1306 to S. 1698.

The bill would add a new section 210 to the Immigration and

Nationality Act which would confer preference status as the married

or unmarried son or daughter of a United States citizen on certain

aliens. In order for an alien to benefit from this provision, an

application would have to be made to the Attorney General; a consular officer would have to determine that the alien was born in

Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Japan, the Philippines, or Taiwan

after 1950 and that the alien was fathered by a United States

citizen serving on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United

States at the time of the alien's conception; and the alien would

have to provide the Attorney General with a guarantee of financial

support.

Amendment No. 1306 limits the class of aliens affected to

those born in Korea after 1950, eliminates the requirement that the

United States citizen father be on active duty in the United States

Armed Forces at the time of the alien's conception, and adds the

requirement that the alien's admission be in the public interest.

The amendment also adds the requirement that the consular officer,

in reviewing an application submitted under the provisions of this

bill, consider the alien's physical appearance in addition to other

factors included in S. 1698.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (Service) supports

the intent of S. 1698 to provide preferential treatment in the

admission of certain Amerasian children. Remedial legislation of

this type should most certainly be enacted for humanitarian reasons.

Furthermore, the Service agrees, on all points, with the testimony

of the Department of State regarding this bill and the amendment

to it.
39

With respect to the State Department's reservations concerning

the questionable reliability of many of the foreign documents which

would be submitted to consular officers making determinations

required by the proposed legislation, 1 must say that any administrative problems caused by the possibility of fraud are far outweighed by this country's moral obligation to Amerasian children.

Furthermore, the possibility of fraud exists in many of the applications and petitions adjudicated by the Service. 1 believe that

much potential fraud might be controlled by procedures implemented

through the regulatory process. For example, the Service could

selectively investigate the alien's claim to eligibility after

approval of a petition filed with the Attorney General. A comparable procedure now exists in the processing of orphan petitions by

the Service.

Moreover, it should be pointed out that the enactment of the

proposed legislation would be part of a trend of according immigration benefits based upon a relationship between children born out

of wedlock and their natural fathers. This type of relationship is

presently recognized in Service precedent decisions for purposes of

according immigration benefits if the child is born and resides in

a country which eliminates all legal distinctions between "legitimate" and "illegitimate" children and if paternity has been acknowledged before the civil authorities.

I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
40

U.S. Department of Justice

Immigration and Naturalization Service

Office of the Commissioner WaMngton. DC. 20536 CO 703.1192

2 4 JUN 1982

Honorable Alan K. Simpson

Chairman, Subcommittee on

Immigration and Refugee Policy

Committee on the Judiciary

United States Senate

Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Mr. Chairman:

Please find enclosed the Department's answers to questions posed by

Senator Thurmond during your Subcommittee's hearing on June 21, 1982

regarding S. 1698. As requested the responses are submitted for

inclusion in the permanent record.

Sincerely,

d^<f-?u*<»~-

Alan C. Nelson

Commissioner

Enclosure

CC: HONORABLE STROM THURMOND, CHAIRMAN, Committee on the Judiciary
41

1. Commissioner Nelson, if this legislation is enacted, how many

individuals do you believe will be affected by its provisions?

During the hearings on this subject Ambassador Asencio testified that

25,000 to 50,000 individuals could be affected. We accept the Department of State's estimate in that regard. The Department of Justice

would, however, point out that aliens eligible for benefits under

S.1698 would be chargeable to the numerical limitations for the unmarried or married sons and daughters of United States citizens.

Under the State Department's recommended modification, which we

support, aliens eligible for benefits would either be exempt from

the numerical limitations as immediate relatives of United States

citizens or chargeable to the numerical limitations for the unmarried sons and daughters of United States citizens, depending

on their age and marital status.

2. Mr. Nelson, are you satisfied with the requirements in S. 1698 for

providing the identification of the individuals-.applying for entry into

the United States?

Yes. The statute itself in the State Department's proposal or in Amendment

No. 1306 to S. 1698 would have various safeguards intended to control potential

fraud. In both versions of the bill, consultation with appropriate government

officials and officials of private voluntary organization in the country of

the alien's birth would be required, in addition to consideration of the

applicant's physical appearance and evidence including birth and baptismal

certificates, local civil records, photographs of, and letters or proof of

financial support from, the putative father who is a United States citizen,

and the testimony of witnesses. Furthermore, the State Department's proposal

stipulates that the Attorney General approve a petition filed pursuant to

these provisions only after an investigation of the facts in each case.

In addition to the various statutory safeguards, procedures implemented through

the regulatory process would be used to detect fraudulent claims to eligibility

under the proposed legislation. For example, the Department of Justice could

require an overseas investigation after approval of a petition filed with the

Attorney General. A comparable procedure now exists in the processing of

orphan petitions by the Service.

It should be noted that the possibility of fraud exists in many of the applications and petitions adjudicated by the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Therefore we have had a good deal of experience in dealing with potential fraud.
42

Senator SIMPSON. Thank you very much. Let me ask several

questions.

Ambassador Asencio, could you estimate the number of persons

who might be affected by the Denton-McKinney proposals, and tell

us whether there are any precedents in our own national experience for this action?

Ambassador ASENCIO. We have a rather wideranging estimate.

Like many estimates in this area, I think it is determirvd by which

quadrant the wind is coming from, but somewhere between 25,000

and 50,000 probably closer to the lower range. I don't know of any

previous precedent for this approach.

Senator SIMPSON. What impact, if any, do you see in this action

upon foreign policy relationships with any of the other Asian countries?

Ambassador ASENCIO. If adopted with the changes that we have

indicated, I don't see this having any particular or specific foreign

policy impact as such. I see it more as a humanitarian gesture.

I would think, however, that in some of the earlier measures considered, the complexity of the bureaucratic processes that would

have been required, and the need for very close checking probably

could have impacted in a very negative way in any number of societies.

I would think, as I look at what we are considering right now, I

don't think it would impact as such on the societies we are discussing.

Senator SIMPSON. DO you feel that there should be any numerical

limitation on the number of Amerasians allowed to adjust?

Ambassador ASENCIO. I don't think the number, Mr. Chairman,

if our estimates are correct, would really require any concern in

that field. Certainly this is moot, but I would think if one accepts

the estimate, I don't see any need for some sort of ceiling, since it

is a limited number. In addition under S. 2222, they would be limited by their preference class.

Senator SIMPSON. Do you believe that the expansion of, say, the

age of adoption, if we were to do that, or expansion of the definition of refugee would be able to handle this issue or handle this

problem? Would that be sufficient?

Ambassador ASENCIO. TO expand the refugee definition to handle

this as a specific problem?

Senator SIMPSON. Yes.

Ambassador ASENCIO. This was one of the first things we tried

very early on and for any number of reasons it didn't seem to

work. So I would say after some considerable consideration, we now

have something that I would consider administratively workable,

and so I would certainly support this approach over going back to

hassling with the refugee people.

Senator SIMPSON. That is an official statement?

Ambassador ASENCIO. Yes. [Laughter.]

Senator SIMPSON. One of the witnesses who

Ambassador ASENCIO. I will pay for that one when I get back to

the building, I am sure.

Senator SIMPSON. Yes, you certainly will. Call me and let me

know how it goes.
43

One of the witnesses who will testify later today has pointed out

that many Amerasian children are already entitled to U.S. citizenship because they are offspring of legitimate marriages in their

own lands, of marriages between a U.S. citizen and an Asian

mother.

This witness asserts that the State Department refuses those

children passports regardless of how well documented this marriage may be. Can you tell us what the policy is of issuing passports to Amerasian children under those circumstances, please, if

you could?

Ambassador ASENCIO. Certainly, where the citizenship of the

child has been determined, if in fact the child is a U.S. citizen,

there couldn't possibly be a situation where I would not issue a

passport to such a child. If there are concrete cases, I would be delighted to look into them, but I can't conceive of such a thing happening.

We certainly would not stop the issuance of a passport to an

Amerasian simply because he is an Amerasian. The operative part

would be if we can document his citizenship status.

So I am shocked that someone should think that were the case,

and if there has been something along those lines I would investigate it with alacrity.

Senator SIMPSON. I want to make that inquiry because, having

come to know you these past years, I would believe that that would

not have been the case, and so perhaps we can arrange for you to

visit with that particular witness and take note of it. Knowing you,

I know you will do that.

Ambassador ASENCIO. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Senator SIMPSON. Mr. Nelson, that issue of paternity, and you

briefly mentioned it, what difficulties do you see with respect to

the proof of paternity?

Commissioner NELSON. I know, of course that you refer to the

many years that have passed since the child's birth, in many situations by the time a petition is filed. Although this complicates the

determination, we run across such fraud problems in proof of appropriate status for other types of immigration petitions.

The issue of paternity is not a simple problem, but I think that a

number of safeguards worked into this bill and amendments give

sufficient criteria to deal with it. Even though we can never be absolutely certain about every situation, these criteria would enable

us to make discernible, reasonably sound determination, and proceed accordingly.

Senator SIMPSON. DO you think whatever is there, that it can be

worked out well?

Commissioner NELSON. Yes, I think so.

Senator SIMPSON. Without a true misuse of our humanitarian

concerns through fraudulent activity, and that type thing?

Commissioner NELSON. I think it can be worked out effectively.

Again, there is always going to be some margin of fraud in any

type of application or petition but there is no reason to believe it

would be any greater here.

In fact, we think that this proposed legislation has a number of

criteria that would even improve our ability to detect fraud. So we
44

don't think that the possibility of fraud should be a bar to the need

to go forward.

Senator SIMPSON. HOW do you believe the sponsorship would

work, as we have discussed adoption and sponsorship. Share your

views, if you would, on that.

Commissioner NELSON. I really don't have any in-depth views.

We certainly very much concur with the principle that there must

be definitely and clearly be sponsorship. It is appropriate, and I

think all the witnesses have testified to that.

On the mechanics of the sponsorship, I don't have any specific

comment. I can provide additional information if you wish.

Senator SIMPSON. No. I guess one of the things worth addressing,

and which has been addressed in the past, is the fact that we would

not be discussing legislative remedies at this point if the Amerasians did not face serious adjustment problems and discrimination

in their own countries. I would inquire as to what your anticipation is as to the problems they might have here in the United

States, especially if they come here as adults. Just your thoughts,

your comments.

Commissioner NELSON. Mr. Chairman, again, like so many things

in life, it is a question of comparing the alternatives, and I think as

you and other witnesses have stated, there has been an intolerable

situation in Asia with the lack of acceptance of these Amerasians

in their own countries and communities. By allowing them to come

to the United States, we can alleviate that very serious problem.

As far as their being accepted in the United States, I can only say

from my personal experience, and I think from yours and everyone's, that this country is amazing in its receptivity to accepting

people of different backgrounds and cultures.

Certainly the recognition that these people are fathered by

Americans, in most cases, is an additional factor. I therefore believe the American people would be very supportive. There is no

question but that some individuals will experience problems and

that an individual of older age could have adjustment problems,

but again in comparison with the alternatives, we think the problems are minimal.

Senator SIMPSON. I think I share your assessment of our feelings

on that.

One more question, then, Diego, if I can bounce back, or to both

of you, perhaps, if you care to respond.

What do you believe might be the long-term solution to the problem of Amerasian children and adults? Would legislation be nothing more than a stopgap solution which would have to be updated

in future years because of the continuing U.S. troop and other presence in the area? Are there policies which could be adopted by the

Department of Defense or the Department of State which might alleviate this problem?

Ambassador ASENCIO. I just can't imagine what that could be.

Senator SIMPSON. Don't share my imagination. [Laughter.]

Ambassador ASENCIO. I think we would have to take the effects

of stationing troops abroad as a given, and adjust accordingly. In

considering this sort of legislation, we are going in the right direction.
45

Commissioner NELSON. I couldn't possibly add to the learned remarks of my colleague. [Laughter.]

