Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) and Rep. Tom MacArthur (NJ-03), who each represent portions of the Jersey shore, today wrote to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson seeking assistance for the Tibet Women’s Soccer team—a registered charity in the state of New Jersey and in India—which is attempting to visit the U.S. at the time of an international soccer tournament in Dallas. The entire team was recently denied U.S. entry visas.

     “Tibet Women’s Soccer does such good work with refugee girls who have experienced real persecution and dislocation,” said Smith, who authored the letter. “The team is truly inspiring. These girls shouldn’t be denied a chance to participate in programs and play in exhibition games during the event in Dallas.”      

     Tibet Women’s Soccer assists Tibetan refugee girls living in India and Nepal with soccer training and empowerment programs. More than 5,000 Tibetans have participated in the organization’s programs since 2011.  The Tibet Women’s Soccer team was started by Cassie Childers, a resident of Point Pleasant, New Jersey, who serves as the Executive Director and the team’s coach. 

     The team was invited to participate in the events surrounding the prestigious Dallas Cup international soccer tournament in April. The team would play in exhibition matches with Dallas area soccer teams and all of the team’s expenses would be covered by the Dallas Cup. However, when the team applied for U.S. entry tourist visas in February, each applicant was only asked one or two basic questions—and none of their supporting documentation was reviewed—before being denied.

     "I’m hopeful that we can work together with Secretary Tillerson to solve this problem," said MacAurther. "Cassie Childers’ charity, Tibet Women’s Soccer, has done so much good for thousands of young girls who have faced unimaginable hardship. The team has an incredible story and we should welcome them into our country."

     “International sports tournaments, such as the Dallas Cup, have a way of healing wounds and developing peaceful ties between nations,” said Smith. “The U.S. needs to do more to foster the organizations that make these peaceful gatherings possible. We must ensure that these girls’ applications are clearly reviewed and given fair consideration.”

     The letter asks Secretary Tillerson to “give their visas applications careful consideration” saying that “we believe that the visit of the Tibet Women’s Soccer team advances the goals of both U.S. foreign policy and international sports diplomacy.” The text of the letter can be found here. 

     Smith is the co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights, Global Health and International Organizations of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He has held over 60 hearings on human rights in China, including hearings to highlight the situation in Tibet.

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