WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representatives Howard L. Berman (D-CA), Trent Franks (R-AZ), Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) and Robert J. Dold (R-IL) on Monday led a bi-partisan letter signed by 64 Members of Congress urging the House Judiciary Committee to swiftly reauthorize the “Lautenberg Amendment,” which is a lifeline for historically persecuted minorities escaping to seek refuge in the United States. Without congressional action, the provision is set to expire on June 1, 2011.
First enacted in 1989, the Lautenberg Amendment was created to facilitate refugee processing for historically persecuted Jews and Christians in the former Soviet Union and areas of Indochina. In 2003, the measure was expanded to include religious minorities from Iran. Today, the program’s beneficiaries are predominantly Iranian Jews, Baha’is and Christians. With no U.S. Embassy in Tehran, the expiration of the program would force persecuted Iranian religious minorities to flee to dangerous neighboring countries such as Pakistan, where – prior to Iran’s inclusion in the Lautenberg Amendment – a dozen Iranian Jews refugees disappeared en route.
“The safety of many Iranians seeking refuge from persecution is hanging in the balance and we must act,” said Rep. Berman. “I am committed to working with my colleagues on the Judiciary committee to ensure the clock does not run out and we can continue to assist Iranian religious minorities in need of help.”
“The situation for Iranian minorities is dangerous. We cannot slam their door to freedom. I call on Chairman Lamar Smith to act quickly and responsibly,” said Rep. Waxman, who represents one of the largest concentrations of Iranian Americans in the United States.
“The United States has a proud history of opening its arms to religiously oppressed individuals who simply yearn to practice their faith freely. In this spirit, I urge reauthorization of the Lautenberg Amendment,” said Rep. Dold. “We have a responsibility to stand with the Baha’i, Jewish, and Christian minorities imprisoned inside Iran by their current regime.”
The letter was also led by Rep. Franks, a Judiciary Committee member and a co-Chair of the Congressional Task Force on International Religious Freedom.
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Preceding provided by Congressman Waxman