Senator SIMPSON. I thank you both for your testimony and your

assistance to the subcommittee in dealing with this very serious

problem. Thank you very much.

Commissioner NELSON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Senator SIMPSON. NOW we will take testimony from the public

panel consisting of Rev. Alfred V. Keane, director of Americans for

International Aid, Marietta, Ga., and St. Vincent's Home for Amerasians, Inchon, Korea; Mr. John A. Shade, executive director, Pearl

S. Buck Foundation, Perkasie, Pa.; Mr. Walter Martindale, American International Trade Group, Washington, D.C.; and Ms. Judith

Foster, attorney-at-law, Springfield, Va.

STATEMENTS OF A PANEL CONSISTING OF REV. ALFRED V.

KEANE, DIRECTOR OF AMERICANS FOR INTERNATIONAL AID,

MARIETTA, GA., AND ST. VINCENT'S HOME FOR AMERASIANS,

INCHON, KOREA; JOHN A. SHADE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,

PEARL S. BUCK FOUNDATION, PERKASIE, PA.; WALTER MARTINDALE, AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL TRADE GROUP, WASHINGTON, D.C.; AND MS. JUDITH FOSTER, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW,

SPRINGFIELD, VA.

Father KEANE. Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman.

Senator SIMPSON. It is nice to have you all here, and we will

start with you, Father Keane.

Father Keane, it is nice to see you again. I enjoyed my time with

you.and certainly you are an extraordinary figure in this issue in

every way.

Father KEANE. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I really appreciate your taking this time out to hold these hearings.

I have a few supporting documents I would like to submit as part

of my testimony.

Senator SIMPSON. Without objection, they will be entered.

[Supporting documents submitted by Father Keane follow:]
46

DENTON/McKINNEY

LEGISLATION

S. 1698 and H.R. 808

The abandoned sons and daughters of American servicemen endure miserable

lives in the Orient. Oriental societies look upon youngsters abandoned

by their fathers as outcasts, belonging to no one.

These youngsters, because of their American paternity, suffer extreme

prejudice and public insult. They have no opportunity for decent employment or a respectable marriage.

The United States is considered barbaric and is ridiculed because we

abandon our offspring.

The Denton/McKinney legislation (S. 1698 and H.R. 808) will correct

this disgraceful situation.

This legislation simply gives priority in existing immigration quotas

to the sons and daughters of American servicemen.

It does not increase the quota of immigrants.

It does not cost the taxpayer.

It requires that willing citizens guarantee

financial support.

We are asking cosponsorship.

We are asking speedy passage.

Sympathy without cosponsorship, and

professions of support with delay will

kill this legislation and continue the

abandonment of our younsters.

Rev. J. Alfred Carroll, S.J.

Gonzaga University

Spokane, Washington 99258

(509) 328-4220, Ext. 3202

Enclosures
47

I am Norms Lee Walsh. In 1960, I was born in Korea to a Korean

mother and an American father. Until I was five years old I lived

happily with my mother and father. In December of 1965, my father

bought me a beautiful red hat and coat and a new pair of shoes.

I remember these as my last and best Christmas presents. Just before

that Christmas, I remember ay mother and I went to the airport to

say "goodbye" to my father. Although he often wrote and sent money,

I never saw him again.

For my birthdays, my father sent me birthday-cards and extra money

for my mother to get me presents. Before my sixteenth birthday, I

asked my mother to use the money for a birthday party. No birthday

card or money came. I never heard from my father again, but I

still know his name and address.

The life of sadness and trouble began for me when I started school.

My mother took me to the American school because we expected that

my father would soon bring us to America. The American principal

refused to let me enter the school. My mother then took me to a

Korean school. The teachers stared at me, the other children

stared at me and the parents stared. I am a mixed-blood, left

by my American father and abandoned by the American government.

The Korean people think that the father is everything. If a father

does not take care of his daughter and the documents and the school,

then the Koreans think that the daughter is a bad person. The

Koreans think Amerasians are bad people because America and American

fathers do not take care of us. I am not a bad person. My mother

always told me to be good, and she made me be good.

Sister Anna Marie asked Father Keane to send me to America. In August

of 1980, I came to Gonzaga University on a student visa. I have

studied hard, and I want to major in Computer Science.

I have an Amerasian husband and a little baby. We are very happy in

the land of our fathers. My husband is also a student at Gonzaga

University. His father died in Korea and is buried in Arlington.

Please make the Denton/McKinny bill law so my baby, my husband and

I can stay in America. We do not want to return to suffering.

I will go crazy if my baby has to suffer in Korea.

I am very lucky to have two years in my father's country. I think

about the other suffering Amerasians in Korea, and I hope that you

will let them come here to their father's country.

Norma Lee Walsh

917 East Indiana

Spokane, Washington 99207

Johnny Chung.

I was born in 1961. My mother is a Korean. My father is an Amercan who worked with the Army as an aircraft engineer in Korea. My

father, my mother and I lived together until I was thirteen years old.

During the Vietnamese war, my father went to Viet Nam with the Army

and then came back to us with a wounded leg.

I do not want to remember life in Korea. It was hard and bad. I

like the life in the United States. Here no one teases or ridicules

me. I am comfortable here. Here is no prejudice. My host family is

very nice and like a real family to me.
48

After my father left Korea, we were very poor, and I would never

had had a chance to go to college. 1 was very happy when Father Keane

told me of my scholarship to Gonzaga University. 1 want to be a Computer Scientist, and 1 will work very hard. 1 could never have had

this opportunity in Korea, especially since I am half-American.

X do not want to go back to Korea. Life for Amerasians in Korea

is very hard. Even if my education was equal to, or better than other

Koreans, I still would not be able to get a job because X am not pure

Korean.

If we want to get a better job in Korea, it is necessary to first

complete a tour in the military service. X was not allowed to be a

member of the Korean military service because I am half-American.

My dream is to get my United States citizenship so that I can

join the United States Air Force. 1 would be so proud to be in the

United States military. It is my dream.

Please help pass the Denton/McKenny bill. 1 am an American because my father is an American. 1 ask help not only for myself, but

for all Amerasians. We are not asking for money, or a house, or a

job, but just to live in our father's country, our true country.

Johnny Chung

Route 1, Box 348

Head, Washington 99021

My name is Eddie Choi.

I was born on February 7, 1955. My mother is Korean. I have never

known my father, but my mother and neighbors told me that my father was

an American soldier. I am a black Korean. My mother told me that my

father was a sergeant in the Army. He wrote some letters to my mother

after he left, but they were later stolen.

I went to elementary school, but I was always called bad names.

The other children fought with me. Most of the teachers were good to

me, but I remember being ridiculed in front of the class by a teacher

in high school.

Our family was poor in Korea. After 1 graduated from high school,

1 tried to get a job, but I didn't have any special skills. Later I

found a job in a glass factory. Other factory workers ridiculed me and

call me bad names. I was only able to work under those conditions for

eight months.

In Korea I would have a very difficult time finding a wife. If I

had children, they would have the same problems that I had. I could not

let my children experience what I did in Korea. That is why I would not

get married in Korea.

I came to the United States in August of 1980 in order to attend

school at Gonzaga University. I studied English for a year, and I have

just finished my Freshmen year this Spring, 1982 semester. I want to

be an Engineer and join the Army when I finish college.

There are many black Amerasians in Korea. They have a very hard

time. Koreans think of black people as slaves. Koreans are frightened

of people with dark skin.
49

Please help us pass H. R. 808 and S. 1698. We Just want our (t«Mdom and equality, and we are free and equal In America.

Eddie Choi

Box 144

Conzaga University

Spokane, WA 99258

My name Is Isaiah Lee.

I was born in 19S7. My father was an American soldier, and

my mother is a Korean. My father lived with my mother and me until I

was 6 years old, and then he returned to the United States. As

I was a young child when he left, I do not know his name. I can

remember that my father brought me candy and toys. I can remember

him taking me to American parties.

My life In Korea was difficult. Since I was black, the other

children called me Nigger and often were mean to me because I was a

mixed-blood•that is to say, not a pure Korean.

In 1980, Father Keane sent me to the United States. I spent my

first year studying English at Gonzaga University, and this last

year I have been in California studying to become a Presbyterian

minister. For the next four years, I will continue to study

English and Theology in order to obtain a Master's Degree in

Divinity and to be God's minister to help other people.

I know that my father was American, and since I learned in

Korea that nationality and, in fact, one's whole being depends

on the father, that means that I am really an American, even

though my mother is a Korean and I have a Korean passport.

I plead with you to pass the legislation that will enable us,

abandoned Amerasians, in the Orient to come to the land of our

fathers, our true country.

I am not asking for any money from the United States government.

I am simply asking to come to the land of my father.

In the two years I have been in the United States, I have

received no financial assistance from the United States government.

Good people have helped In order to finance my education and living

expenses in this country. I only ask for the opportunity to stay

in the land of my father, and I ask for the opportunity to get a

good education to enable me to do God's work.

I am not only asking this for myself, but also for all the

Amerasians who are riduculed, looked down upon and so poorly

treated in the Orient. Please help the passage of the Denton/

McKinney legislation.

Isaiah Lee

914 S. Oxford Ave. B-5

Los Angeles, California 90006
50

My name is Jini Choi.

I was born in Korea in 1960. My father was an American and

my mother is Korean. I have never seen ay father in ay life

because he left Korea before I was born.

After my father left, ay Bother wrote letters to him for

awhile; however, he already had a family in America. Her letter

writing caused many problems at the time, so she stopped writing

and raised me by herself until 1980 when 1 came to the United

States.

Life in Korea was really very difficult for me. To Koreans,

1 looked like an American, and they thought people with American

fathers were supposed to go to American schools. But Because my

mother was Korean and I had no father, 1 went to Korean schools.

During school, even the teachers teased me; I had a very hard time.

I think it was more difficult for me because I had to worry about

the way my classmates felt about me, as well as worry about how

to get good grades. 1 never really had close friends because 1

was not pure Korean. Families of classmates did not like me to

associate with their children because I was a mixed-blood. They

did not want me around their children. Even on the street, I

stood out•1 was different.

I have never experienced freedom from prejudice in my life

until now. In 1980, Father Keane helped me come to America for

an education. Since then my life has completely changed. I think

this is the world that I have been looking for over the past 20

years.

This is my father's land, and I do not understand why I cannot

be here like my American friends who have American fathers. I enjoy

studying here, and I like the people. There is no one to look

at me like the Korean people do. I can enjoy life here. It does

not matter how hard I have to study, or how hard I have to work.

I am happy in America•my father's land.

The problem of having to return to a life of prejudice and

ridicule after I finish my education is almost too much for me to

bear. If I have to go back after I complete my studies and return to

the life I tried so hard to get away from, I think that I will not

survive.

I am studying Art at Gonzaga University. Since I have been

in the United States, I have tried to contact my father. I asked my

mother to give me his address so that I could try to reach him.

She wrote a letter and found out that he had passed away about

seven years ago. His wife wrote back to my mother and said that my

father was dead. I know his address now and where his family

lives, and I know that I have a couple of sisters in the United

States, half sisters. I will not write letters to them because

I do not want to cause an uncomfortable situation. I do not want

to cause them any pain.- His widow ackowledges that I am his

daughter.
51

Please help me. Please help pass the Denton/McKinney bill.

I beg you for myself and for the other Ameraslans. We suffer

because of our American heritage. We know we are Americans.

We endlessly dream of coming home.

Jini Choi

S. 1304 Browne

Spokane, Washington 99204

(509-487-9027)

My name is Kevin Kim.

I was born in Seoul, Korea in 1962. I attended primary school

in Korea and came to the United States in 1981, where 1 finished

high school at Gonzaga Preparatory school in Spokane, Washington.

I am now attending Gonzaga University. 1 am studying to be an

Electrical Engineer.

My mother is Korean, and my father was an American Naval

Lieutenant. While stationed in Korea in 1961, he met my mother.

