lady from Cameroon loses!

Ms. Djadjou was denied asylum, because her letters of suppport were inconsistent with her story:
1] she testified she was "Secretary General" of SCNC; but letter from the SCNC was silent; it did not say she was

2] she testified she was arrested 4 times; letter said just two times

3] she testified she resigned from SCNC in 1996; letter said she was still a member

4] she testified she was at home when the convocation arrived; the convocation itself said she was at her boutique
= = =
Djou testified he telephoned SCNC office in Douala; that he was told that Ms. Dja had been arrested, but he did not testify about the record-keeping practices of the SCNC in that city. [the man in the SCNC office in Douala should have written a letter]

man from Haiti did not know about his own country

Mr. Petit Jacques, from Haiti, was denied asylum.
He said he was active in the "Lavalas" political party; but, he did not know the full name of it. Nor did he have a membership card.
He did not know the name of the leader of the Convergence Party.
He did not know the first name of the preceding President.
He did not know that Lavalas did much violence.

He blamed his translator, and also the person who helped him prepare his asylum application.
The court said: no asylum. We know more about politics in Haiti than this applicant does.

Should Mr. Jacques feel embarrassed that a judge in the USA knows more about Haitian politics than he does?

Mr. Jacques was too busy to read and study about his own country, before seeking asylum?

democracy activist from Cameroon

The Asylum Officer asked:
Show me your passport!
You were arrested while walking with Mr. Smith? how did you first meet Smith? what was his job? what were his activities?
What was your reaction when you saw the officer with his gun?
What happened at the moment of the arrest?
How long did they hold you for?
what happened on the day of your release from jail?
=
to come here to USA, you asked for a tourist visa? you filled out a form?
what were the questions on the application, and what were your answers?
You have not seen your application since the day you filled it out?
The US government, however, has kept your application, and the US government still has it? I, the Asylum Officer, now have a copy of it?
I, the Asylum Officer, know more about your application than you do?
is it embarrasing to you, that I know more about you, than you yourself?
=
after your ten days in jail, how was your health? what problems did you have?
You say you went to a Clinic? what did they do for you, at the Clinic?
Did the Clinic write a letter of support for you? did you read their letter? is their letter accurate?
What questions did they ask you, at the Clinic? what were your answers?
=
Why didn't you flee from your country, immediately upon being released from prison?
You were injured in the city of Buea? the police in that city were angry at you? OK, so why can't you live in a different city? the police in city #2 do not know you, correct?
=
So, you decided to depart from your country? you decided to go to the airport, and fly to Paris? before you arrived at the airport, were you worried about anything? weren't you worried that you would be arrested at the airport? why weren't you arrested at the airport?
How were you able to leave without any problems?
Tell me exactly what happened at the airport? did you actually see your agent pay a bribe?
Is there anything else?
During your last phone call with your father, what did he say?
Did anyone here in USA telephone your country, to verify your story? That could be done in 30 minutes, couldn't it? why didn't that happen?
You are un-employed here in USA? so, you have nothing to do, and you are bored?
Why didn't you become politically active here in USA, if you had nothing to do?
Why didn't you work on your own case? did your lawyer spend more time on your case than you did? do you feel embarrased by that?

Iran activist

The Asylum officer asked:
-show me your passport?
did you have any problems getting your passport? why not?
did you have any problems getting out of your country, when you left? why not?
What was your last address in your country? can you repeat what it says on pages 1-4 of Form I-589?
Did your government give you any benefits? such as tuition for school? was your employer a government agency? did your husband get tuition assistance, or a government job?
=
Why are you seeking asylum?
why do you fear your government?
Did you have any problems in your country?
did you suffer any economic harm?
Why were you arrested? what did they tell you, at the moment of the arrest?
Why was your sister arrested? did she suffer economic harm? was she denied education? they did not let her finish high school?
What other problems did you have? tell me the month/year/city
=
you say the government hates your entire family? how come your brother was allowed to get a passport, and was allowed to leave?
Your boss asked you to spy on your fellow students? when you said NO, what did he say?
Why doesn't your sister protest also?
Why did you decide to leave your country? was there one special event, which motivated you to leave?
Did you have any problems leaving your country? why not?
When was the last time you spoke to your wife? what did she tell you?
When was the last time you spoke to your father? what did he tell you?
=
What are your activities here in USA?
What groups did you join? do you have a membership card?
What did you do, here in USA, that your government knows about?
How do you know that your government knows you attended the protest at the White House?
Does your government have infiltrators, spies, and informers, working for it, here in USA?
Why did you send certified mail to the Iran Interest Section?
=
Is there anything else? yes? what?
Is there anything else?

