Rubio on Biden’s DED Designation for Hong Kongers in the U.S.

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued the following statement after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the Biden Administration will be granting Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) to Hong Kongers in the United States. In 2020, Rubio first introduced the bipartisan Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act, which sought to provide Priority 3 Refugee status to those Hong Kongers, who have a well-founded fear of persecution, and are targeted by Beijing for peacefully protesting the Chinese Communist Party's actions against Hong Kong's long-cherished freedoms and autonomy. Rubio reintroduced the legislation (S. 295) earlier this year.

Rubio is a senior member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

'This temporary solution for Hong Kongers who are already in the U.S. is a welcome step in the right direction, but more must be done to stand with Hong Kong's freedom fighters,' Rubio said. 'That's why the Senate must pass my bipartisan Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act without further delay.'

Related:

• May 21, 2021: Rubio, Menendez, Merkley, Coons File Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act to Senate's China Legislation
• February 9, 2021: Rubio, Menendez Lead Bipartisan Group of Colleagues in Re-Introducing the Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act
• June 30, 2020: Rubio, Menendez, Young, Cardin, Merkley Introduce the Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act