October 31, 2007. Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) introduced the Amerasian Paternity Recognition Act, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for equal treatment of Amerasian children. Unlike other foreign-born offspring of American fathers, Amerasians (children born to American fathers during the Vietnam and Korean Wars) are required to apply for naturalization and fulfill all the requirements of naturalization like immigrants who do not have U.S. citizen parents. This lengthy process is not ordinarily required of the sons and daughters of American citizens who gain U.S. citizenship based on the American citizenship of their parent. Many Amerasians never become U.S. citizens because of these requirements.   more »

Program for Vietnamese American Authors Book Fair #2 Saturday, November 3, 2007 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Launching HOA LO/HANOI HILTON STORIES by Nguyen Chi Thien** published by the Southeast Council of Asian Studies at Yale University ** to be featured at the Asian American Studies Conference in Atlanta, 2008 English translation by Nguyen Ngoc Bich, Vann Saroyan Phan, Tran Van Dien, Nguyen Kiem Phong Foreword by James C. Scott, Sterling Professor of Anthropology, Yale University Preface by Jean Libby, editor, Viet-Am Review Tully Community Branch Library community room 880 Tully Road San Jose 95111   more »

Washington, D.C. - Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) joined with Representatives Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) and Christopher Smith (R-NJ) in co-signing a letter to President Bush asking him to clarify the administration’s policy on the deportation of refugees to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The letter references recent comments by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel about the possible deportation of the Tran family to Vietnam . Mr. Tran, the patriarch of the family, fled Vietnam over two decades ago after escaping from a communist "re-education" camp. “The administration must clarify the alarming statements made by the Department of Homeland Security,” noted Rep. Zoe Lofgren. “I find it shocking that DHS would even consider deporting the Trans to Vietnam , where Mr. Tran had previously been imprisoned for anti-communist activities. The United States government should not be in the business of deporting people to totalitarian regimes.” "I was outraged to hear that the Bush Administration may be considering returning refugees to Vietnam . I am confident that if the Administration tries to implement this change that my House colleagues and I would take immediate action to block the deportation of refugees to Vietnam ," said Rep. Loretta Sanchez.   more »

Names of 100 political prisoners currently detained in Vietnam presented to Congressman Rohrabacher (R - Huntington Beach) by Dr. Ngai X. Nguyen, overseas representative of the Democratic Party of Vietnam. Published in the U.S. Congressional Record on Sept. 25, 2007. The list of names was gathered by the Venerable Thich Thien Minh, who was imprisoned in Communist Vietnam for 26 years himself.   more »

Vietnamese American Authors Book Fair at San Jose City College on Thursday, October 18, 2007 from 12:30 to 5 p.m. features authors Andrew Lam (Perfume Dreams, Reflections on the Vietnamese Diaspora, Heyday Books 2005); Andrea Nguyen (Into the Vietnamese Kitchen, Treasured Foodways, Modern Flavors, Ten Speed Press 2006); Nguyen Chi Thien, dissident poet (two bilingual softcover editions by Allies for Freedom Publishers in Palo Alto and VICANA in Virginia). Amnesty International regional coordinators will introduce Mr. Thien, who was a prisoner of conscience from 1986 - 1991, when he was successfully rescued from 27 years of imprisonment in Communist Vietnam. Two titles by Nguyen Ngoc Bich (Tet! the Vietnamese New Year and classical Vietnamese literature Cung Oan Ngam Khuc, Complaints of an Odalisque translation of Nguyen Gia Thieu (1741-1798) with illustrations by Mai Lan). The event is sponsored by the Office of the Chancellor of the San Jose/Evergreen Community College District (Rosa Perez), the Office of the President of San Jose City College (Michael Burke), Internet Bookselling--Multicultural Perspectives (Jean Libby) in cooperation with the San Jose City College Bookstore, and the Vietnamese Community Heritage and Cultural Advisory Committee (Cary Pham, Nguyen Xuan Vinh). Merylee Shelton, professor Communications is chair for the event, which is a returned Community Arts and Lecture Series. Events from 12:30 - 5 p.m. digest: Andrew Lam at 12:30 - 1:30 Andrea Nguyen at 2 - 3 p.m. Nguyen Chi Thien at 3:30 - 5 p.m. Ms. Andrea Nguyen is introduced by the Asian American Women's Alliance; Mr. Nguyen Chi Thien is introduced by Amnesty International.   more »

A Vietnamese freedom heritage flag replaced the official flag for Vietnam hanging in the entry way of the MCC-Penn Valley http://videos.kansascity.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=1518925 Video by Todd Feeback of the Kansas City Star Thank you so much, Mr. Thomas Walker of Penn Valley College and the Vietnamese community of Kansas City for explaining the issues of Communist Vietnam today. Jean Libby, editor VietAm Review   more »