democracy activist from Syria

The Asylum Officer asked:
-have you ever used any other names?
Show me your passport! Tell me about all of your international travel.
-Tell me why you can't go home!
Why do you fear your government?
What did you do, to make your government angry at you?
Where did you protest? did you carry a sign? did you chant slogans?
What agency of the government threatened you?
When the government talked to your mother, what did they ask her? what did they say to her?
=
where was your sister, at the moment of her arrest? what did they ask her?
You say a television station videotaped you? it was broadcast into Syria? did anyone inside Syria watch it? how do you know they watched it?
=
did other members of your family have problems? who else was arrested?
What else have you done, to bring attention to yourself?
Where did you protest in Washington DC? why protest in front of the White house?
Who stood next to you, on the sidewalk, as you protested? Strangers? were any of them employees of your government? were any of them infiltrators, spies, or informers?
=
Is there anything else? yes? what?
Is there anything else?

pro-democracy activist from Cameroon, #2

More questions:
What questions did they ask you?
What else did they ask?
Why didn't the guard believe you?
What info did the guard want?
Did they take your photo and fingerprints at the police station?
Is that photo available to the Embassy of your country here in USA, so that they could compare it to a photo they took of you here in USA, and then be able to determine your name?
=
how long did they hit you for?
What happened on day #2 at the station? what questons did they ask?
what happpened at day #3?
How did you escape? what happened on the day of your release?
How much was the bribe that your sister paid, to get you out?
=
what were your political activities in your country?
what was your political opinion about your President?
does he know your opinion? how would he be able to know it?
=
how did your sister find out you were in jail?
did the police ever charge you with a particular crime?
How was your health on the day of your release?
you went to a health clinic? what did they do for you?
Gave you what medicine? gave you bandages? X ray? did they conduct any tests on your urine or blood?
Did a nurse examine you?
did a doctor examine you?
what did the nurse tell you?
what did the doctor tell you?
Where is the original paper from the Clinic? how did you get it? where is the envelope it was sent in?
=
since your escape, what have the police done?
did they talk to your parents? when? what did the police say to parents?
Your father has email? can I send him an email right now? will he answer?
Did you save the earlier emails you sent your father? can you print them out and give them to me?
=
Does your government care about you? why?
is there any other reason why they care about you?
Why did you send your embassy a certified letter?
Why did you protest in front of your embassy?
If 30 people protest, and you are one of them, how do the workers inside the Embassy know your name? if they take your photo, can they compare that photo to a police photo, or to a passport photo?
-among the protesters on the sidewalk, are there spies and infiltrators? did one of them find out your name, and then report back to the Embassy?
=
who else protested? what is the name of the group which protested?
Why did you protest?
what is the purpose?
why protest in front of the White house, and not in front of your embassy?
How did you learn about the protest?
Were you a member of a group here in USA? show me a membership card!
Why aren't you a member? is it because you are lazy and do not care?
How would your government know that you protested?
They took your photo while protesting; OK, so, are they able to compare it, and match it up with other photos they have of you?
-did an infiltrator look at the protest photo, and then give the names of the persons he knew?
-do you know the name of another person who protested? how did you find out her name? does she know your name? how do you know that she knows? is she a spy for your government?
=
when you left your country, did you have any trouble getting out of the airport?
why weren't you arrested at the airport? you say your mother paid a bribe? how much? who did she pay it to? how do you know that?
=
Is there any other reason why you can't return to your country?
Is there anything else?
What is your favorite exhibit?
If I telephone your mother right now, will she answer?
If i send an email to your sister, right now, will she answer?

w

pro-democracy activist from Cameroon

The Asylum Officer asked:
-when you applied for a visa at US embassy in your country, did you fill out an application?
-did you tell lies on that application?
do I have a copy of that application right here in my hand? I read it today; you have not read it since you signed it 12 months ago? So, I know more about it than you do?
=
you are a member of the "Bamileke" tribe? how are they different from other people in Cameroon? different language, accent, religion, what?
=
Where is your husband today?
where is your older sister today? how come the government does not bother her?
Is a video of you protesting now published on www.camer.be?
=
you are un-employed here in USA? how do you pay rent/ how do you buy food?
Upon arrival here in USA, what was your plan, as to where you would live?
In answer to that same question, what did you say to the Embassy 12 months ago?
You told some lies to the Embassy, yes? but you can't remember exactly what you said, correct? that is why you are stumbling and mumbling today?