1 was born March 5, 1962. My father died a short time later on

Nov. 16, 1962. in an automobile accident in Korea.

When my father died, my grandmother wanted us to move to the

United States, but my mother did not wish to move as my father

would not be with us.

Because of my American heritage, the people of Korea treated

me like a foreigner. Making friends with full blooded Koreans

was difficult because of their attitudes toward people of AmericanKorean ancestory.

I am very happy here in the United States. I feel like this

country is my home. Everyone is friendly, and they try to understand

me and make me feel welcome. 1 want to live in this country forever.

My only chance to live without prejudice and to be treated as a

human being exists here in this country. When I finish my college

education, I want to be an active member of the American society.

I want to be able to participate in the community as an equal,

and 1 will not have to be ashamed of what 1 am.

Kevin Kim

S. 3716 Skyview Drive

Spokane, Washington 99202

My name is Sung Woo Hong.

1 was born on October 17, 1959. 1 did not know that 1 was

mixed blood until 1 began school. Then the hard times began. 1

had many fights with the other children. People looked at me and

said bad words.

My American father lived with my Korean mother for about two

years. Before 1 was bom he left Korea. He planned to return to

Korea and marry my mother. For three years after he left Korea,

he wrote my mother many letters, maybe a couple hundred letters.

Then he stopped writing•I do not know why.
52

I never saw my father, but I know his name and his old address.

I also know the name and address of my American grandmother.

I suffered much in Korea. I always felt bad. X was different

from Koreans because I am really American. My father was American,

so X am an American. Some of my teachers were good to me because

1 was different, but the other children and people were not good to

me.

X came to the United States two years ago. X studied English

and now X am studying Electrical Engineering. I am now comfortable

because X am in my father's land and X feel at home.

Xf X have to go back to Korea after my studies, X will not be

able to get a good Job because X am not a pure blood, and X have

a different face. But because I am not a pure Korean, X was not

allowed into the Korean army. Moreover, a good military record is

necessary for success in Korea. In Korea, X cannot have a good

marriage because a good Korean family would not let me into their

family.

Xf X can stay in the United States, X will study hard, get a

job as an Electrical Engineer, and then X will have enough money

to help other Amerasians who hopefully will be able to come to

America.

I ask the United States Congress to pass S. 1698 and H.R. 808

which will allow Amerasians to live in the United States.

Sung Woo Hong

E. 908 Desmet

Spokane, Washington 99202

(509-489-8450)

My name is Yong Cha Yi.

In 1958, X was born the second child of a Korean mother and

an American father. X do not know my father because he left

Korea when I was one month old. I only have one picture of my

father because my mother did not show me other pictures, or read

me the letters he sent. She always tried to protect my father.

I have a brother who is two years older than X am. We have the

same father. He has a very hard life in Korea. He could not finish

high school because he was not enrolled on the family registry.

His teachers always told him to bring the family record, but his

name was not on it, so he was unable to bring it. Xt is a shame

to the family to have a half-American registered on the family

registry. He cannot get a good job. He is an artist and has a

little art studio outside an army base.

My brother and X look American. We do not look Korean. People

always tease us. They say that we are American and that we should

go to America.

X was lucky to be allowed to graduate from high school. After

high school, X spent four years looking for a job. No one would

employ me because X am an Amerasian. People always stared at me

in Korea. X was very frightened walking down the streets in Korea

because X am a girl and Koreans do not care if someone hurts me.
53

After four years, I found a Job with the American army as a

secretary-typist.

Last August I came to study at Gonzaga University. For the

first time, I am home•I am happy•I am a human being. I am the

same as Americans. Nobody stares at me, and everyone is kind to me.

Please pass the Denton/McKinney bill. Please let me stay in

America. Let my brother come to his father's country of happiness.

We are not Koreans. We are Americans.

If I cannot stay in America, I cannot have a good marriage

because in Korea no good parents would want me to marry their

son. I cannot get a Job in Korea because Jobs are for Koreans,

not for Ameraslans.

Please do not make me go back to a hard life with no happiness.

Help the Ameraslans and me and my brother.

Yong Cha Yi

E. 710 Indiana

Spokane, Washington 99207

(509-484-4449)

My name is Danny Lee.

I am half-American, but I am not a United States citizen.

I was really born on November 20, 1959. Since my father did not

register my birth, my mother registered it two years later. That

is why my record says that I was born on Feb. 1, 1961.

My father was in the American Army. He lived with my mother for

about two years. He left for the United States before I was

born.

After my father left, my mother had a difficult time trying to

support me. She did not have any education, and her family was

very unhappy about me. I can remember that her family was so

ashamed of me that they would not let me go to my uncle's wedding.

Life was very hard for my mother and me because I am an

Amerasian. Koreans always told me that I must go to my father's

country because I am not a Korean and that I don't belong in

Korea. I was.called many low names in Korea because of my

Amerclan face.

We Ameraslans have big noses, our hair is a different color and

we have hair on our bodies. We also have the Yankee smell, according

to the Koreans. We are bigger than pure Koreans, and the people

think that we are smarter•that is why I studied very hard.

When I became older, my mother was sick and could not afford

to take care of me, so I lived alone. The American soldiers at

Oean Air Force Base were kind to me and paid for my education in

high school and helped me pay for my room and food.

When I came to the United States to study, I talked with my

father on the telephone. Father Carroll wrote to him and told

him how well I am doing in my studies. I won a scholarship at

Gonzaga from amongst 4,000 other applicants. Now my father

will sign papers saying that I am his son.
54

I believe that we humans have a right to live as humans•with

dignity and without prejudice• to live freely. A half-American

in Korea is a nobody and a nothing. We do not belong in Korea.

Me just want to live a right life. We just want to belong

and not to have to live like animals.

Please help the Amerasians. In Korea we suffer because of our

American fathers. Please let the Amerasians come to our Father's

country.

Please pass the Denton/McKinney bill.

Danny Lee

E. 908 Desmet

Spokane, Washington 99202

(509-489-8450)

My name is Lilly Lee.

I was born in Korea on February 27, 1962. My mother is Korean and

my father is American. My mother and father never got married because

he had another family in the United States and also because my father's

parents never accepted my mother. He lived with my mother, going back

and forth to American, Viet Nam and Korea. He left Korea for good when

I was 11 years old. He wrote to my mother for about three years.

When I was a child I thought my father was very big, with a big nose,

big eyes and white hair. Very often 1 remember my mother and father

and I going to the U.S. base to have dinner and go to the movies. We

also traveled a lot around Korea together.

When I came to America, I had my father's address. I called my

father and his wife received the phone call and knew of me. He called

me later that afternoon and my half-sister said that he cried all day.

Last Christmas I visited my Dad and his wife and his four children.

They were so kind to me. They want to help me.

When I was in elementary school a lot of children called me "high

nose" and "Yankee." They never called me by my name. I remember crying all the time and finally my mother taught me how to fight back because I did not like what they said.

Since I went to a girls' middle and high school, the other students

didn't bother me as much, but whenever I walked out on the street people

stared at me and gave me funny looks and said, "Yankee walking on the

street."

When I was a teenager, I couln't fight back because I wasn't a kid

anymore. The best way was to swallow my tears and I started to hate the

Korean people. I can understand when I was little kid the children teasing me, but I'11 never understand the older people bothering me. Everytime I walked on the streets I could hear names called at me, but never

my name • terrible names, Yankee, high nose and worst were names meaning

mixed-blood animal. They think of us as monkeys in a zoo.

Going to school in Korea was hard. I studied hard in Korea and

wanted to be a leader in school, but my teachers didn't like mixed

bloods. They think only pure blood is normal.
55

The Koreans also chink Che family background is Che most important

thing in soclecy. The Amerasians background is nothing because they

don'c have a facher or their father's name.

Even if I graduate from college, 1 could not get a good job for

my future. Most corpanies don't want Co employ people without a good

background, especially Amerasians. 1c would be difficulc Co gee married.

1 don'c have a background.

1 came to Gonzaga in January, 1981. 1 was lucky. 1 really would

hate Co go back Co Korea and Korean people.

I studied English for a year and I want to study science to become

a doctor.

The American people don't care about my looks and my family background. 1 feel very comfortable here. 1 don't have to worry about

the stares and gossip. 1 never got compliments or encouragement in

Korea • here I do. In America 1 have friends and the teachers are

very good to me. 1 want to be a normal person. I can't in Korea.

All Che Amerasians that 1 know want to come to America. I never

want to go back to Korea.

Please help us in passing the Denton/McKinney bill.

Lilly Lee

North 1312 Division

Spokane, Washington
56

i

»

P.O. Box 2880, Eugene, Oregon 97402 (503) 687-2202

Hay 10, 1982

Father Alfred Keane

134 Reedsdale Road

Milton, Massachusetts 02186

Dear Father Keane:

Your request for Information regarding the status of Ameraslan children In

Thailand was recently brought to my attention. 1 am sorry we have not responded sooner. However, as I was Holt's representative In Thailand for

about four years, It was decided that I would be In the best position to address this Issue. Unfortunately, I was out of the country for over five

weeks, and only recently returned.

First, let me address the Issue of citizenship for Ameraslan children In

Thailand. Some years back, I believe It was five or six years ago (perhaps

longer), a bill was passed In Thailand denying Thai citizenship to anyone

born in Thailand of a non-Thai father. My understanding of the reasoning

behind this is that the Thai government did not want the children of refugees

seeking refuge in Thailand to have a claim to Thai citizenship, which might

then give the entire family an argument for remaining in the country. This law,

however, effected not only refugees, but hill tribes residing in the border

areas, most of whom who were in fact born In Thailand. And it also effected

some 4,000 to 5,000 Ameraslan children living in the country. The Thai

government has agreed to accept petitions for becoming a Thai citizen on a

case-by-case basis. I know the Pearl Buck Foundation in Thailand has done

some work in this area.,

Our associate agency in Thailand, the Holt Sahathai Foundation, has had some

experience in the placement of Ameraslan children, which in most cases, required that we first attain Thai citizenship for the children through the

Department of Public Welfare in Thailand, and then going through the very

time-consuming adoption process also through the Department of Public Welfare.

Pataya Orphanage run by Father Ray Brennan at Pataya Beach south of Bangkok, has

also had quite a bit of experience in placing Ameraslan children. So, I would

have to say that there are channels for the adoption of Ameraslan children

from Thailand, but It is an extremely lengthy and bureaucratic process. Without question, this is not in the best interest of those children.

Perhaps more important, however, is that the Thai government regulations severely

restrict the possibilities for foreign placement of an Ameraslan child born In

Thailand. The vast majority of the Ameraslan children fathered by American

servicemen are between the ages of six or seven, up to the late teens. For

those not living with a parent or relative, the chances of being adopted into a

Thai family is virtually nil. And as the children are older, It is difficult

to find foreign families who are willing to adopt these children, and who also

meet the Thai government family requirements. The most difficult Thai government requirement to deal with is that adopting families may have no more than

one child in the family and they must apply to adopt a child of the opposite sex.

Every child deserves a home of his own. Harry Holt
57

The preference, in fact. Is for childless couples. We have recently learned

that the Department of Public Welfare in Thailand may consider families that

have two children if they are applying to adopt a child of the opposite sex

of the two children they already have. If a couple already had a boy and a

girl, then they could not adopt from Thailand. To date, the Department of

Public Welfare has been unwilling to make exceptions even for the Amerasian

children. Of course, one of the overriding problems is that the children

do not have any nationality. This makes any placement more complicated.

If the children were recognized as U.S. citizens, or could enter the United

States on some sort of parole visa issued by the U.S. government, in lieu

of a passport, the placement process would be much simplier.

The fact that these Ameraslans are in effect stateless, raises the question

as to whether they would ever be able to enter another country•even for the

purpose of furthering their education. As I mentioned earlier, there is a

procedure for petloning to be recognized as a Thai citizen, but it seems

there should be an option for claiming U.S. citizenship should that be a

course that is determined to be in the best interest of the child. To my

knowledge, about the only procedure at present for an Amerasian child in

Thailand to be recognized as a U.S. citizen is for the U.S. citizen birth

parent to legitimate the child. In most cases, this just is not possible.

