US and Vietnam sign repatriation agreement
FYI: we've been hearing about this possibility since u.s. signed one with cambodian. this is very bad news. tho the article doesn't mention, it seems likely they will also deport "legal" folks who have "aggravated" felonies just like the cambodian MOU. will try to find out more info. if you hear anything, please share.
Thousands of Vietnamese living illegally in U.S. face deportation
By Margie Mason
Associated Press
Article Launched: 01/22/2008 06:23:24 AM PST
HANOI, Vietnam - Thousands of Vietnamese living illegally in the United
States now face deportation after the two countries completed an agreement
today following a decade of work on the pact, a U.S. official said.
Vietnamese who entered the U.S. illegally after the former foes normalized
relations in 1995 could now be forced to return to their birth country, said
Julie Myers, director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
About 6,200 Vietnamese were given final deportation orders before the
agreement's completion, and 1,500 more are involved in proceedings to
eventually be sent home, Myers said during a visit to Vietnam.
She did not say how many Vietnamese are believed to be living illegally in
the United States.
The repatriation agreement provides steps for the U.S. to deport the
Southeast Asian country's citizens who lack required documents, and for
Vietnam to receive them.
The deal has been under negotiation for 10 years. Vietnam had previously
been reluctant to accept citizens back.
"Vietnam has actually been a country that has been problematic for a long
time, and this agreement we believe marks a new step toward making this
process move more smoothly," Myers told The Associated Press.
More than 1.5 million overseas Vietnamese - the largest population outside
Vietnam - live in the United States. Many fled their native country in boats
after the Vietnam War ended in 1975 and northern communist forces took
control of the former South Vietnam, which the U.S. had backed.
Thousands of Vietnamese living illegally in U.S. face deportation
By Margie Mason
Associated Press
Article Launched: 01/22/2008 06:23:24 AM PST
HANOI, Vietnam - Thousands of Vietnamese living illegally in the United
States now face deportation after the two countries completed an agreement
today following a decade of work on the pact, a U.S. official said.
Vietnamese who entered the U.S. illegally after the former foes normalized
relations in 1995 could now be forced to return to their birth country, said
Julie Myers, director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
About 6,200 Vietnamese were given final deportation orders before the
agreement's completion, and 1,500 more are involved in proceedings to
eventually be sent home, Myers said during a visit to Vietnam.
She did not say how many Vietnamese are believed to be living illegally in
the United States.
The repatriation agreement provides steps for the U.S. to deport the
Southeast Asian country's citizens who lack required documents, and for
Vietnam to receive them.
The deal has been under negotiation for 10 years. Vietnam had previously
been reluctant to accept citizens back.
"Vietnam has actually been a country that has been problematic for a long
time, and this agreement we believe marks a new step toward making this
process move more smoothly," Myers told The Associated Press.
More than 1.5 million overseas Vietnamese - the largest population outside
Vietnam - live in the United States. Many fled their native country in boats
after the Vietnam War ended in 1975 and northern communist forces took
control of the former South Vietnam, which the U.S. had backed.