=
did you have any problems due to your race?
problems due to religion?
problems due to nationality?
problems due to your clan or tribe?
problems due to political opinion?
problems due to "particular social group"?
Do you know what "particular social group" means?
=
did you have a "traditional" marriage?
Yes? if you want to get married again, must you first get a divorce?
When was your last contact with your husband?
your last contact with your father?
What did he tell you, when you talked last?
=
why were you arrested?
where were you, at the moment of your arrest? sitting on a chair in your house? walking on the sidewalk? sitting in a car?
What did the police say, upon your arrest?
what weapons did you see?
What thoughts went through your mind, when you saw the baton?
How did you get from the place of your arrest to the police station?
What time were you arrested? what time did you arrive at the station?
Inside the station, what did you see?
What did you hear?
what did you smell?
What thoughts went through your mind, at that time?
=
Describe the room you were in: how big was it? as big as this office?
was there a chair? a bed? a plastic bucket for a toilet?

a Tamil from Sri Lanka

The Asylum Officer wanted to know:
-you went to a university in India? how did you pay the tuition?
-how did you pay for the airline tickets from Sri Lanka to Brazil, to Ecuaduor, to Mexico?
-how do you pay your bills today, in USA? how do you pay rent?
-Why was your father killed?
why was your brother arrested?
-where is the rest of your family? why did you travel alone?
=
you say you were arrested in October? what language did the guard speak?
what questions did he ask?
did he mention your ethnic group? was he interested, at all, in whether you were a member of the Tamil group? how do you know?
=
how did you get your passport? whose name was in it? what country issued it?
where is the passport now?
If you return to your country, what would happen to you?
is there anything else?
what is your favorite exhibit?

Exhibit 1

EXHIBIT #1: DID YOU SUFFER ANY HARM?

Physical harm
1. did you suffer any harm to your body?
2. did you suffer any harm to your house, apartment, furniture, office, temple, motor vehicle, or to anything else? Were rocks thrown through your window?
3. where you held inside a jail or prison?

Psychological harm
4. did anyone threaten you? Did anyone say they would harm you in the future?
5. did you suffer emotional harm? Did you ever feel scared? Anxious? Worried? Any nightmares or flashbacks?
6. did a member of your family suffer harm? How did you feel, as a result?
7. how would you compare your emotional health today, with what it was before?

Economic harm
8. did you lose your job? Were you unfairly denied another job?
9. was property taken away from you?
10. were you ordered to pay a large fine?
11. were you denied health benefits/education/public services/ official documents?
12. were you denied a license/passport/insurance?

Social harm
13. was there an invasion of your privacy?
14. were you forced to live in a ghetto?
15. were you denied certain kinds of jobs? Schools?
16. was there enforced social and civil inactivity?
17. was there surveillance? Did police talk to you frequently?
18. were you pressured to become an informer?
19. did you suffer deprivation of liberty?
20. were you shunned or ostracized?
21. were you forced to comply with religious rules?
22. were you verbally insulted when you walked down the street or took a bus?
23. were there public expressions against your group? [statements made in newspapers, television, radio, or graffiti on walls?]
24. were you treated unfairly in any other way?