At the present time, there are three private agencies authorized by the

government to handle international adoptions. In addition to the three

agencies, the Department of Public Welfare in Thailand also provides direct

service in adoptions. The three private agencies are: Friends for All

Children, Pataya Orphanage (run by Father Ray Brennan), and Holt Sahathal

Foundation. All placements in Thailand, including those of the private agencies, must be processed through the Department of Public Welfare. Without

their approval, it Is Impossible for a child going in adoption to obtain a

passport. And before final approval can be given, at least one of the

adoptive parents must travel to Thailand for a final interview. The process from the time that a child is matched with a family, until the child

actually goes to the family, often takes up to a year or longer.

We all appreciate your efforts on behalf of Amerasian children, Father Keane.

I hope that this information will be of some use. If I can answer any more

specific questions you might have, please let me know.

Sincerely yours,

^-Jehti L. Williams

Assistant Director

JLW:ag
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60

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Father KEANE. Thank you very much.

First of all, I want to express my gratitude for this opportunity

of testifying before you today. My name is Father Alfred V. Keane,

a Maryknoll missioner and director of Amerasian Affairs for

Americans for International Aid, which has spent 24 years working

in South Korea, the last 12 of which have been with the AmericanAsian children of that country. I will not speak to you today of the

many problems, difficulties and sufferings that these children must

encounter in their daily life because such is already well known

and well documented. I will speak today from the perspective of

the problem they face in relation to us as a nation and as a people.

It is a matter of fact and truth that these half-American children

do exist in Southeast Asia, somewhere between 30,000 to 80,000 in

number. Everyone in Southeast Asia, as well as millions of Americans who have lived in these countries, know where these children

have come from. They are children of American fathers, born out

of wedlock, who are denied any right or claim to U.S. citizenship or

any privilege to immigrate to the United States, in spite of the fact

that their fathers were citizens serving the interests of this Nation.

Recognizing that these children face many problems in the land

of their birth, many solutions have been offered. I will comment on

these. The first is adoption, which has been proposed as the best

solution to a very tragic situation. This proposal arises from our

own tradition and culture which has long seen adoption as a way

to take care of children born out of wedlock. However, in Asian

culture and society, adoption of someone who is not of your family

or clan is a very foreign idea and is basically culturally unacceptable.

In the eyes of the Asian people, the only reason someone would

adopt "another's child" would be to exploit the child. Therefore,

adoption is not readily identified by the Asian mother as a possible

option for her child.
64

If these children were to be placed for adoption at a very early

age, the problem could possibly be resolved, but the fact is that

most are not. The reason for this is twofold: One is that the real

father is around for years and years, always promising to take care

of his "family," and the other is that in Asian culture, when a

child is born of a relationship, the woman assumes the obligation

of caring for the man's child, even in cases of outright abandonment. Why? In case some day he might return, she has the duty of

returning his child to him. For this reason, the Asian woman hesitates to place her child for adoption until it is too late.

Requiring adoption as a condition for immigration to the United

States fails to take into consideration the natural ties that have

been established between mother and child. There is a genuine affection and sense of mutual responsibility for each other established by many years of living as a family unit, and I would like to

add under the most trying of circumstances. To require now that

they sign away all of these natural ties could be considered a violation of a fundamental natural right.

Other practical problems with adoption as a solution is the fact

that we do not have diplomatic relations with two countries mentioned in the bill, limited relations with one, and in all cases severely limited by the laws which these countries have with regard

to adoption. Other factors to be considered are the high cost of foreign adoptions and the fact that many of these children are in the

"hard to adopt age" when made available by the mother, or are actually over the age limit of 16 years.

A sponsorship system requiring the child to give up claim to its

mother would also seem to violate the rights of a child to have its

own mother.

Over the years many attempts have been made to assist the child

to adapt to life in the country of its mother, but that has not

proven to be successful, because these children have grown up in a

culture which says that you are who and what your father is. They

all look to America as their fatherland, and to Americans as their

people. Citizenship is obtained in the mother's country, but nationality, race, and a person's identity comes from the father, according

to Oriental tradition and custom.

Attempts have also been made to hold the fathers responsible for

their actions, but this, too, is impossible because of the Status of

Forces Agreements that our Government has entered into with the

countries of the child's birth. The Privacy Act also makes it impossible to locate the father once he has left the country and finally

the U.S. legal system will not enforce any judgments obtained in a

court of the countries of the child's birth.

The real solution to the problem is in recognizing the American

Asian for what he/she is. These children are as much American

children as they are children of Asia. In spite of the obstacles mentioned above, we can and must do so by enacting legislation that is

based upon the reality. Since the Congress has determined that

citizenship cannot be given to children of American citizen males

born out of wedlock outside the continental United States, the only

remaining option is that we give these American Asians the right

to immigrate, the right to choose between the heritage of their

father or that of their mother.
65

S. 1698, as proposed by Senator Denton, is the legislative tool

which dissolved the dilemma because it is a bill based upon admission of the truth•they are children of U.S. citizens.

As such, they then will be placed in their proper category within

our present immigration law so that they can immigrate to the

United States by first or fourth preference.

It only recognizes their desire and provides the opportunity to

immigrate to the country of their fathers and to have his nationality.

This proposed legislation provides for necessary safeguards

against fraud and requires a sponsorship that is legally and financially binding insuring that these children will be properly taken

care of and assisted in integrating into American society without

any danger of needing public assistance.

While not costing the U.S. Government and taxpayers a single

cent, this bill also gives to individual Americans the legal right to

help them by sponsorship.

S. 1698 is a good bill because it does not increase the number of

those entering the United States in a given year. It only allows our

children to have the opportunity to be among the 20,000 coming

from these countries every year anyway.

S. 1698 also responds to the reality that these children are still

being born in some of these countries, thus protecting the rights of

the unborn child as well as the born child.

Passage of this bill is of the utmost importance to us as a nation

as well, because it allows us to be free from the one criticism that

does so much damage to us in the countries of Asia, namely, that

we are a country of barbarians who would abandon even its own

flesh and blood.

Enactment into law would also mean that countries unfriendly

to the United States would not be able to exploit the children for

any gain or propaganda against the interests of the United States.

Most of all, passage of the legislation would show the entire

world that we are a nation of truth, willing and able to follow

truth no matter where she should take us, no matter how difficult,

embarrassing or shameful that truth might be.

It would also show the world that, no matter how weak some of

our citizens might be or how imperfect we might be as a nation,

through our democratic institutions we are a people who can seek

"Justice Through Law," as is written over the entrance to the U.S.

Supreme Court.

Finally, President Reagan, our Commander in Chief, has said

that not all problems can be solved by the Federal Government,

the private sector must do its part. The private sector stands ready

to move on this. Give them the necessary legal tools to do so.

The compassion of our people for its children, truth, justice, and

freedom•these are the issues at stake before us today as we consider this important legislation that not only affects the half

Americans that we have forgotten in Asia for so long, but also us

as a nation for it will tell us who we are.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

Senator SIMPSON. Thank you very much, Father Keane.

Now, please, John Shade.

Mr. SHADE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
66

STATEMENT OF JOHN SHADE

Mr. SHADE. I represent the Pearl Buck Foundation. I would like

to indicate that our colleagues, the Holt International Children's

Service of Eugene, Oreg., with whom we share a joint venture,

Vietnam specific, concur in the testimony and the recommendations made in our testimony today.

Our testimony results from nearly 50 years of collective experience, between founder and institution contact and dialog with the

governments of Japan, the Republic of China, the Republic of the

Philippines, the Royal Thai Government, the Republic of Korea,

various departments of the U.S. Government, including White

House staff, and 3 years' negotiations with representatives of the

Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

We recommend certain basic and practical premises to guide

these deliberations.

First, Amerasian children and adults do exist. They exist in large

numbers. Their numbers are growing as their birth rate is inclining. There is no effective and humane, much less reasonable,

method to halt the birth of Amerasians. There is no one remedy,

no preferred legislative format, which will resolve the problem

overnight, in a fortnight, or in the next 20 years for that matter.

Second, any legislative modality must address the issue on its

broadest geographical base, inclusive of all countries named in S.

1698 and H.R. 808, if limited remedy is to be equitably applied.

Third, there needs to be special consideration of this body to the

advisability of including Socialist or Communist nations, namely,

Kampuchea and Vietnam, in such final legislation, as the present

lack of diplomatic relations between the U.S. Government and

these nations appears to effectively limit the true and ultimate

effect of such remedy, as it is decided and then applied.

Moreover, this body must be aware that the Department of State

has an Amerasian specific policy draft which could prove effective

with regard to Vietnamese Amerasians, but which will be superceded by action of the Congress unless provision is made within

legislative remedy for its inclusion, or authorization otherwise

given for its implementation.

Fourth, it must be realized that if the U.S. Congress were to pass

a law guaranteeing carte blanche entry to the United States for all

Amerasians, most would not come. Leave it to the sociologists and

psychologists to explain this phenomena, but I express this not

only as my belief, but as a fact.

There will be those Amerasians who wish to come and they

should not be barred, especially the Vietnamese Amerasians. Still,

there is the need for legislative remedy. Despite the fact that most

Amerasians will not flood American points of entry and despite the

fact that the present Immigration and Naturalization policies could

apply to Amerasians, neither will happen. In order to permit some

to enter, the U.S. Congress must act.

Mere amendment of Immigration and Naturalization Service internal regulations or the issuance of technical memoranda on this

issue will not suffice. I quote former Assistant Secretary of State

William J. Dyess, in a letter to me, dated November 20, 1980,

speaking at that time for both the Department of State and the ad-
67

ministration: "It is true that relatively few of these children qualify for admission under our present laws."

Fifth, there will be a need to clarify and explain whatever legislative remedy is enacted to the Asian governments involved

through normal diplomatic channels, so that they clearly understand the U.S. legislation and may take corresponding action to

make facile implementation and thereby assist the U.S. Government in the goal it has chosen.

With regard to all Asian countries in which Amerasians are to

be found in materially significant numbers, we recommend basic

provisions of S. 1698, while preferring its addition of a broader geographic target area to the administration's draft of section 204, and

we prefer designation of the target petitioner as a son or daughter

of a U.S. Government employee or U.S. citizen, as opposed to the

earlier cast as children of U.S. Armed Forces personnel. We believe

that Senator Denton's direction in amendment No. 1306 to consider

the appearance of the petitioner to also be well advised.

There is also the need for the involvement of private voluntary

organizations in this matter as suggested by Congressman McKinney in H.R. 808.

With regard to Vietnam, the government there has recently expressed its preparedness to deal with this question by defining

three categories of Amerasians:

Category I. Amerasians whose fathers are known or otherwise

come to be known and who demonstrate a desire to have their children or adolescents, as the case may be, will be permitted to join

the natural head of their household in the United States.

Category II: Presumed Amerasians, who may lack specific documentation but whose fathers are known, will be permitted to leave

Vietnam and enter the United States.

Category III. Presumed Amerasians who lack specific documentation may be permitted to leave Vietnam subject to a case-by-case

review of the status and circumstances of each individual.

At present, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam views Amerasians

as U.S. nationals. The U.S. Government views Vietnamese Amerasians as SRV nationals. The limited point of agreement is that the

matter should be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Department of State Amerasian-specific ODP policy formulation

could be of service to such an Amerasian target group. Similar

policy formulation could be advanced with regard to Laos. It is the

foundation's belief that few Amerasians survive in Kampuchea, but

some do, in fact, survive.

Therefore, we find the administration draft of section 204, as

broadened by the target area of S. 1698, to be a proper basis for

legislative remedial relief to the Amerasian children.

The Pearl S. Buck Foundation recommends to this body the most

positive and serious deliberation on this issue that it may afford.

