FILIPINO WORLD WAR II VETERANS PAROLE PROGRAM
The Battle To Restore A 75-Year Old Promise
Part 2
The Immigration Act Of 1990
Nearly 45 years after the promise of citizenship to Filipinos was revoked
George H.W. Bush signed the 1990 Immigration Act into law.
However, since the Truman-inspired Rescission Act Of 1946,
thousands of would-be eligible Filipino veterans had passed away.
Only 26,000 Filipinos were granted U.S. citizenship under the 1990 Act.
But the 1990 law did not include any of the promised benefits.
Many veterans in their 60s and 70s were forced to rely on social security.
Even though the veterans could apply for naturalization,
their oldest children were not allowed to join them in the United States.
Attempts to ease restrictions
on the adult children of Filipino veterans fell on deaf ears.
Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Act Of 2009
Under the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Act enacted in 2009,
Filipino veterans were granted a one-time payment of $15,000.
Under the original promises of World War II,
Filipino veterans should have received the same monthly pension as other veterans.
They were not granted monthly pensions.
The filing deadline was set at September 2010.
43,000 claims were filed.
Only 18,000 were approved.
Many were denied because the Army rosters were deemed deficient.
Lawsuits filed by Filipino veterans are still pending.
Worse, the Act ignored family separation and reunification issues.
Ongoing Kinks In The Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program
Although the FWVP is well-intended, some procedures impose unduly tight limits on who qualifies.
So who is eligible and might benefit from the FWVP?
Sons and daughters of Filipino World War II veterans, along with their spouses and children (unmarried and under 21).
The FWVP enables these family members to live in the U.S.
on a temporary basis to provide care and comfort to their elderly relatives
while waiting for their permanent residency interviews.
Problems could arise if the Filipino veteran who filed a petition for his children
passes away before the petition was approved
or was not living in the U.S. at the time of death,
or if the veteran is not listed on National Personnel records.
If you face any of these problems, do not give up.
We wish the best of luck to you and your family members.
THANK YOU to all the Filipinos who were willing to sacrifice their lives for the United States.