pro-democracy activist

The government lawyer asked these questions, of Mr. B, from Burma:
-Tell me about your international travel: you lived in Japan?
What was your immigration status in Japan?
Did you enter Japan with a tourist visa?
What did you apply for, in Japan?
Why didn't you apply for asylum there?
Who says only 1% of asylum applicants win asylum in Japan?
Did you violate laws in Japan? did you work without a work permit?
Why did you leave Japan?
=
What happened upon your arrival at the airport in your country?
did you have a passport?
Your father knew you were arriving, so he got to airport early and paid extortion money to officer? Do you mean he paid a bribe? how much did he pay?
=
Where did you go, after leaving the airport?
How many times were you arrested in your country? Two times?
Where were you, at the moment of your first arrest?
You were at your house? who else was at the house at that time?
Your mother was there? why didn't she write a letter, describing what happened at the time of your arrest?
Why were you arrested?
How long were you detained? Why were you released? what happened on the day of your release, while you were inside the prison?
After being released, where did you go?
Why didn't you go to the hospital, if you were so badly injured?
=
Where were you, at them moment of your arrest, when you were arrested the second time?
Who else was there, at that time?
Why were you arrested?
Why were you released?
Where did you go, after being released?
=
11 months later, you departed from your country?
Why the long delay? why didn't you flee immediately?
=
You say you have protested often, here in USA, in front of your Embassy?
Your protesting here might cause problems for your wife?
If so, why do you protest? don't you care about your wife?
=
Does your government know that you protest? do they care if you protest, or are they bored by it?
How do you know what your government thinks about your protesting?
did someone call you on the phone and tell you something?
You say your government knows that you protest, and that they are angry at you, becausse your protesting is embarrassing to them?
-your government is so embarrassed, and so angry at you, that what? They went to your wife's house and hit her on the head? NO? they did nothing to your wife? So, isn't that evidence that your government does not know, or does not care, what you do here in USA?

activist from Ethiopia

The government lawyer asked:
-show me the originals of all of your documents!
-you say the guard hit you? tell me what weapons he used, and what words he said!
What thoughts went through your mind, as he walked toward you, with the baton raised above his head?
-you say you feared he would kill you, and you would never see your mother again?
=
What is the name of the main opposition party in your country?
why did you not join it?
Who was the leader of that party in June 2008? in December 2010?
Who is the leader today?
Why did you support that person?
=
you say you went to a demonstration in January 2011? how did you hear about it?
how did you get to it? drive a car? walk?
How many people were at the demonstration?
How many people were arrested at the demonstration?
=
how did you get this certificate? did you bring it with you, in your suitcase?
did someone mail it to you? If so, where is the envelope it came in? How do we know it was not printed right here in Baltimore, in someone's basement?
=
After you departed from your country, did your father have any problems? why not?
did your siblings have any problems?

an activist from Burma

The Asylum Officer asked:
-when was passport issued? when re-newed? doesn't everyone have to pay bribes to get a passport? did you have to pay extra bribes?
-you say you lived in Thailand for seven years? what was your status there? were you "firmly resettled" there?
Why did you depart from Thailand?
What were your activites here in USA?
why did you protest in front of the White House?
Why do you think your government knows that you protested in front of White House?
How many people attended the protest?
How did you get there? how did you get home?
=
did you join even one organization here in USA?
do you have a membership card?
can anyone join, if they want?
Tell me the name of one member of that organization.
Tell me the name of one other person who protested in front of the Embassy.
What else did you do, besides stand on the sidewalk for one hour?
Why did you join that organization?
What else do they do, besides stand on sidewalk with large signs?
How did it happen, that you became a member?
=
how would your government know about your activities?
You say they have a lot of spies? who says?
Tell me about each of your brothers and sisters. How come none of them is in prison now?
=
what would happen if you return to your counry?
You had problems in City #1? OK, so go live in City #2 or #3! Why are those cities unsafe?
=
who took the photos of you, while you were protesting? why did he take those photos?
Is there anything else?

an activist from Burma

The Asylum Officer asked:
-ever used any other names? when did you arrive in USA? when did you leave your country?
-Why did you ask for a visa?
-did anyone help you with your application?
-What were your political activities in Burma?
What were your activities here in USA?
When did you protest in front of your embassy?
How does your government know you are active in USA?
Who attends the protests?
Why do you think that spies attend?
Who told you that?
Besides protesting, how else did you express your opposition to your government?
why did you send certified mail to your Embassy?
were you not afraid of the consequences of sending such a letter?
Why did you create a blog?
Why do you think your government reads it?
Is there anything else?
OK, good. Is there anything else?