We further recommend that the earliest possible report to the floor

of remedial legislation is in the best interests of the United States

of America and in keeping with the policy of this administration as

we know it.

Certainly there exist sufficient proposals to establish a limited

yet human and effective legislative remedy. It is time to make a

start. Some of our children want to come home.
68

Pearl Buck stated that when the price of policy of any nation is

children, the price is too high. Let it be clear that America has not

intended nor made deliberate the plight of Amerasian children, but

let it be America's first order of business to exercise its traditional,

intended and deliberate role in caring for children, this time its

own.

Thank you very much.

Senator SIMPSON. Thank you, Mr. Shade.

[The prepared statement of Mr. Shade follows:]
PREPARED STATEMENT OF JOHN A, SHADE, JR.

MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS

OF CONGRESS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

MY NAME IS JOHN SHADE AND I REPRESENT THE PEARL S, BUCK FOUNDATION AND I AM HERE TO PRESENT A VIEW OF THE AMERASIAN CHILDREN.

NONE OF WHAT I SAY IS MEANT TO TRANSGRESS ANY LIMITATIONS PLACED

UPON US BY LAW.

* * *

MR. CHAIRMAN, IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO PICK

UP MY TESTIMONY ON PAGE 5 OF MY PREPARED TEXT.

THE TERM AMERASIAN IS A POSITIVE TERM COINED BY THE LATE NOBEL

AND PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING AUTHOR, PEARL S. BUCK. THE TERM

REFERS TO THE MIXED-RACE PROGENY OF U.S. GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES '

AND ASIAN FEMALES. THE TERM WAS BELIEVED NEEDED BY MISS BUCK,

AS ALL TERMS PRIOR, AND SOME SINCE HAVE BEEN USED TO DESCRIBE

THE AMERICAN MIXED-RACE CHILD AND ADULT IN ASIA ARE, AT LEAST,

CRITICAL, AND, MORE OFTEN, PEJORATIVE.

THE AMERASIAN ISSUE - A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE - DATES BACK TO 1393

AND THE TIME OF THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR IN THE PACIFIC ARCHIPELAGO, TODAY KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINES. GENERATIONS OF HALF-AMERICAN

CHILDREN HAVE BEEN SIRED FROM THAT TIME TO THIS WITH LITTLE

CONGRESSIONAL AWARENESS NOR AMERICAN PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS. TO

DATE, NO FORMAL U.S. GOVERNMENTAL RELIEF OR SUCCOR IS EXTENDED TO

THE UNIVERSE OF AMERASIANS ANYWHERE IN ASIA, SAVE SPECIFIC PVO/

PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS GRANTED UNDER MATCHING FUND REGULATIONS OF

THE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT,

THE VARIOUS DEVELOPMENTAL SELF-HELP PROJECTS RESULTANT, WHILE

HELPFUL, ARE NOT EQUAL TO THE NEED, NOR WERE THEY EVER INTENDED

TO RESOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMS FACED BY THE AMERASIANS. INDEED, ALL

AMERASIAN PROBLEMS MAY NEVER BE RESOLVED.
70

THE ONLY OTHER EXPENDITURE OF U.S. TAX DOLLARS, FOR WHICH THE

FOUNDATION POSSESSES RECORD, WAS A U.S. MILITARY CENSUS OF THE '

AMERICAN-MESTIZOES IN, AND ABOUT, WHAT IS TODAY KNOWN AS THE

METRO MANILA AREA,

WHEN THE FATHER IS ABSENT, WHICH IS ALMOST ALWAYS THE CASE WITH

THE AMERASIANS, THE KEY TO LIFE IN ASIA, AND ALL ITS ASPECTS OF

SOCIALIZATION AND ACCULTURATION, AS WELL AS GENERAL SOCIETAL

ACCEPTANCE, IS MISSING. THE FATHER IS KEY TO BIRTH REGISTRATION,

LEGITIMACY, CITIZENSHIP, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND MARRIAGE.

WITHOUT SOME SUBSTITUTE OR ADVOCATE, THERE ARE OFTEN PROBLEMS WHICH

SIMPLY CANNOT BE OVERCOME. THE AMERASIAN, AS A CLASS, IS NOT

ANALOGOUS TO THOSE WHO MAY SHARE HIS LOW SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE

OR CERTAIN OF HIS DEPRIVATIONS. THERE ARE NONE WHOSE DAY TO DAY

SURVIVAL IS EITHER SO CONVOLUTED OR SO UNCERTAIN. THERE ARE NONE

WHO, BY THEIR BIRTHRIGHT, HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR SO MUCH AND WHO

HAVE BEEN GIVEN SO LITTLE. AND AMONG THE AMERASIANS, THE VIETNAMESE

AMERASIANS FACE A STILL MORE UNCERTAIN FUTURE.

THE AMERASIAN CHILDREN EXIST IN A POLITICAL LIMBO WHERE CITIZENSHIP IS IN QUESTION IN MORE THAN ONE COUNTRY WHERE THEY ARE FOUND,

AND THE BASIC RIGHTS OF THE CHILD ARE DENIED. IT IS NOT DIGRESSION

TO NOTE THAT, IN 1950, THE U.N. ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL UNDERTOOK A PROJECT TO ENUMERATE THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD. NINE YEARS

LATER, THE REPORT WAS ISSUED AND VOTED UPON THE FLOOR OF THE

ASSEMBLY. IT IS PRECISELY THESE RIGHTS WHICH THE AMERASIAN CHILD

IS DENIED: THE RIGHT TO A NAME, A FAMILY - INCLUDING A FATHER -

CITIZENSHIP, AN EDUCATION, NUTRITION, AND SO FORTH...

SINCE THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, THE UNITED STATES HAS VISITED

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERASIAN CHILDREN UPON ALREADY OVERBURDENED AGRARIAN POPULATIONS IN ASIA WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY

LAUNCHING A "GREEN" REVOLUTION AND SUPPORTING POPULATION

CONTROL MEASURES FOR ASIAN INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS. THE EAST

SEEMS UNABLE TO COPE WITH THE AMERASIAN PROBLEM, WHILE THE WEST

HAS FOUND IT EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT TO DEVELOP POLICIES TO DEAL

WITH THIS UNCOMFORTABLE AND UNWIELDY HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE.
71

THE VALIANT EFFORTS OF SOME OF AMERICA'S MOST HUMANE LEADERS

HAVE NOT YET RESULTFD IN ANY FORMAL U.S. POLICY ON THIS ISSUE.

NO SITTING PRESIDENT HAS YET TO ADDRESS THE AMERASIAN ISSUE, NOR

ANY SECRFTARY OF STATE, NOR ANY ATTORNEY GENERAL, FOR WHICH THE

FOUNDATION HAS EITHER KNOWLEDGE OR RECORD. THIS FACT MAY SOON

BE CHANGED BY THE WHITE HOUSE IN THIS ADMINISTRATION.

REMEDIAL PRECEDENT EXISTS ON THIS ISSUE WHICH IS BOTH TIMELY AND

ASIAN SPECIFIC. I SPEAK OF THE FRENCH EXAMPLE PROVIDED IN INDOCHINA AND KNOWN TO THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WHERERY CITIZENSHIP

DOCUMENTATION, SOCIAL WELFARE BENEFITS, EDUCATION AND TRANSPORT TO

FRANCE ARE OFFERED IN A MULT I FACETED HUMAN OUTREACH TO THE CHILDREN

SIRED BY THE FRENCH IN THEIR OWN ASIAN INVOLVEMENTS. THE FRENCH

AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES CAN BE CALLED UPON TO PRESENT THIS

EXAMPLE, IN DETAIL, AND PROVIDE CLEAR EXAMPLE TO THOSE INTERESTED.

IN TESTIMONY BEFORE THE HOUSE JUDICIARY SUBCOMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION,

REFUGEES AND INTERNATIONAL LAW ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1981,

THE PEARL S. BUCK FOUNDATION SUPPORTED THE PRINCIPAL FRAME OF

H.R. 808 AND DEMONSTRATED ITS VALUE AS HISTORICALLY CORRECT,

LEGISLATIVELY AND FISCALLY ECONOMICAL, AND LEGALLY AND CULTURAII.Y

COMPETENT.

WE ARE AWARE THAT IN PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE SENATF ON APRIL 20TH,

OF THIS YEAR, AMBASSADOR ASCENCIO OPPOSED SECTION 201 OF THE PENDING

IMMIGRATION REFORM ACT. WE CONCUR WITH HIS TESTIMONY AND WITH THE

SUBSEQUENT ACT OF THE CHAIR IN THOSE PROCEEDINGS. WE ARE AWARE OF

SEPARATE AND DISTINCT ACTION IN THE HOUSE WHICH HAS RESULTED IN AN

AMENDMENT TO THE HOUSE VERSION OF-204. WE OPPOSE THAT DRAFT AS

INADEQUATE AND WILL EXPLAIN IF AND WHEN HEARINGS ARE HELD BEFORE

THE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE OF THAT BODY.

WE ARE ALSO AWARE OF AN ADMINISTRATION DRAFT PROPOSING A REWRITING OF SENATE SECTION 201 AND FIND ASPECTS OF THAT DRAFT TO

HAVE SUBSTANTIAL MERIT, WHILE FALLING SHORT OF THE MARK. STILL,

THERE EXISTS THE INGREDIENTS WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION DRAFT OF

SECTION 2(W AND S. 1698, AS WELL AS H.R. 808, TO PROVIDE RESPONSIBLE

TIMELY, AND ADEQUATE REMEDIAL RELIEF BY LEGISLATION.
72

WE TESTIFY IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE AMERAS1AN CHILDREN, AND IN

THE BELIEF THAT OUR TESTIMONY IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR UNITED

STATES OF AMERICA. OUR TESTIMONY RESULTS FROM NEARLY 50 YEARS OF

COLLECTIVE SOCIAL WELFARE EXPERIENCE BETWEEN FOUNDER AND INSTITUTION

ON THIS ISSUE, CONTACT AND DIALOGUE WITH THE GOVERNMENTS OF JAPAN,

THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA, THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, THE ROYAL

THAI GOVERNMENT, THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA, VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS OF THE

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING WHITE HOUSE STAFF, AND THREE

YEAR'S NEGOTIATIONS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC

OF VIETNAM.

WE RECOMMEND CERTAIN BASIC AND PRACTICAL PREMISES TO GUIDE THESE

DELIBERATIONS:

FIRST: AMERASIAN CHILDREN AND ADULTS DO EXIST. THEY

EXIST IN LARGE NUMBERS. THEIR NUMBERS ARE GROWING AS

THEIR BIRTH RATE IS INCLINING. THERE IS NO EFFECTIVE

AND HUMANE, MUCH LESS REASONABLE, METHOD TO HALT THE

BIRTH OF AMERASIANS. THERE IS NO ONE REMEDY, NO PREFERRED

LEGISLATIVE FORMAT WHICH WILL RESOLVE THE PRORLEM OVERNIGHT, IN A FORTNIGHT, OR IN THE NEXT TWENTY YEARS, FOR

THAT MATTER.

SECOND:

ANY LEGISLATIVE MODALITY MUST ADDRFSS THE ISSUE ON ITS

BROADEST GEOGRAPHICAL BASE INCLUSIVE OF ALL COUNTRIES

NAMED IN S, 1698 AND H.R. 808 IF LIMITED REMEDY IS TO BE

EQUITABLY APPLIED.

mm-.

