Sensenbrenner & Miller Introduce Tibetan Refugee Assistance Act
Washington,
Mar 9 -
In advance of Tuesday’s 50th anniversary of Tibet’s failed revolt against Chinese rule, Congressman George Miller (D, CA) and Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R, WI) introduced the Tibetan Refugee Assistance Act to provide 3,000 immigrant visas to displaced Tibetans.
Under current law, Tibetans are often considered “firmly resettled” in a third country which frequently renders them inadmissible to the U.S. The legislation, The Tibetan Refugee Assistance Act, addresses this problem by providing 3,000 immigrant visas to qualified displaced Tibetans and the people of Nepal over a three year period. With very few alternative options available to Tibetans, they have migrated to Nepal at a rate of 2,500 each year. Reports indicate there are already 20,000 to 25,000 Tibetans living in Nepal.
“My trip to India last March to meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, head of state and spiritual leader of Tibet, was one of the most memorable experiences of my life,” Sensenbrenner said. “The Tibetan people have had a constant struggle to free themselves from the Chinese government. The legislation Congressman Miller and I introduced will provide relief to the Tibetans and also the people of Nepal, who could probably use some help after hosting tens of thousands of refugees over the years.”
Miller said he was pleased to be able to take bi-partisan legislative action on behalf of the Tibetan people.
“This bill can help the Tibetan people who remain displaced around the world 50 years after the Dalai Lama was forced to take refuge in India and tens of thousands Tibetans left their homeland,” said Miller, who joined Sensenbrenner and Speaker Pelosi on the visit to the Dalia Lama last March.
“Our legislation represents one small but significant step that the Congress can take to help the Tibetan people,” Miller added. “Tibetans face severe persecution under the Chinese government and must be recognized by the United States for refugee assistance. I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with Rep. Sensenbrenner and our other colleagues to address this particular problem and I look forward to working with the State Department as this bill moves forward.”
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