Asile a ete refuse #2

Un militant de la Republique Centrafricaine #1

L'agent de l'asile a demandé:

Où est la copie complète de chaque page de votre passeport [même les pages vierges]?
Combien d'autres passeports vous ont été délivrés ? où est chaque passeport, aujourd'hui? Qui les detient ?
=
Parlez-moi de tous vos voyages a l’etranger : où etes-vous allé, et pourquoi?
Combien de temps y etes-vous resté ? quel était votre statut d'immigration dans chaque pays?
Parlez-moi de chaque ambassade des Etats-Unis que vous avez visité :
Qu'avez-vous demandé la-bas ? qu'avez-vous dit la-bas ? Votre visa a-t-il été rejeté ?
- En tant qu’Officier d’Asile, est-ce que j’ai ici meme dans ma main, une copie de votre demande de visa d’il ya cinq ans ? avez-vous raconté des mensonges pour obtenir votre visa? pourquoi?
=
Avez-vous été membre d'un parti politique? où est votre carte de membre?
Qu'est-ce qui est mentionné sur votre carte ? Quand a-t-elle été délivrée? Quand expirera-t-elle ?
Pourquoi y a –t-il des pages vierges et des informations incompletes sur votre carte ?
Les dates sur la carte sont-elles exactes ?

an activist from Burma

the Asylum Officer asked:
-show me your passport! did you have any trouble getting it? why not, I thought your government hated you?
-who helped you answer the questions on your asylum application? who else helped?
-have you ever used any other names, while in the USA?
-have you ever used any other names, such as before you got married?
-please give me a copy of each page of your passport!
You arrived in USA in 2005? tell me all of your political activities between 1990 and 2000.
What were your political activities between 2000 and 2005?
Did you suffer any physical harm in your country?
Any economic harm?
any emotional harm?
-where were you, at the moment of your arrest?
What did they tell you, as they released you?
Tell me about all of your international travels!
What were your activities here in USA?
Did you join any groups?
=
Why did you mail the angry letter to your Embassy? you say you wanted to express your anger? what are you angry about?
-you say you mailed a letter to your embassy? did they receive it? how do you know?
-what would happen if you return to your country?
Is there anything else? really? what?
OK, now, is there anything else?

Fourth Circuit reverses BIA

THE FOURTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS RULED THAT IT IS ENTIRELY PLAUSIBLE THAT A DICTATORIAL GOVERNMENT WILL PERSECUTE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENGAGED IN OPPOSTION ACTIVITIES WHILE ABROAD.

Ms. Amenu, a citizen of Ethiopia, arrived in the United States in 1988. Seven years later, she joined an opposition group, and began to protest against her government in front of her Embassy. Between 1995 and 2007, she protested about 15 times.

An activist named Ms. Woldegiorgis submitted an affidavit, opining that the government of Ethiopia monitored demonstrations, and that therefore the government was aware of Ms. Amenu’s activities, and would punish her upon her return to her country. The Immigration Judge and the BIA rejected the claims of Ms. Amenu, in part because she was not a “leader,” and because her activities were “very minimal.”

The Fourth Circuit, however, reversed and remanded the case:
Amenu v. Holder, 2011 WL 231 3204 [4th Cir. June 13,2011].

The Fourth Circuit ruled that an asylum applicant need not be a “leader” to attract the attention of the government; even mere supporters and
sympathizers have been killed. Id. at *9.

The Fourth Circuit also stated that “we are unwilling to accept” the proposition that government “will persecute only those who have engaged in opposition activities within the geographical bounds of Ethiopia.” Id.

There is “no evidentiary support for this premise.” Id.

“Put simply, there is nothing implausible about the idea that the [government of Ethiopia] will persecute, on their return to Ethiopia, individuals who have engaged in opposition activities while abroad.” Id. [internal punctuation omitted].

why an activist was DENIED asylum

The Asylum Officer denied asylum to Mr. B, from Burma:

-B protested in Burma in 2005; then he was allowed to leave Burma in 2006. Why wasn't he arrested at the airport as he was leaving? this shows that the government did not care about him.
-in 2006, B arrived in Kenya, where he created a blog and criticized his government. Then, in 2007, B returned to his "dangerous country" where he was not arrested again
[apparently the government does not care about blogs which criticize]
Then, in 2009, B left his country again. Why wasn't he arrested at the airport? how come he was able to re-new his passport? This shows the government does not care.
=
B then arrived in USA, where he criticized his government on his blog and protested on the sidewalk in front of his Embassy.
-B testified that government agents went to his mother's house in Burma, and asked her where B was, and what B was doing. This shows that the government did not know about his blog and protests.
-Asylum denied. The government of Burma does not care about B.