THERE NEEDS TO BE SPECIAL CONSIDERATION OF THIS BODY

TO THE ADVISABILITY OF INCLUDING SOCIALIST OR COMMUNIST

NATIONS, NAMEIY: LAOS, KAMPUCHEA AND VIETNAM IN SUCH

FINAL LEGISLATION, AS THE PRESENT LACK OF DIPLOMATIC

RELATIONS BETWEEN THE USG AND THESE NATIONS APPEARS TO

EFFECTIVELY LIMIT THE TRUE AND ULTIMATE EFFECT OF SUCH
73

REMEDY, AS IT IS DECIDED AND THEN APPLIED. MOREOVER,

THIS BODY MUST BE AWARE THAT THE DOS HAS AN AMERASIAN

SPECIFIC POLICY DRAFT WHICH COULD PROVE EFFECTIVE WITH

REGARD TO VIETNAMESE AMERASIANS BUT WHICH WILL BE SUPERCEDED BY ACTION OF THE CONGRESS UNLESS PROVISION IS MADE

WITHIN LEGISLATIVE REMEDY FOR ITS INCLUSION, OR AUTHORIZATION OTHERWISE GIVEN FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION,

FOURTH: IT MUST BE REALIZED THAT IF THE U.S. CONGRESS

WERE TO PASS A LAW GUARANTEEING CARTE BLANCHE ENTRY TO

THE U.S. FOR ALL AMERASIANS, MOST WOULD NOT COME.

LEAVE IT TO THE SOCIOLOGISTS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS TO

EXPLAIN THIS PHENOMENA, BUT I EXPRESS THIS NOT ONLY

AS MY BELIEF BUT AS A FACT. THERE WILL BE THOSE AMERASIANS WHO WISH TO COME AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE BARRED,

ESPECIALLY THE VIETNAMESE AMERASIANS. (STILL, THERE

IS THE NEED FOR LEGISLATIVE REMEDY. DESPITE THE FACT

THAT MOST AMERASIANS WILL NOT FLOOD AMERICAN POINTS OF

ENTRY AND DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE PRESENT INA COULD

APPLY TO AMERASIANS, NEITHER WILL HAPPEN. IN ORDER TO

PERMIT SOME TO ENTER, THE U.S. CONGRESS MUST ACT. MERE

AMENDMENT OF INS INTERNAL REGULATIONS OR THE ISSUANCE

OF TECHNICAL MEMORANDA ON THIS ISSUE WILL NOT SUFFICE.

I QUOTE FORMER ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE, WILLIAM

J. DYESS, IN A LETTER TO ME, DATED NOVEMBER 29, 1980;

SPEAKING AT THAT TIME FOR BOTH THE DOS AND THE ADMINISTRATION: QUOTE IT IS TRUE THAT RELATIVELY FEW OF

THESE CHILDREN QUALIFY FOR ADMISSION UNDER OUR PRESENT

LAWS END QUOTE.)

FIFTH: THERE WILL BE A NEED TO CLARIFY AND EXPLAIN WHATEVER LEGISLATIVE REMEDY IS ENACTED TO THE ASIAN GOVERNMENTS INVOLVED THROUGH NORMAL DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS, SO

THAT THEY CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THE U.S. LEGISLATION AND

MAY TAKE CORRESPONDING ACTION TO MAKE FACILE IMPLEMENTATION AND THEREBY ASSIST THE USG IN THE GOAL IT

HAS CHOSEN.
74

WITH REGARD TO ALL ASIAN COUNTRIES IN WHICH AMERASIANS ARE TO BE

FOUND IN MATERIALLY SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS, WE RECOMMEND THE BASIC

PROVISIONS OF S-1693, WHILE PREFERRING ITS ADDITION OF A BROADER

GEOGRAPHIC TARGET AREA TO THE ADMINISTRATION'S DRAFT OF SECTION

204, AND WE PREFER DESIGNATION OF THE TARGET PETITIONER AS A SON

OR DAUGHTER OF A USG EMPLOYEE OR U.S. CITIZEN, AS OPPOSED TO THE

EARLIER CAST AS CHILDREN OF U.S. ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL. WE BELIEVE

THAT SENATOR DENTON'S DIRECTION IN AMENDMENT NO, 1306 TO CONSIDER

THE APPEARANCE OF THE PETITIONER TO ALSO BE WELL ADVISED.

THERE IS ALSO THE NEED FOR THE INVOLVEMENT OF PRIVATE VOLUNTARY

ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS MATTER AS SUGGESTED BY CONGRESSMAN MC KINNEY

IN H.R. 808. WITHOUT SUCH INTERMEDIARY ROLE PLAYING, VIRTUALLY

NOTHING CAN RESULT, AND VERY LITTLE HAS, IN THE ABSENCE OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE SRV AND THE USG. WE ARE MAKING NO

COMMENT OR RECOMMENDATION, AT THIS TIME, CONCERNING THAT ISSUE.

WITH REGARD TO VIETNAM, THE SRV GOVERNMENT HAS RECENTLY EXPRESSED

ITS PREPAREDNESS TO DEAL WITH THIS QUESTION BY DEFINING THREE

CATEGORIES OF AMERASIANS:

CATEGORY I

AMERASIANS WHOSE FATHERS ARE KNOWN OR OTHERWISE

COME TO BE KNOWN AND WHO DEMONSTRATE A DESIRE TO HAVE

THEIR CHILDREN OR ADOLESCENTS, AS THE CASE MAY BE,

WILL BE PERMITTED TO JOIN THE NATURAL HEAD OF THEIR

HOUSEHOLD IN THE U.S.

CATFGORY II

PRESUMED AMERASIANS, WHO MAY LACK SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION BUT WHOSE FATHERS ARE KNOWN, WILL BE PERMITTED

TO LEAVE VIETNAM AND ENTER THE UNITED STATES.

CATEGORY III

PRESUMED AMERASIANS WHO LACK SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION

MAY BE PERMITTED TO LEAVE VIETNAM SUBJECT TO A CASE
75

BY CASE REVIEW OF THE STATUS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF

EACH SUCH INDIVIDUAL,

AT PRESENT, THE SRV VIEWS AMERASIANS AS U.S. NATIONALS. THE USG

VIEWS VIETNAMESE-AMERASIANS AS SRV NATIONALS. THE LIMITED POINT

OF AGREEMENT IS THAT THE MATTER SHOULD BE REVIEWED ON A CASE BY

CASE BASIS.

DOS VIETNAM AMERASIAN-SPECIFIC ODP POLICY FORMULATION COULD BE OF

SERVICE TO SUCH AN AMERASIAN TARGET GROUP. SIMILAR POLICY FORMULATION COULD BE ADVANCED WITH REGARD TO LAOS. IT IS THE FOUNDATION'S

BELIEF THAT FEW AMERASIANS SURVIVE IN KAMPUCHEA BUT SOME DO, IN

FACT, SURVIVE.

THEREFORE, WE FIND THE ADMINISTRATION DRAFT OF SECTION 204, AS

BROADENED BY THE TARGET-AREA OF S. 1698, TO BE A PROPER BASIS FOR

LEGISLATIVE REMEDIAL RELIEF TO THE AMERASIAN CHILDREN.

THE PEARL S. BUCK FOUNDATION RECOMMENDS TO THIS BODY THE MOST

POSITIVE AND SERIOUS DELIBERATION ON THIS ISSUE THAT IT MAY AFFORD.

WE FURTHER RECOMMEND THAT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE REPORT TO THE

FLOOR OF REMEDIAL LEGISLATION IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE UNITED

STATES OF AMERICA AND IN KEEPING WITH THE POLICY OF THIS ADMINISTRATION, AS WE KNOW IT.

CERTAINLY THERE EXISTS SUFFICIENT PROPOSALS TO ESTABLISH A LIMITED

YET HUMANE AND EFFECTIVE LEGISLATIVE REMEDY, IT IS TIME TO MAKE A

START, SOME OF OUR CHILDREN WANT TO COME HOME,

WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY TO CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THE U.S.

GOVERNMENT ON A PARTICULAR ISSUE RELATING TO HALF-CASTE CHILDREN,

JESUS BADE US: SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME UNTO ME,,.

THE PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION ON THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE CHILD

ISSUED A REPORT RECOMMENDING THE REVIEW WHICH THIS BODY IS NOW

CONDUCTING. THE USG IS SIGNATORY TO THE U.N, DECLARATION OF

THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD, WHICH DOCUMENT POINTS UP AND DESCRIBES
76

THE DENIAL AS DEPRIVATIONS WHICH FACE AMERASIAN CHILDREN.

ON AN EMOTIONAL NOTE, EMMA LAZURUS, WHO WROTE THE WORDS INSCRIBED

ON THE BASE OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY, NEVER EXPECTED THE "WRETCHED

REFUSE" TO CONSIST OF AMERICA'S OWN THROWAWAY CHILDREN, SHE COULD

NOT CONCEIVE THAT THE "GOLDEN DOOR" WOULD ONE DAY BE BARRED TO

AMERICA'S OWN.

PEARL BUCK STATED THAT WHEN THE PRICE OF POLICY OF ANY NATION IS

CHILDREN, THE PRICE IS TOO HIGH. LET IT BE CLEAR THAT AMERICA HAS

NOT INTENDED NOR MADE DELIBERATE THE PLIGHT OF AMERASIAN CHILDREN,

BUT LET IT BE AMERICA'S FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS TO EXERCISE ITS •

TRADITIONAL, INTENDED AND DELIBERATE ROLE IN CARING FOR CHILDREN,

THIS TIME ITS OWN.

THE PEARL BUCK FOUNDATION STANDS READY TO ASSIST, EVEN TO PROVIDING

THE MODEL SHOULD THE U.S. PURSUE THE FRENCH EXAMPLE, IN THIS HUMAN

RIGHTS QUESTION.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF ADDRESSING THIS BODY ON SO IMPORTANT

AN ISSUE. THE FOUNDATION DEEPLY APPRECIATES THIS OPPORTUNITY, AS

I DO, PERSONALLY.

THIS CONCLUDES THE FOUNDATION STATEMENT.

...GIVE ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR, YOUR

HUDDLED MASSES YEARNING TO BREATHE FREE,

THE WRETCHED REFUSE OF YOUR TEEMING SHORES,

SEND THESE, THE HOMELESS, TEMPEST TOST TO ME.

I LIFT MY LAMP BESIDE THE GOLDEN DOOR,
77

Senator SIMPSON. NOW, Mr. Martindale.

STATEMENT OF WALTER MARTINDALE

Mr. MARTINDALE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity

to share with you my personal and professional views concerning

the status of American-Asian children remaining in Asia.

My testimony is based upon 13 years of Federal service, of which

over 10 years was spent engaged in consular and refugee affairs

with the military, U.S. State Department and the Agency for International Development. As a Foreign Service officer overseas, I was

not allowed in the isolation of our embassies, as duties dictated

that I live and work at the grassroots level.

This was necessary in order to better understand the country of

assignment, its people, culture, history, as to better implement government policies consistent with U.S. interests.

My educational studies, government duties, professional acquaintances and friends in this part of the world have gained me a

great appreciation for the Asian cultures, their traditions and aspirations of the people. It is with this understanding and insight, as

well as information gained from Asian colleagues across the years

that I present my thoughts on the subject of Amerasian children.

The plight of the Amerasian child is one which most Americans

are either unaware of, have chosen to ignore, or have misconceptions concerning them as a group. Americans have usually considered their numbers too small to be an issue and have assumed that

they have been accepted and cared for by the government and

country of birth. In cold reality, these children of mixed heritage in

Asia more often lead a painful existence as they are not readily accepted or assimilated into these homogeneous racial societies.

These strictly structured societies, intentionally and unintentionally, stigmatize these children not only due to their mixed blood

and western physical features, but concurrently due to the status

assigned them in the social hierarchy. Regardless of how well one

of these children excells or how good their knowledge of the language or culture, they are still basically considered outsiders, a foreigner within their own country.

A case in fact involves a popular young singer in Korea of mixed

parentage, who told friends that he will eventually have to go to

America as he does not feel at home in Korea even though he has

lived there his whole life and is a commercial success. To go further, although these children may enjoy individual compassion,

they can spend their entire youth, if not entire life, as an object of

sometimes scorn, abuse, ridicule and/or discrimination by fellow

countrymen.

