Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a past chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China and a leading voice in Congress on human rights and democracy in Hong Kong—today issued the following statement after the Biden Administration extended the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) program and its protections for Hong Kong residents in the United States:
“As the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Hong Kong authorities continue to undermine the fundamental rights and freedoms of Hong Kong’s citizens, the United States has a responsibility to protect Hong Kong residents who have sought refuge in America. I applaud the administration for renewing the DED program, which will ensure those Hong Kongers residing in the United States will not have to fear deportation.
“The PRC’s erosion of autonomy, rule of law, and civil liberties in Hong Kong and the political persecution of those who were brave enough to speak out in dissent, including those in the United States, places the incoming administration in a position of responsibility. I urge them to sustain policies that protect defenders of democracy in Hong Kong and hold the Chinese government accountable for its human rights abuses. For those receiving this DED extension, Congress must also take action and enact legislation that protects these Hong Kongers from further persecution.”
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