CANADA: In May, Tim and Terri Palmquist and Alex Fan helped five of the Chinese women to complete applications for asylum in Canada. A response is expected within the next few weeks.

HR2202: The major immigration bill, which is still in a conference committee, contains provisions which would grant asylum to victims of forced abortion and forced sterilization. Final action is expected in September.

New INS ruling: In June, the Immigration and Naturalization Service established a new policy regarding Chinese refugees. As a result, some of the refugees in Lerdo could be granted asylum or humanitarian parole (release from jail pending a final resolution of the cases).