Rep. Lofgren Introduces Amerasian Naturalization Act
June 1, 2005
Media Contact: Heather Wong, 202.225.3072
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) Thursday introduced H.R. 2687, the Amerasian Naturalization Act, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for equal treatment of Amerasians relative to American citizenship.
“There is no doubt that Amerasians are the sons and daughters of American fathers. Our American government already made that determination when we admitted them to the United States as legal permanent residents,” said Rep. Lofgren. “These individuals have lived through devastation during war, have been mistreated by their governments because of their mixed race and many now live in the United States, but only as legal permanent residents. Now is the time to treat them as the U.S. citizens they are and give them the equality they deserve.”
Unlike other foreign-born offspring of American fathers, Amerasians are required to apply for naturalization and fulfill all the requirements of naturalization like immigrants who do not have U.S. citizen parents. This lengthy process is not ordinarily required of the sons and daughters of American citizens who gain U.S. citizenship based on the American citizenship of their parent.
“Amerasians deserve equal treatment under the law. It is time for us to finally close a chapter in our history that has too long denied Amerasians the equality of citizenship based on their father’s American citizenship” Rep Lofgren said.
The Amerasian Naturalization Act would confer automatic U.S. citizenship upon Amerasians who legally entered the U.S., or do so in the future, through the Amerasian Homecoming Act of 1988 or Section 204(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. For those who already entered, they would become U.S. citizens upon the effective date of the Amerasian Naturalization Act without having to undergo any additional processes. Those who enter in the future would attain U.S. citizenship once they legally enter and reside in the U.S. through the Amerasian Homecoming Act of 1988 or Section 204(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) Thursday introduced H.R. 2687, the Amerasian Naturalization Act, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for equal treatment of Amerasians relative to American citizenship.
“There is no doubt that Amerasians are the sons and daughters of American fathers. Our American government already made that determination when we admitted them to the United States as legal permanent residents,” said Rep. Lofgren. “These individuals have lived through devastation during war, have been mistreated by their governments because of their mixed race and many now live in the United States, but only as legal permanent residents. Now is the time to treat them as the U.S. citizens they are and give them the equality they deserve.”
Unlike other foreign-born offspring of American fathers, Amerasians are required to apply for naturalization and fulfill all the requirements of naturalization like immigrants who do not have U.S. citizen parents. This lengthy process is not ordinarily required of the sons and daughters of American citizens who gain U.S. citizenship based on the American citizenship of their parent.
“Amerasians deserve equal treatment under the law. It is time for us to finally close a chapter in our history that has too long denied Amerasians the equality of citizenship based on their father’s American citizenship” Rep Lofgren said.
The Amerasian Naturalization Act would confer automatic U.S. citizenship upon Amerasians who legally entered the U.S., or do so in the future, through the Amerasian Homecoming Act of 1988 or Section 204(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. For those who already entered, they would become U.S. citizens upon the effective date of the Amerasian Naturalization Act without having to undergo any additional processes. Those who enter in the future would attain U.S. citizenship once they legally enter and reside in the U.S. through the Amerasian Homecoming Act of 1988 or Section 204(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
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