I have spoken and written on several occasions about the commitment of the US to welcome, with open arms, refugees and asylum seekers from all over the world.

The US is very proud of its reputation as a country built by immigrants where people from different religions, cultures and geographical backgrounds unite and work together for the benefit of their adopted nation.

The US owes its strength and success to the contribution of each of our citizens, many of whom left their own homelands in search of a better life for themselves and their families in America. This history, of course, includes thousands of Maltese immigrants who are now Americans. Immigration has always been a central feature of our country's history, and will be an integral part of our future. Some observers say that the US's strength as a nation results in large part from the diversity that immigrants have brought to our country.

Americans hold different political beliefs, embrace divergent lifestyles, and insist upon broad individual freedoms, but they do so with a remarkable degree of mutual tolerance within a society that embraces people of different backgrounds who strive for a better future individually and collectively. In the US, we call this idea 'the American Dream'.

The US is not just a country of diversity and opportunity, it is also a nation of great compassion. That is why America has always made refugee resettlement a central part of its immigration policy. We proactively work around the world, with the help of organisations such as the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), to resettle to the US individuals who have been driven from their own countries due to war, political oppression and persecution. Our commitment to do so includes around 70,000 political refugees that we resettle from all over the world annually.

That is why our embassy immediately began work on a programme when the Maltese government first approached me to help Malta with the growing problem of its own irregular immigration. While it is unusual for America to resettle refugees from an EU member state, it became clear that Malta's size, the lack of an EU-wide solution, and an increasing number of refugees made the programme a good fit for the US global commitment toward resettlement - as well as an opportunity to help a friend in need.

In 2007, the US pledged to concretely help Malta with its irregular immigration challenge by resettling hundreds of political refugees. In January 2007, the first group of refugees from Somalia and Eritrea left Malta for their new home in America. Before their departure, my husband, Matt, and I welcomed them to our residence for a farewell reception.

It was a truly heartwarming experience to see the joy and excitement in the faces of our guests as they prepared for the leg of a long journey that included months, sometimes years, of hardship and danger. Many of them were sad to be leaving their Maltese friends who had welcomed them and supported them during their stay, but all were very excited about beginning their journey toward American citizenship.

Just last month, I was pleased to announce with Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg and representatives from UNHCR that our Malta-US resettlement programme will become an ongoing, collaborative partnership.

The continuation of this programme shows America's long-term commitment to help ease the burden that migration has placed on Malta. We also realise that our help will allow Malta to better focus its resources on integration programmes for those refugees that remain. As Malta continues to experience the difficulties and joys of diversity, we hope our embassy can continue to be a resource for promoting integration while offering concrete help.

One of the hallmarks of the US refugee resettlement programme is the degree to which the American government encourages integration and provides refugees the legal means to become full members of our society. Through our Refugee Admissions Reception and Placement Programme, each refugee approved for admission to the US is sponsored by one of 10 resettlement agencies located throughout our country.

After five years in the US, refugees may apply for citizenship.

The US is proud of its history of welcoming refugees with open arms, and it is important for the countries of Europe to strengthen programmes that facilitate the acceptance of refugees and their integration into European life. As the US example has shown, a nation that embraces newcomers and gives them the tools and opportunities to achieve success stands to benefit greatly from the contribution of immigrants who arrive on its shores in search of a better life.

Ms Bordonaro is US ambassador to Malta.