Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawai‘i, today helped unveil key components of a comprehensive immigration package that includes legislation she introduced aimed at reuniting Filipino World War II veterans and their children.

The Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act proposes to exempt the sons and daughters of Filipino World War II from the cap on immigration numbers that have delayed for up to two decades their receiving of immigrant visas to the United States. The language established in the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act has been incorporated into the Reuniting Families Act.
Hirono is an original co-sponsor of the Reuniting Families Act, introduced today by California Congressman Michael Honda. It ends lengthy separations of loved ones, promotes family stability and fosters the economic growth that immigrant families have provided throughout our history.
The bill also classifies the children and spouses of lawful permanent residents as “immediate relatives.” This would allow lawful permanent residence spouses and children to immediately qualify for a visa. It also ends discrimination in immigration law, allowing same-sex partners to reunite.
“I have listened to many heartbreaking stories of sons and daughters of our Filipino World War II veterans waiting patiently in the Philippines with the hope that one day they will be able to come to the United States to care for their aging parents,” Hirono said.
Some 200,000 Filipinos served with American troops in World War II. Today, about 18,000 are still alive, with thousands in the United States. About a third of these veterans live in the state of Hawai‘i.