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May 3, 2001

   

SENATE HEARING TO REVIEW U.S. ASYLUM POLICY

REFUGEE ADVOCATES CHARGE U.S. MISTREATING MANY REFUGEES BY DENYING A FAIR REVIEW OF ASYLUM CLAIMS

WHAT:           “Immigration:  An Overview Of Asylum Policy” 
                     A Hearing by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee On Immigration

                     Thursday, May 3, 2001 – 2:00 PM / Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 226

WHY:             Changes to American immigration law passed by Congress in 1996 have undermined the ability of genuine refugees to seek asylum here and have led to the mistaken return of refugees facing persecution in their home countries. Tourists, business travelers and even U.S. citizens have also been wrongly turned away from the U.S. through the use of expedited removal procedures that give INS inspectors at an airport or border crossing the power to make life and death decisions previously entrusted to immigration judges. In addition, hundreds of asylum seekers are being imprisoned for months and in some cases, years – even after the INS has determined that they have credible claims to asylum.

 This Senate hearing will examine the effects of the 1996 law – and provide powerful and moving testimony by refugees.  Some of those testifying include:   

• Patrick Mkhizi, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Patrick was nearly deported because of the summary procedures, and was held in detention for 3½ years in various jails and detention centers.
  
  
• Mina Burhani, a refugee from Afghanistan. Mina, who was targeted by the Taliban because she ran a school for girls, was detained in the U.S. for months, and denied parole even though her sister is a U.S. citizen – demonstrating the need for an outside check on INS authority.  (Because she fears for her family’s safety in Afghanistan, “Mina Burhani” is a pseudonym.) 
  
  
• Amchok Gyamtso Thubten, Tibetan from China.  Amchok’s father was executed for opposing Chinese rule, and Amchok was repeatedly detained and tortured for his peaceful actions calling for Tibetan independence. He now works to inform the Tibetan refugee community about the 1996 asylum filing deadline. 
  
  
• Eleanor Acer, Director, Asylum Representation Program, Human Rights First
   
• Karen Musalo, Director, Center for Human Rights and International Justice, University of California, Hastings College of Law, directs the Center’s Expedited Removal Study, which has published a series of comprehensive reports on the implementation of expedited removal procedures by the INS.
  
  
• Wendy Young, Director, Women’s Commission for Refugee Women & Children Detention and Asylum Project.
     
• Donald Hammond,  Executive Vice President, World Relief, the humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE).
  
  
• Leonard Glickman, President, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS).  

Recognition of the unfairness of current U.S. asylum procedures is growing. Last year more than 50 refugee resettlement and protection, religious, and human rights organizations jointly called on Congress to enact the Refugee Protection Act to limit the use of expedited removal to immigration emergencies. This year, two top journalism awards honored reporters covering asylum issues.  The Oregonian received the Pulitzer and Frederick Tulsky of the San Jose Mercury News won the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for a series of articles showing the effects of the US policy on refugees. Those articles are available from our press office:  212-845-5259.  Press Kits are also available, or visit //refugee/refugee.htm.

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