Bill To Allow Iraqi Refugees Into U.S. Passes House
BY JOHN TOSCANO

A bill designed to speed the processing of Iraqi people who are seeking refuge in the United States and to provide special immigrant status for those who rendered "faithful and valuable service" to the U.S. in Iraq has been passed by Congress.

Congressmember Gary Ackerman, who authored the measure, stated upon its passage: "It is well past time for the United States to acknowledge the debt we owe those Iraqis who risked their lives for us and I am pleased that the house was able to expand both the number of special immigrant visas and those who qualify."

Ackerman (D- Bayside/Long Island) said the aim of the bill was to require the president to develop and present to Congress policy and legislative proposals to improve assistance for all Iraqi refugees.

It also was intended to bring to safety in the U.S. those Iraqis and their families who face persecution and physical jeopardy as a consequence of having worked for the U.S. or the Coalition in Iraq, Ackerman noted.

"I am pleased that elements of my legislation are reflected in the conference agreement on which the final language in the bill is based," he added.

Speaking about the policy intent reflected in the measure, Ackerman declared: "Whether you support the president's plan, or believe we need to bring our troops home, America has a clear moral obligation to both the millions of Iraqis who have become refugees because of our invasion- however well intentioned- but even more so and especially to the thousands of Iraqis who because of their allegiance to us, have no future in their own country.

"The people who put their lives, and those of their families, on the line by assisting the United States government, our armed forces and our Coalition partners must not be abandoned in their hour of need."

Ackerman explained that the provisions concerning Iraqi refugees were passed as part of H.R. 1585, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. As chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, he was a conferee on the bill for the foreign affairs-related provisions.

The bill, according to Ackerman, requires the Secretary of State to establish refugee processing facilities in Iraq; clarifies who qualifies as a refugee of special humanitarian concern; expands the number and broadens the definition on those Iraqis eligible for special immigrant visas; establishes Special Coordinators for Iraqi refugees in regional embassies; requires diplomatic consultation with neighboring countries; requires a series of reports from the president and the Secretary of State on expediting refugee processing, and establishes a database of Iraqis who were employed by the United States government or U.S. contractors.

The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.