IMMIGRATION & FOREIGN RELATIONS

Neil Abercrombie has long been an advocate for comprehensive immigration reform that addresses matters like backlogs for family reunification, workplace enforcement, due process, humane enforcement that respects the needs of children and other vulnerable community members, detention standards, and border security. As the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Immigration Taskforce Chairman, Rep. Abercrombie played an active role in supporting Congressional efforts for comprehensive immigration reform, including co- sponsoring the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America’s Security and Prosperity (CIR ASAP) Act of 2009.

During the recent healthcare reform debates, Abercrombie supported the elimination of the five year waiting period for legal immigrants in the Medicaid program; and opposed the imposition of any further barriers on legal immigrants seeking to access federal health programs, including waiting periods to obtain affordability credits to purchase health insurance.

Abercrombie also supported the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act (H.R. 1287 in the 111th Congress). The bill is intended to further recognize the World War II service of the approximately 7,000 Filipino veterans, who were naturalized under the Immigration Act of 1990 and now reside in the United States. The bill seeks to 8 reunite these veterans with their families by exempting their adult children, many who have been on immigration waiting lists for decades, from the worldwide and numerical limitations on immigrant visas.

As a member of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, Abercrombie’s commitment to human rights for men and women around the globe has been resolute and unwavering. He has supported aid to the victims of human trafficking who end up in the United States, while also urging the State Department, through USAID and our European Union allies, to provide assistance to African and Asian governments to fight human trafficking in a holistic manner. Abercrombie focused particular attention on the suppression of women in countries like Afghanistan, supporting and lobbying for funding and legislation like the Afghan Women Empowerment Act.

As an early supporter of legislation aimed at suppressing human trafficking and supporting human rights, Abercrombie also worked on individual cases of illegal and inhumane detention. One Honolulu resident was imprisoned for peaceful pro- democracy activities in Vietnam. Abercrombie campaigned for his release, the resident was freed, and Abercrombie continued to fight for the release of the other pro-democracy activists.