
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, July 30, 1990                   TAG: 9007280191
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DOUGLAS PARDUE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

U.S. WELCOMES ALL AMERASIANS WISHING TO IMMIGRATE

America watched, stunned and helpless, in the late 1970s as thousands of Vietnamese fled their country in crowded, flimsy boats. Many drowned or were murdered by pirates.

The desperate pursuit of freedom continued until the United States, Vietnam and more than 20 other countries in 1980 arranged the Orderly Departure Program, designed to give refugees and emigrants an alternative to fleeing in boats.

The United States and the other nations offered to accept certain numbers of refugees and Vietnam agreed to set up a processing system to allow the people to leave.

Two years later Vietnam also agreed to a U.S. request for an orderly departure of Amerasians, their mothers and other family members. No accurate count of Amerasians has been made, but the government estimates the number at 15,000. Other estimates put the number at more than double that.

Whatever the number, the government's policy is to permit immigration by all Amerasians who want to come, along with their immediate family members.

Since 1980, about 10,000 Amerasians have arrived, along with more than 21,000 relatives. This year 15,000 more Amerasians and family members are expected.

The initial Amerasian program didn't work well, and was stopped by Vietnam in 1986. Vietnam didn't want Amerasians classified as if they were refugees fleeing persecution; and the Vietnamese government denied U.S. allegations that Amerasians were subjected to systematic discrimination and abuse.

In 1987, the United States and Vietnam worked out the Amerasian Homecoming Act. Under that agreement, Amerasians and immediate family members are admitted to the United States as immigrants, but are eligible for refugee benefits.

The change was "really a cosmetic thing, but it pleased the Vietnamese," according to William Eckhof, deputy director of operations with the Office of Refugee Resettlement of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Immigrants essentially receive no special benefits, but as refugees the Amerasians get six months of cultural orientation and basic English in the Philippines.

They then get resettlement assistance through private voluntary agencies when they arrive in the United States. The government provides the agencies $525 per person for resettlement. The agencies are free to use that money as they wish. Some spend most of it on administration and services, others give lump sums to the refugees.

by CNB