Senior U.S. senators from both parties have reintroduced the Hong Kong Safe Haven Act to make it easier for Hong Kong people who participate in pro-democracy protests and fear persecution by the Chinese Communist Party to obtain refugee status in the United States.
A total of 12 U.S. senators, led by Republican Marco Rubio and Democrat Bob Menendez, reintroduced the Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act on Tuesday (Feb. 9). The lawmakers said the bill is a response to the Chinese Communist Party’s push for the Hong Kong National Security Law in Hong Kong.
When the Chinese Communist Party implemented the Hong Kong National Security Law (also known as the “Hong Kong version of the National Security Law“) last June to intensify its crackdown on pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong, members of Congress introduced two bills to provide sanctuary for Hong Kong people fleeing oppression, including the Hong Kong People’s Freedom and Choice Act (HKPFCA) and the Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act (HKSA). Choice Act and the Hong Kong Safe Haven Act.
Republican Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) blocked the Hong Kong People’s Freedom and Choice Act, which was expected to pass both houses, before the end of the last Congress last December because it would have lowered the threshold for U.S. refugees and allowed Chinese spies to take advantage of the influx.
Now, lawmakers from both parties are reintroducing the Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act. Under the bill, Hong Kong residents who have peacefully expressed political positions or engaged in political activities, have a reasonable fear of persecution, or have been prosecuted, detained, or convicted for peaceful acts of protest, as well as their spouses, children, and Parents, should be classified by the Secretary of State as a “special humanitarian concern Category 2 refugee priority category” and not be subject to The bill specifies that, because of the number of refugees submitted to the U.S. government, the U.S. Secretary of State shall designate them as a “special humanitarian concern category II refugee priority” without restricting the number of refugees.
The bill specifies that persons whose citizenship, nationality or residency has been revoked as a result of filing a refugee claim with the U.S. government will be considered persecuted for their political position and granted refugee status.
Rubio said, “The United States must do all it can to assist those Hong Kong people who are brave enough to stand up for their beloved city from persecution by the Chinese Communist Party and open our doors to them.”
Menendez said the bill was passed to “reaffirm to the Chinese Communist Party that the United States will stand firmly with the people of Hong Kong.”
This comes after Antony Blinken, secretary of state in the Biden administration, said the U.S. should accept Hong Kong people fleeing persecution by the Chinese Communist Party.
Blinken told the media last month, “If they are victims of repression by the Chinese Communist authorities, we should make some move to give them a haven.”
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