They feel they do not belong and know they are different, but

are not responsible and cannot change their fate. These children

hurt and have to carry this extra baggage of emotional stress with

them in their already-difficult transition into adulthood.

The Amerasian children, as a group and individually, endure

common problems throughout Asia in their attempts to live in

these strict and stratified cultures, although their situations may

differ somewhat country to country. For example, in Korea, with a

strong infrastructure of active Christian dominations as well as the
78

traditional Buddhist faith, mixed blood children may receive some

assistance.

Nevertheless, this does not make them feel more accepted or fulfill their need to belong.

In Thailand, people of mixed parentage are immediately ostracized as illegitimate offspring between foreigners and Thais of a

lower class, such as prostitutes. This outlook is also shared by traditionalist Vietnamese. The greater tragedy for these minors of

mixed blood in Vietnam is that they now live under a Communist

regime which will not let them forget who they are and the sins of

their fathers, and which, because of their failures as a government

and system, the regime cannot feed them and/or will not educate

them.

People must understand that these children as a whole face discrimination in Asia due to their American heritage, particularly

those black Amerasians. I have personally witnessed this time and

time again from the marketplace of the Vietnam highlands to the

refugee camps of Malaysia.

My most recent recollection is last year in the Bidong Refugee

Camp in Malaysia. Among the almost 30,000 refugees on this small

island, I kept seeing the face of a tall American looking teenager.

He had left Vietnam by boat, as he told me, since life had become

unbearable and he was looking for his father, a lieutenant colonel

in the U.S. Marines who was an adviser in Danang. He had his father's name and address in Arlington, Va., but no other information. The cable we sent to the colonel went unanswered and, under

current refugee criteria, we could not give him any special consideration even though we tried to help by getting him accepted as a

minor in the U.S. program.

There are many who have been deserted by both parents, orphaned by events of history. I have seen too often their faces in the

streets of Asia, searching for some type of recognition.

To make my point further, here I will share something that I

have not related to my own adopted children, who are VietnameseAmerican and are here today. Their mother, a Catholic from North

Vietnam, pleaded with me in 1973 in Plieku Province that I take

the children, not because she did not love them, but because she

was afraid that she could not care for them due to her failing

health and the war. She also believed there was no real place for

them in Vietnam, particularly if the Communists won, and recounted the acts of revenge by the Viet Minh against the halfFrench children in 1954 after the French defeat. She further believed, as I do, that these children and children like them would

have a happier, more equitable opportunity to achieve their potential in a multiracial society such as the United States.

It will take some congressional efforts to establish the guidelines

of an Amerasian assistance program, but the framework is already

in place within the context of the U.S. refugee and immigration

programs.

The State Department, the Immigration Service, the Department

of Health and Human Service and U.S. volunteer agencies all

maintain the ability, resources, personnel and expertise to initiate

this acceptance policy to include identification, documentation, and

processing.
79

We are not talking about vast numbers of Amerasian entrants,

and now have some 2,000 appeals in such cases from Vietnam, although the total number of such children has been estimated to be

as high as 20,000.

If we were able to house, feed, clothe, and process 40,000 refugees

at one time in Guam in 1975, surely we could handle this much

smaller number over a period of time.

In fact, we should also be sure to include these young adults of

mixed blood who have also been denied their rights, possibly giving

them preferred and preference for immigration.

The French have recognized and accepted their mixed blood children. So should we.

It was in part the consequences of U.S. foreign policy and the

presence of Americans in Asia, both military and civilian, that we

find this shameful current dilemma of these special children. They

should not be made to bear the burden of our policies nor be denied

the rights of their American heritage. They are our obligation. We

cannot turn our backs on them. We must bring our AmericanAsian children home to America.

Thank you.

Senator SIMPSON. Thank you very much.

Ms. Judith Foster, please.

STATEMENT OF JUDITH FOSTER

Ms. FOSTER. Mr. Chairman, members of the subcommittee, I

thank you for inviting me to testify today.

I am Judith Foster. I am an attorney engaged in the practice of

immigration and nationality law in Springfield, Va.

I agree with the apparent intent of the proposed amendment to

remedy the peculiar disabilities of Amerasian children. But these

amendments, as presently drafted, will not accomplish what they

are intended to do.

As presently drafted, the amendment will have no effect at all on

the situation or status of legitimate or legitimized Amerasian children, and it may not even help those who are illegitimate.

I will speak here with reference to three problems presented by

this bill.

First. Amerasian children fall into two groups, legitimate and illegitimate, each presenting a different legal situation and a different set of legal difficulties.

Illegitimate Amerasian children have no special legal ties to, or

claim to protection by the United States. Under current U.S. law,

these children stand in the same position as any other alien seeking to enter the United States. But given their inadequate resources and lack of protection accorded them by their countries of

birth, this operates as an effective and permanent bar to their

entry into the United States.

For illegitimates the proposed amendments provide the first and

only practical means for entry to the United States. However, it is

quite conceivable that the benefits of this amendment will not, in

practice, be extended to illegitimates because of the use of the word

"fathered" in section 212(a)(1)(B). "Father" and "child" are terms

of art in immigration law, and apply only to those parent-offspring
80

relationships arising either in context of a valid, bona fide marriage relationship between the parents at the time the offspring is

born, or arising out of legal legitimation under applicable local

laws during the minority of the offspring. Hence the proposed

amendment, if interpreted consistently with prior law, would not,

in its present form, apply to illegitimates.

If it is the intent of Congress that the benefits of the proposed

amendment apply to illegitimates, then section 212(a)(1)(B) must be

rephrased in language making it clear that a biological, as opposed

to legal, fathering is being referred to.

Second. Under current U.S. law, all legitimate and properly legitimated children born abroad to a U.S. citizen father and an alien

mother are U.S. citizens at birth. The validity of the parents' marriage is determined by the law of the place in which the marriage

was contracted. Substantial numbers of Amerasian children fall

into this group, as their U.S. servicemen fathers did enter into

valid local marriages with their mothers.

The legal and practical situation confronting these legitimate

and legitimated Amerasian children is vastly different from that

confronting illegitimate children. They are already entitled, under

current law, to full U.S. citizenship. The problem is that the Department of State has refused in many cases to issue passports to

such Amerasian children, requiring an unusually high standard of

proof. I have been told directly by State Department officials involved in the handling of such cases that they presume documents

pertaining to marriage in such cases arising out of the Philippines

and other areas of East Asia are fraudulent and that the burden of

proof is on the applicant to prove that the documents are not

fraudulent.

Nowhere has Congress or the Constitution authorized the Department of State to place such an insurmounbable burden of proof

on the shoulders of any claimants to U.S. citizenship.

This heavy burden of proof is not required in cases arising out of

Canada or Europe, where the applicants are usually white and the

local conditions accord them greater resources. Rather, this insurmountable burden of proof is applied solely in cases involving nonwhites, and especially Asians. This pattern and practice of State

Department maladministration extends throughout East Asia, from

the Philippines and Okinawa to Korea. Remedial legislation is very

much needed to change this unconscionable State Department

practice.

Because the proposed amendments apply only to "aliens," none

of their benefits would be available to legitimate or legitimated

Amerasian children unless such children denied their legitimacy

and thus renounced their claim to U.S. citizenship.

If such children did perjure themselves, claiming to be illegitimate, and gained entry to the United States under the proposed

amendments, such perjury, if discovered, would render them deportable, at which point the prior false oath might estop them from

asserting any claim to U.S. citizenship to halt deportation.

Further, the "benefits" accorded by the proposed amendments in

the form of entry to the United States and permanent resident

status, are far less than the benefits of full U.S. citizenship to
81

which these Amerasian children are already legally entitled, but

which they are administratively denied.

But the benefits of the proposed amendments are sufficient that,

if enacted, they would give to illegitimates, in practice, status far

superior to that accorded, in practice, to legitimate and legitimated

children.

Third. Finally, I would like to note that the problem of Amerasian children extends throughout East Asia, from Korea to the

Philippines, from the days of World War II to the present. All

suffer various legal and numerous social, disabilities.

Justice requires that the benefits accorded Amerasian children

born out of the Vietnam war in the handful of countries listed be

extended to all bona fide Amerasian children in East Asia regardless of date or country of birth.

Justice further requires that legitimate children receive status

and privileges no less than those accorded illegitimates.

Senator SIMPSON. Thank you, Ms. Foster.

I have a few questions here.

Father Keane, let me inquire of you with the same question I

asked of the administration panel. Do you have anything to share

with us because of your tremendous experience in this area on

what you believe we might have in the way of a long-term solution

or continuing solution to the problem of Amerasian children?

Are we simply embarked here on a stopgap legislative solution

which will have to be updated in future years because of continuing presence in Asia either of American military or civilians? Are

there policies that might be adopted by this Government to address

this problem, or is that rather just a thought?

Father KEANE. The Department of Defense in Korea and elsewhere has done a lot to educate the troops, the men involved with

these women, regarding their responsibilities, in newspapers and

magazines and over the radio and TV. All the troops arriving in

Korea are subject to a 1-hour program so that they understand

that if they bring a child into the world, this child is going to suffer

difficulties.

But once a man is off duty, he is on his own time and free to do

what he wants pretty much. The publicity doesn't seem to affect

them, at least from my experience in walking through these areas,

it does not seem to cut back on their activities one bit.

As far as limiting the birth of their children the military encouraged that, and certainly efforts at birth control throughout all of

Asia, efforts have been made to educate these women how to do it.

And have been successful.

We should understand, though, that in an Asian culture the only

reason the child is born is that the father says, "I love you and I

want the baby." If he says, "I don't want you and don't want the

baby," the child is not born. In 9 out of 10 cases, an abortion happens.

The only reason the American child is born is because the father

says, "I want you and the baby."

If you can stop the men from promising love and promising to

take care of them, you can stop it, but until that happens, I don't

see how we can do it.
82

Senator SIMPSON. What is the attitude of these children and

adults toward the United States after this unfortunate experience

and the conflict and the feelings that we know are obviously there?

How well adjusted do they become toward themselves, their families and society, as you in your long experience have seen this in

dealing with them?

Father KEANE. In Korea itself?

Senator SIMPSON. Yes.

Father KEANE. The children are usually ashamed of their parents and how they look. Some Amerasians tell me they won't come

out during the day, but only at night. People stare at them. Usually they withdraw from people. There are a number of them that

try to get actively involved in Korean society, but sometimes they

are rather pugnacious, a lot of them feel their hair, or whatever, is

different. Other people kind of gang up on them in fights, and of

course they always lose.

In terms of coming to this country, there seems to be a lot of concern about the older Amerasians having difficulty adapting. Some

of them are 20 and 30 years of age, and yet there are full Asians,

40 or 50 years old, but that doesn't present a problem with their

immigration.

The Amerasians are highly motivated to come here. They see

coming to America in most cases as their only hope in life for anything, and of the older children, I have 34 of them presently here

on a student visa and they are adapting beautifully.

We have older kids, 10, 11, 12, and 14, who have been adopted

and we have had no problems with them. They have all done very

well.

Senator SIMPSON. I understand that the French Government had

a program for children of mixed parentage born during the time

the French were in Vietnam. How did that function? Are you

aware of that?

Father KEANE. AS I understood it, the French Government, when

they were in Vietnam, did realize that in the French Army you

had Americans and British and Germans as part of the French

Foreign Legion. Yet the French Government's attitude was, "They

were there for our government's interest, the national interests of

France," and therefore the French Government had a responsibility. I believe they took 25,000 children back to France with them in

1954. They gave them French citizenship, they paid for their way

over there, and provided for their support in France in foster

homes and paid for their education.

But those that chose to remain with their Vietnamese mothers,

they gave them until the age of 18 to choose French citizenship.

Any time along the line they decided to be a French citizen, they

were issued a French passport and brought to France.

Those who chose to become French citizens and chose to remain

with their Vietnamese mothers, the French Government provided

French education for them in Vietnam and then took them to

France if they chose to go.