an activist from Burma

The Asylum Officer asked:
-did anyone help you with Form I-589?
-did someone read it back to you, in your native language?
-What is Date of Birth of 1] your wife? 2] child #1? 3] child #3?
-why don't you want to return to your country?
Why do you fear your government?
What have you done, against your government?
How did you criticize your government?
Does the government know that you have criticies it?
How do you know, that it knows?
=
what would happen, if you return to your country?
-do you know the name of one, similarly-situated person, who returned to your country and had problems, in the last six months?
=
You say that you were hiding, and that the police were looking for you?
How do you know that?
Mr. X told you? How did Mr. X know that?
=
Back in your country, did you join any political organizations?
Did you hold any offices or positions?
Here in USA, did you join any groups or political organizations?
Did you hold any offices or positions? Vice-President, for example?
=
Tell me about all of your international travel. Where did you go, why, and for how long?
You say your government hates you? Really? how do you know?
Did your government give things of value to you? such as birth cert, marriage cert, and passport? You went to the airport, showed your passport, and they let you leave the country?
=

an activist from Moldova

The Asylum Officer asked:
-show me your passport! give me a photocopy of each page of your passport!
What is the Date Of Birth of:
1] your wife 2] son #1; 3] son #2
Did anyone help you prepare this application? who?
Do you understand the contents of your application?
=
did you have any difficulty getting your passport from the Government which you say hates you?
-did you have any difficulty getting out of your country? why weren't you arrested at the airport as you showed them your passport?
=
Tell me your complete immigration history here in USA!
Are you afraid to return to your country? why?
-do you know someone, who is similarly-situated to you, who was not harmed? why wasn't she harmed?
=
when you lived in your country, did you oppose your government? how?
Does your government know what you did in your country?
How would they know?
Why did you opposed your government?
when did you begin to oppose it?
=
Has anyone in your family been harmed?
Your brother told you not to return? why did he tell you that? why does he think that?
If you return to your country, what would happen?
Why would that happen?
Do you CONTINUE to oppose your government?
what did you do here in USA?
Did you join a political party here in USA?
Did you do ANYTHING, just one thing, here in USA to show your oppostion to your government?
=
Tell me about all of your international travels!

issues which keep rising up

1. does the US Government know your address? If you told Mr. A your new address, that is nice, but did he write it down in your file, so that Mr. B knows your address also?
-make sure the government knows your address!

=
did you report your problem to the police? Mr. Rah, from Mexico, was denied asylum because he did not report his problem to the Mexican police.
-in two different cases, where soldiers beat up the applicant, the asylum Officer asked "did you report your problem to the police?"
=
is it a stupid question, after being beat up by soldiers, to ask "did you complain to the police about the soldiers?" Maybe, maybe not.
=
Anyway, one answer is "No, I did not report it to the police, because that would have been a waste of time. The police are afraid of the soldiers. The police do not investigate crimes by soldiers."

an activist from the DRC

The Asylum Officer asked:
-when was your passport issued? was this your first passport? did you have any trouble getting your passport?
-you left your country on December 10th? what was your last address in your country?
Where did you live for the 90 days before you left your country?
-
Why are you applying for asylum?
Why does your government pursue you?
What were your activities, that brought you to the attention of your government?
Why did the youth talk to you? what was special about you, that encouraged them to talk to you?
-
inside the prison, what did the guard say to you? what language did he speak?
How did you get released? where did you go, immediately after being released?
=
when did you decide to go to USA?
what did you say to get your visa? did you tell lies?
How did you get your passport, if your government hated you, and wanted to arrest you? the police gave info about you to the passport office, yes?
-
where were you, at the moment of your arrest? where did they take you? how long did it take to get there? where did they take you?
-
what did you do, during the three months before you left your country? where did you sleep at night?
After you left your country, was anyone harmed, because of you?
Is there anything else?
What would happen to you if you return?
The soldier hit you? did you report that to the police? why not?

