REFUGEES FROM SOUTHEAST ASIA.

SEC. 906. REFUGEES FROM SOUTHEAST ASIA. (a) Findings.— The Congress finds that— (1) the United States remains firmly committed to the security of Thailand and to improving relations between our two nations; (2) the United States refugee resettlement and humanitarian assistance programs constitute an important factor in bilateral relations between the United States and Thailand; (3) the preservation of first asylum for those fleeing persecution is one of the primary objectives of the United States refugee program; 101 STAT. 1405 (4) the actions of another government in labeling refugee populations as “displaced persons” or closing its borders to new arrivals shall not constitute a barrier to the United States considering those individuals or groups to be refugees; (5) it is in the national interest to facilitate the reunification of separated families of United States citizens and permanent residents, and the Congress will look with disfavor on any nation which seriously hinders emigration for such reunifications; (6) the persecution of the Cambodian people under the Khmer Rouge rule from 1975–1979, which caused the deaths of up to two million people and in which the bulk of the Khmer people were subjected to life in an Asian Auschwitz, constituted one of the clearest examples of genocide in recent history; and (7) the invasion of Cambodia by Vietnam and the subsequent occupation of that country by 140,000 Vietnamese troops backing up the Heng Samrin regime, which itself continues to seriously violate the human rights of Cambodians, and the presence of 40,000 heavily armed troops under the control of the same Khmer Rouge leaders, overwhelmingly demonstrate that the life or freedom of any Cambodian not allied with the Khmer Rouge or supporting Heng Samrin would be seriously endangered if such individual were forced by a country of first asylum to return to his or her homeland. (b) Statement of Policy.— It is the sense of the Congress that— (1) any Cambodians who are, or had been, at Khao I Dang camp should be considered and interviewed for eligibility for the United States refugee program, irrespective of the date they entered Thailand or that refugee camp; (2) any Cambodian rejected for admission to the United States who can demonstrate new or additional evidence relating to his claim should have his or her case reviewed; (3) the United States should work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Government of Thailand to improve the security of all refugee facilities in Thailand and to prevent the forced repatriation of Cambodian refugees; (4) the United States should treat with utmost seriousness the continued reports of forced repatriations to Laos of would-be asylum seekers, and should lodge strong and continuous protests with the Thai Government to bring about an end to these repatriations, which endanger the life and safety of those involuntarily returned to Laos; and (5) within the Orderly Departure Program the United States will give high priority consideration to determining the eligibility of serious health cases and cases involving children separated from both parents.