AMERASIAN IMMIGRATION ACT AMENDMENTS
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PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATE OF THE 104TH CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION, WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1995.
SENATE
By Mr. Enouye
S. 57 A bill to amend the Immigrations and Nationality Act to facilitate the immigration to the United States of
certain aliens born in the Philippines or Japan who were fathered by United States citizens; to the Committee
on the Judiciary,
MR. ENOUYE:
Mr. President, today, I rise to introduce legislation which amends Public Law 97-359, the Amerasian
Immigration Act, to include Amerasian children from the Philippines and Japan as eligible applicants. This
legislation also expands the eligibility period for the Philippines until the last United States military base
closure and until the date of enactment of the proposed legislation for Japan.
Under the current Amerasian immigration law, only children born in Korea, Laos, Kampuchea, Thailand and
Vietnam after December 31, 1950, and before October 22, 1982, who were fathered by United States citizens
are allowed to immigrate to the United States. When this legislation was first introduced in the 97th Congress,
it included Amerasian born in the Philippines and Japan with no time limits concerning their births. The final
version of this bill, however, included only areas where the United States had engaged in active military
combat from the Korean War onward, and hence, excluded both the Philippines and Japan.
Although the Philippines and Japan were not considered a war zone from 1950 to 1982, the extent and nature
of United States Military involvement in both countries were quite similar to the involvement of the United
States military in other Asian countries during the Korean and Vietnam wars. As a result, interracial marriages
in both countries were common, thereby leading to a significant number of Amerasian children fathered by
U.S. citizens. There are now over 50,000 Amerasian children in Japan born between 1987 and 1992.
These children face similar problems to the Amerasian children provided for under Public Law 97-359. Due
to the illegitimate or mixed ethnic make-up, they are often ostracized within their home countries. This
stigmatization, in turn, leaves many without viable opportunities of employment, education, or family life. As a
result, Amerasian children are subjected to conditions of severe poverty and prejudice with very little hope of
escaping their plight.
Public Law 97-359 was passed in hopes of redressing the situation of Amerasian children in Korea, Laos,
Kampuchea, Thailand and Vietnam. Now is the time for the Senate to recognize our responsibilities to
Amerasian children in the Philippines and Japan, and pass legislation that would lessen the severity of their
impoverished lives.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of my bill be placed in the Record.
Their being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 57
Be enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress
Assembled, that Section 204 (f)(2)(A) is amended-
(1) by inserting "(I)" after "born", and (2) by inserting after "subsection," the following "(II) in the Philippines
after 1950 and before November 24, 1992, or (III) in Japan after 1950 and before the date of enactment of this
sub clause. # #
During my last visit to the office of Senator Daniel Enouye, I met with Legislative Staff member Mary Blanco.
Mary suggested that S. 57 do not have enough co-sponsors, therefore, we will wait for a future immigration bill
and add it on to it. That future is now.
We look forward for your support. Please contact me if you have some questions or suggestions regarding
the bill.
Sincerely,
Ernesto Gange
Chairman
American Filipino Public Affairs Council
3550 West Drive
Bensalem, Pa 19020-1124
Cellular : 267.229.4267
Email: Ernesto1gange@aol.com
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