US senator wants Pinoy vets reunited with families

WASHINGTON – Mazie Hirono of Hawaii introduced her first bill as a US senator – legislation that would reunite Filipino World War II veterans with their families.

“Our nation can never fully repay the debt we owe the Filipino World War II veterans who bravely served and sacrificed alongside Americans in the critical South West Pacific theater,” she said.

“The brave servicemen who are still with us, now in their 80s and 90s, should not have to wait any longer in order to be reunited with their children.”

Thousands of Filipino veterans were granted citizenship in recognition of their service to Uncle Sam in World War II but their children were not granted the same privilege.

Those veterans who immigrated to the United States could only sponsor their children by filing a petition and “getting in line.”

The backlogs affecting Filipino immigration applications are over 20 years in some cases.

The American Coalition of Filipino Veterans estimates that 20,000 sons and daughters of Filipino World War II veterans who became naturalized Americans will directly benefit from Hirono’s legislation.

Eliminating the immigration backlog for the families of Filipino World War II veterans has long been a priority of Hawaii’s congressional delegation.

Hawaii Rep. Colleen Hanabusa will introduce a similar bill in the US House of Representatives.