House votes to increase translator visas |
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Tue, 22 May 2007 23:11
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WASHINGTON (AP) - Iraqi and Afghan translators, frequently in danger because of their association with Americans, would get more U.S. visas to leave the country under legislation passed by the House on Tuesday.The bill, approved 412-8, would increase special immigrant visas granted to translators to 500 a year. A 2006 defense bill set the number of visas for translators who had worked a year for the U.S. military at 50 a year.There's currently a nine-year backlog in acting on those eligible for U.S. admission.'The urgency of the situation requires us to act now,' said Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee panel on terrorism. He said translators have been singled out as collaborators, and 'many are now targeted by death squads, militia and al-Qaida.''I believe it is right and just to offer refuge to those who have helped our troops and our nation,' said Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., sponsor of the House bill.Supporters of the legislation stressed that increased visas for translators addressed only a small part of what Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., called 'the fastest-growing humanitarian crisis in the world.'An estimated 2 million Iraqis have fled the country because of the war and the sectarian violence while another 2 million have been displaced internally. The Bush administration, under fire for allowing less than 800 Iraqi refugees into the country since the war began in 2003, recently announced it would issue 7,000 visas this year.The House-passed bill differs slightly from legislation, sponsored by Sens. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., that passed the Senate last month. A Senate vote on the House version would send it to the president for his signature.Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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