an activist from the DRC

an activist from Ethiopia

The Assistant Chief Counsel asked these questions:
-what physical harm did you suffer? tell me in detail; go slowly.
When were you arrested the first time? how long did they hold you?
On the day of your release, did you sign a document? did they give you a document?
Where did you go, upon walking out of the prison? into a car, drive to house? take a bus to hospital?
=
You left your country on September 20?
Where did you live during the 90 days before that? Tell me the address of the place where you stayed during each of those 90 days. [what does it say on page 4 of I-589?]
-when you left your country, what kind of passport? how did you get it? where is the passport right now? Physically, where is the passport today? in the hands of your agent?
You arrived in Mbasa, Kenya and stayed for how many days?
How many days did it take, to get from your country, to USA? Tell me where you were, for each of those days
-what airline did you fly on? what happened at each international border?
-how much did you pay the smugglers for your journey? $2,000? who paid it? your brother? where did he get that much money?

Central African Republic #3

The Asylum Officer asked:
You say you were in prison? who else was there? your friend Mary?
did Mary write a letter of support for you? why not? did you even ask her for a letter?
How did mother find out you were in prison?
How did you know that she came to the front door of the prison to talk to you?
=
during the two months before you left your country, you lived in many different places?
why doesn't it say that on page 4 of Form I-589?
did you have problems at the airport, as you left your country? why not?
Did you work during the last six months you lived in your country?
what did you tell your boss, before you left your country?
=
What would happen to you if you return to your country?
Why do you think your government is still interested in you? They have forgotten about you, haven't they?
Why did you protest in the USA? did anyone notice?
Why did you decide to get a passport?
What does the US government know about you, apart from your I-589?
is there anything else? really? what?
Ok, now, is there anything else?

an activist from the Central African Republic #2

The Asylum Officer asked:
-did your interpreter read the blue sheet back to you, in your language?
Who read your asylum application back to you, in your language?
Who helped you prepare the application?
You have two children? where does each one live; what does each one do?
Tell me about your father: where does he work?
=
why are there errors on page 4?
You made mistakes on page 4? why?
=
when did you join the opposition party?
why join it?
what is its platform? what are its goals? what were its plans?
Did your party make any concrete plans, or just sit around and talk for several hours?
Did a friend invite you to join?
what motivated you to join?
How did you hear about the party?
What were your activities?
You say you attended meetings. Does that mean you sat in a chair, in silence, and listened to others talk?
What was the purpose of the meeting? what was the plan of action?
Who led the meetings?
did that person write you a letter of support?
where were the meeting held? how many attended them?
=
what is a difference between your government and your opposition party?
What was the day of the week when you were arrested?
When did you decide that you would protest in early June? the day before, or one week before?
How did you get to the protest? walk? take a bus?
Did you go there alone, or did you travel with someone?
You say that you protested. What did you do, that a movie camera would record?
you walked in the street? carried a large placard, or walked near to someone else who carried the large placard? did you say words out loud? did you chant? sing? what words did you say?
What time did the protest start? what time did the police arrive?
How did your father find out that you had been arrested?
Two guards began to hit you? why?
Had you seen them before that day?
what were they wearing? what did they say to you?
what did they say to each other?

an activist from the Central African Republic #2

an activist from the Central African Republic #1

The Asylum Officer asked:
Where is a complete copy of every page of your passport [even the blank pages]?
How many other passports have you been issued? where is each passport, today? in whose possession?
=
Tell me about all of your international travel: where did you go, and why?
How long did you stay? what was your immigration status in each country?
Tell me about each Embassy of the USA that you visited: what did you apply for? what did you say? was your visa rejected?
-do I, the Asylum Officer, have right here in my hand a copy of your visa application from five years ago? did you tell lies to get your visa? why?
=
You were a member of a political party? where is your membership card?
What does your card say? when was it issued? when does it expire?
Why are there blanks and missing info on your card?
are the dates on the card accurate?