Senator SIMPSON. Let me ask you one other question. You are an

extraordinary resource. I was stationed in Germany and saw many

sad effects of mixed parentage in Europe. What did you find in

your research and your personal contact and your ministry about
83

those of mixed parentage in Europe and what occurred with them

versus this group in Korea that you dealt with?

Father KEANE. I understand especially those with black parentage do experience quite a bit of difficulty in Germany. I understand

this from asking around of people who have been there•I have not

been in these countries myself, but I have been interested enough

to ask•that in France there doesn't seem to be a difficulty. It

seems that every country is different. In the Orient, it is kind of a

unique situation. In some countries of Europe it will be a problem

and in some countries not a problem.

Really and truly, if it comes down to it, they are our children,

and we have to ask ourselves how do we fulfill our responsibilities

to them.

Senator SIMPSON. I thank you very much.

Mr. Shade, you say in your testimomy that most Amerasians will

not choose to take advantage of special legislation which might be

enacted and would prefer to remain in their homelands. What evidence do you have to share with us on that assertion, and what

percentage, then, do you believe would like to come to the United

States?

Mr. SHADE. I don't know that I have a specific percentage, Mr.

Chairman. The very concept that we are talking about, for example, in Korea. The very problems that arise within that individual

child, adolescent, young adult, are problems of not fitting into that

society.

The ready answer, then, is not to remove that person from society, because the entire process of socialization, the entire process of

acculturation, again relative to the age group, has taken its toll. It

is sometimes the admission of defeat to leave a country where

people refer to themselves as one blood.

It is the problem of trying to fit into a society, the older the individual, the more acute that sensation. We have seen older Amerasians in Korea turn down offers of study abroad. One might conjecture because it is not permanent. Another would say, "They simply

did not want to leave the land that they love."

But we are not regarding ourselves simply to Korea. We are regarding ourselves also to Thailand and other Asian countries in

more specific instances.

Senator SIMPSON. Does your organization or other agencies provide counseling and information for mothers to prepare their children for the difficulties they may face as they begin this new life,

and participate again in either that society or this one?

Mr. SHADE. Yes, but we operate primarily a sponsorship program

and various licensures within the Asian countries in which we are

located as an adoption entity. We are licensed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania stateside, as a placement agency. We counsel a new case, mother and child, specifically with the mother if we

are dealing with an infant, in terms of the options open to her at

that point in time. We try not to exert pressure, which we find too

often in the field, for adoptive setting or placement. We go back on

a biannual basis to ask the mother's interest in placement, especially in these places where we find the disadvantages are most

acute for the child.
84

Mothers who relinquish their children under those circumstances

to Pearl Buck agencies, to the American Council, a group of voluntary agencies, do so as an expression of love. We hear too much, I

think, about mothers willingly giving up their children. We don't

regard clearly enough the great deal of emotion, love and caring

which these mothers do express in relinquishing their children.

Senator SIMPSON. I thank you.

Mr. Martindale, may I ask you, since we have no real diplomatic

relations with the Government of Vietnam, and since that government is not issuing exit visas to Amerasians, what do we do in the

United States to facilitate the departure of Vietnamese Amerasians from Vietnam?

Mr. MARTINDALE. Mr. Chairman, there is now under the Orderly

Departure Program of the State Department, it is administered in

Bangkok, and in liaison with the United Nations High Commission

for Refugees in Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon, it is through their good

offices that we have handled cases which now qualify under the Orderly Departure Program who have documentation. So that same

framework and that same system can be utilized now. We just

trained•the State Department just trained some people who were

on duty in other refugee camps in the Philippines and Malaysia to

go to Bangkok and work for this specific purpose.

Senator SIMPSON. We know, of course, that we have this orderly

departure program there, and I just wondered how we draft such

sensitive programs with Communist governments in Vietnam, Laos

and Kampuchea, and that has concerned me.

Mr. MARTINDALE. Well, sir, I think the United Nations there

could be the key. They represented our interests on other issues besides the boat people and other issues involving American citizens

who wish to leave Vietnam.

Again, the contact is there, and in terms of expanding it further

and giving better language and more teeth in fact to assist these

people. We do it, incidentally•after I left the Foreign Service last

year, I received a number of letters from former personnel working

for me in Malaysia telling me their success in identifying a number

of Amerasian children among the boat people and being successful

in including them either as minors and also including their mothers in the exit permits.

Senator SIMPSON. MS. Foster, might I ask: Did you know the

House subcommittee amendments to S. 2222 would change the definition of illegitimate child to permit recognition for the establishment of paternity? That is something that we are all interested in,

and of course it would be established through the father. What

impact would that have on the Amerasian problem?

Ms. FOSTER. In cases involving illegitimates where paternity can

be definitely established, that would help the applicant. However,

there are also cases involving illegitimate Amerasians where the

particular father is not known. All that can be determined is that

the father was indeed a U.S. citizen.

Senator SIMPSON. One of the common concerns voiced with

regard to this issue, and which any solution must minimize, is the

potential for fraud. That has been referred to several times. We

know that backlogs for visas from many Asian countries are the
85

heaviest in the world, and that often sham marriages do take

place.

I think you in your practice would know about the marriages

which are contracted for the purpose of solely obtaining a visa

without delay, and those are not uncommon. How can we best

avoid multiplying the level of such activity without jeopardizing

the rights of the Amerasian children whom we are seeking to

assist? I would just appreciate your thoughts as a practitioner.

Ms. FOSTER. Mr. Chairman, fraud is already very vigorously investigated, particularly in Asia. Immigration laws already provide

a variety of benefits obtained through marriages which may take

place in Asia. The same investigation into fraud which is performed in other immigration matters could also be performed in

matters involving the establishment of U.S. citizenship on the part

of legitimate Amerasian children.

Senator SIMPSON. Thank you. Also, I would suggest that you

might contact Ambassador Asencio and consult with him on that

issue that was raised.

I want to thank you all very much. You have been very helpful

to the subcommittee, and I feel certain that we will have something that will be pleasing and truly of humanitarian assistance to

these special people.

Thank you very much.

I think some of the other members of the subcommittee may

have written questions, and I shall submit those and ask your responses.

That concludes this hearing. Thank you very much.

[Whereupon at 4:17 p.m., the subcommittee recessed, to reconvene subject to the call of the Chair.].

APPENDIX

AMERICAN COUNCIL OF

VOLUNTARY AGENCIES FOR FOREIGN SERVICE, INC.,

New York, N.Y., June SO, 1982.

Hon. ALAN K. SIMPSON,

Chairman, Senate Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Policy,

Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.

DEAR SENATOR SIMPSON: On behalf of the Children's Committee of the American

Council of Voluntary Agencies for Foreign Service I would like to express our deep

appreciation for your leadership in holding a hearing on Amerasian children last

Monday, June 21.

We hope that the unanimously positive testimonies from both the Administration's witnesses as well as the representatives from private and voluntary agencies

will lead to further legislative activities on the subject.

The Children's Committee of the American Council would like to submit for inclusion in the records a statement which offers suggestions for a more comprehensive

bill to provide a long-term solution to the problem of Amerasian children. Some of

these suggestions relate to subjects not covered in the current legislation, i.e. the

preservation of relationship between the natural mothers and half-siblings of Amerasian children.

We look forward to an early follow-up of the hearings on the Amerasians. Thank

you for your concern for these unfortunate children and young adults.

Respectfully,

(Mrs.) DAO N. SPENCER,

Secretary, Children's Committee and Assistant Executive Director.

AMERICAN COUNCIL OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES FOR FOREIGN SERVICE, INC., 200 PARK

AVENUE SOUTH, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10003

STATEMENT OF THE CHILDREN'S COMMITTEE ON AMERASIAN CHILDREN AND YOUTHS

The Children's Committee of the American Council of Voluntary Agencies for

Foreign Service welcomes the recent initiatives in both the Senate and the House of

Representatives on behalf of the Amerasians, i.e. children and young adults fathered by U.S. citizens while in Asia. These initiatives are in keeping not only with

the deep concern of the American people for human and civil rights of all the peoples in other parts of the world but also with the multi-racial characteristic of the

U.S. society. As a signatory of the U.N. Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1959)

the U.S. government accepts the principle that each child is entitled to a name, a

nationality, a family, including a father, education and social services. The National

Commission on the International Year of the Child (1979) recommended that "every

child with at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen at the time of the child's birth is

entitled to U.S. citizenship . . . whether or not the child's parents are married, as

long as parentage can be clearly established."

The American public has consistently and generously responded to the needs of

children in cases of disaster and emergencies occurring in foreign countries by indicating their desire to adopt or sponsor, or by offering funds to assist them through

voluntary agencies' programs. Recently programs on the media about the plight of

Amerasian children and youths elicited a great deal of interest and support on the

part of the American people.

In view of the long-standing humane immigration policy of the U.S., its international commitments relating to the rights of children and the demonstrated support

of the American public, it is appropriate for Congress to begin to develop a response

to this problem inherent in the stationing of U.S. troops and personnel on foreign

soil to carry out U.S. foreign policy.

(87)
The Children's Committee of the ACVAFS includes resettlement agencies with

long experience in the placement through family reunification, sponsorship and

adoption of unaccompanied minors and orphans in this country, as well as those

major private voluntary agencies which provide assistance to children in foreign

countries. The Committee would like to offer the following recommendations for

consideration in any legislation relating to Amerasians:

1. Any person with one parent of U.S. citizenship, and who was born outside the

U.S., has two heritages. Such a person should be given the opportunity to exercise

his/her birthright to choose one heritage.

2. Amerasian children and young adults who have special needs and are faced

with social and economic hardhips because of their mixed heritage should be given

an immigration preference as sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, such preference

being subject to the established country quota.

3. Verification procedures should be carried out by a U.S. consular officer in cooperation with the appropriate local government agency and the private and voluntary agencies in the child's country of origin. In the case of Vietnam where the U.S.

has no representatives, steps might be taken to adjust the Orderly Departure Program to include Amerasian children and young adults, as children of U.S. citizens.

4. Provisions should be made in the legislation to avoid unnecessary separation of

minors from their natural mothers and half siblings. Pre-immigration counselling

services should be made available to the Amerasian child and his/her family to determine the placement procedure that is in his/her best interest.

5. The placement of Amerasian children and young adults in the U.S. should be

carried out by well qualified child welfare agencies. Different alternatives such as

family reunification, adoption, foster care or group placement should be considered

according to individual cases.

6. Consideration to the financial status of sponsors should be given in the placement of children so that such children and young adults will not cause excessive

burdens on the existing welfare system.

7. Voluntary agencies should be encouraged to provide assistance to Amerasian

children who remain in Asian countries.

The Children's Committee believes that legislation incorporating the above recommendations would provide an equitable and enduring solution to the long-neglected

problem of Amerasian children.

American Council on Nationalities Service, Pearl S. Buck Foundation, CARE,

Catholic Relief Services, Christian Children's Fund, Church World Service, Holt's

International Children Services, International Social Service/American Branch,

Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service, Save the Children, Young Men's Christian Association, Young Women's Christian Association, International Rescue Committee, United States Catholic Conference/Migration & Refugee Services, and World

Relief Corp.

FORT SANDERS OBSTETRICAL AND GYNECOLOGICAL GROUP P.C.,

Knoxville, Tenn., June 29, 1982.

Hon. ALAN K. SIMPSON,

Chairman, Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Policy,

U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.

DEAR SENATOR SIMPSON: I appreciate your recent letter of report concerning immigration policy. It seems to me that we can no longer be a country that serves as

an area for all other peoples to congregate in.

I am also annoyed with the recent fact that it has been reported that all immigrants are on the Social Security role and unemployment roles for many months

after they come to this country. Then the government turns around and suggests

that everybody that was here prior to the late 1970's be considered a legal resident.

That is only going to encourage more of what we are talking about.

Respectfully yours,

A. W. DIDDLE, M.D.

o