SCHUMER ANNOUNCES NEW POLICY TO HELP REUNITE FILIPINO WWII VETERANS & THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS WITH THEIR LOVED ONES ABROAD; DEPT. OF HOMELAND SECURITY WILL FINALLY ALLOW CERTAIN VETERAN FAMILY MEMBERS TO COME TO THE U.S. EXPEDITIOUSLY, AHEAD OF VISA
During WWII, Approximately 3,000 Filipino Soldiers Enlisted & Fought in the United States Armed Forces
Schumer Announces New DHS Policy Will Allow Certain Filipino WWII Veteran Family Members to Seek Discretionary Grant of Parole to Come to U.S.; Schumer Says This Will Encourage Family Unity and Improved Quality of Life for Filipino-American Veterans
Schumer: This is a Long Overdue Measure To Support Family Unification for Heroic Filipino Veterans – Who Helped America in Its Hour of Need
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will allow certain Filipino World War II veteran family members who are beneficiaries of approved family-based immigrant visa petitions an opportunity to seek a discretionary grant of parole, on a case-by-case basis. According to DHS, this measure would allow approved family members to come to the United States while they wait for their visa to become available.
“This effort to ease family reunification is long overdue, but it is the right thing to do for the heroic Filipino WWII veterans who aided America in our hour of need. Our Filipino WWII veterans fought selflessly and valiantly for America and for that, we owe them a debt of gratitude,” said Schumer. “This measure reunites Filipino veterans and their family members with their loved ones abroad by expeditiously allowing them to come to the United States.”
In 1941, Filipinos in the United States began to enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces, and formed the First and Second Filipino Infantry Regiments. Today, nearly 18,000 of the 300,000 Filipino soldiers who fought in World War II are living in the United States and the Philippines. Their courageous contribution attests to the Allied victory in the Pacific. The brave Filipinos who supported the U.S. during World War II consisted of soldiers, scouts and guerrillas whose persistence and commitment to the country made them invaluable members of the Armed Forces. Filipino soldiers participated in a myriad of military operations, including infantry combat, intelligence, sabotage, demolition, and reconnaissance.
Schumer today announced the new DHS measure, titled the “Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program.” Specifically, the new policy will allow Filipino World War II veterans and surviving spouses who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents to request parole on behalf of family members awaiting approval to come to the United States. The policy will go into effect for applications submitted beginning June 8th. Schumer says that prospective applicants should contact his office with any questions or concerns throughout the application process. Eligible individuals are encouraged to request parole under the program within the next five years. Details can be found at http://www.uscis.gov/fwvp.
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