A human rights group has praised a U.S. State Department decision to waive anti-terrorism laws to allow ethnic Chin refugees from Burma to resettle in the United States.
The Chin Human Rights Organization issued a statement today saying the ruling will allow the refugees a chance to start a new life and have a brighter future.
Last week the State Department said the resettlement can occur even if the refugees have provided material support to the Chin National Front or Chin National Army. The groups have been fighting the Burmese military government.
The State Department said the exemption allows the United States to resume what it calls significant processing of thousands of extremely vulnerable ethnic Chin refugees.
The State Department twice issued a similar waiver to allow ethnic Karen refugees from Burma to be resettled in the United States.