US Resettles Iraqis Particularly Vulnerable to Persecution

The Defense Authorization Bill signed into law on January 28 grants special protection to Iraqi asylum-seekers who belong to persecuted religious minorities or who could be persecuted on account of their association with the US government or private American organizations in Iraq. The bill mandates the US government to expedite the processing of resettlement claims for these individuals, as well as expand the eligibility for family members in the United States to petition for Iraqi refugee relatives to reunite with them. It also increases the limit from the current 500 special visas permitted, to 5,000-an important development, particularly in light of the State Department's recent freeze on special visa applications for Iraqis after reaching the 500-visa limit only five months into the current fiscal year. Human Rights Watch has worked closely with members of Congress to secure these provisions for Iraqis most vulnerable to persecution and provided Congressional testimony outlining our recommendations. We have also published four reports on the situation of Iraqis seeking asylum in neighboring countries and languishing in camps inside Iraq, calling on the international community to take measures to effectively respond to the massive displacement of Iraqis since the US-led invasion.