questions asked of an activist from Congo-Kinshasa

The Asylum Officer asked:
What is your name? according to passport, what is your name? according to your visa? according to your I.D.?
-can you repeat page 1 of form I-589 without looking at it? OK, go ahead!
Where does each member of your family live, right now? what is each person doing?
What was the job of your father?
what was your job in your country?
Can you repeat page 4 of your application?
does page 4 ask about your employment history?
can you repeat page 4?
=
Why are you applying for asylum today?
Why can't you return to your country?
Why does government want to harm you?
Did you have any problems in your country?
=
You say that you were arrested at your house in July 2009?
what did the soldiers say at that time?
What language did they speak?
Who else was inside the house at the time?
Why were you arrested in July 2009?
What happened before, to make the government angry at you?
=
Mr. Smith told you that the government was looking for you?
How did he know that?
during the last two months that you lived in your country, where did you live each day and each night? What does it say on page 4 of your I-589?
=
In January 2011, what did the guard say? what language did he speak in?
PASSPORT
Let's talk about your passport. When was it issued? how did you get it? did you walk into the government office and the man handed it to your hand? or did someone else go in and get it? or, did the government mail it to you?
=as you left your country, were there any problems at the airport?
who paid for your airplane ticket?
What would happen if you return to your country today?
why would your government want to harm you, today? They forgot about you, didn't they?
When was the last time you talked to a member of your family? what did he say?
Is there anything else? yes? what?
Is there anything else?

domestic violence victim from Kenya

The Asylum Officer asked:
-show me your passport!
who do you live with, here in USA?
Whqat does your father do for a living?
Why did you come to USA?
What reason did you give to the US Embassy, when you asked for a visa?
You gave the same, or a different reason?
-when did you decided to apply for asylum?
why did you see a therapist for counseling?
where did you meet your husband?
Why did you decide to marry him?
How did you pay for your school?
where did the money come from? from your husband?
=
Were you ever harmed by anyone? who? why?
Why did he hit you?
what weapon did he use?
what did he say, as he was hitting you?
How did you get to the hospital?
did a doctor ask you what happened?
what is written down in the hospital report?
why isn't the hospital report accurate?
Whose fault is it, that the hospital report contains errors?
=
at the shopping center, how did he hurt you?
what words did he say?
Where were your children, at that time?
What does your society say, about a husband and wife who have problems?
Your husband lived in the house, and you voluntarily, went inside? why?
Did you try to get a divorce? why not?
Why does he want to kill you?
why does he want to kill his own children?
What was the worst thing he did to you?
is there anything else? yes? what?
=
Did you ever go to the police? what did they say?
When did you decide you would never return to your country?
When was the last time you talked to mother? what did she say?
How often does husband call you here in USA?
=
Is there anything else?
OK, is there anything else?

what makes testimony interesting and compelling?

Witness #1 said, "The police arrested me, and took me to the prison, where they hit me."

Witness #2 said, "I was at home with my mother and children. I heard tires screech outside. I heard footsteps; some men were on our porch. I thought they were criminals. I thought they might hurt my children. But, it was the police. They barged in, shouting. I thought they might cause my elderly mother to have a heart attack. They grabbed me, put me into a smelly blue van, and drove to a prison. One guard, with a fat belly, who looked like a teacher I had in high school, held a big stick. I thought he might kill me. He had bad breath; he hit me suddenly, when I wasn't looking. He hit me on my head, my arms, and on both legs. I saw blood: on my hands, on my shirt, on my legs, and on the floor."
=

Witness #2 is more interesting, yes? He mentions, sounds, emotions, thoughts, and smells.

activist from Cameroon #3

More questions:
-how did you find out that the police were coming to arrest you?
How did the police know that a meeting was in progress, at that time?
-when were the photos of your scars taken?
Why were the photos taken?
Who took photos of you at the demonstration?
why did your friend take photos of you? did you send the photos back to your country, to encourage your friends there?
=
how did you get out of prison?
what happened on the day of your release?
How often were you hit in prison?
The guard hit you where? why do you say, "all over your body"? Why can't you say, for example, he hit me on the head, on the back, on my left arm, and on both legs?
=
what did your mother say, when the police came?
Were you afraid the government would arrest you at the airport, before you flew to Paris?
What precautions did you take?
did your brother pay a bribe? how much? who did he pay it to?
Did you have to go through a metal-detection machine, or X-ray machine at the airport?
Did you feel nervous at the airport?
=
what has happened to your group, since you left one year ago?
What are they doing?
does the governemnt care about them?
Why did you send a letter, via certified mail, to your Embassy?
Who sponsored the demonstration in Washington DC in front of the Embassy?
Why have you not joined a political party here in USA?
What was the purpose of the demonstration? what did you hope to accomplish?
On what day did you protest alone in front of your embassy? did anyone notice you?
why did you protest?
did you send protest photos back to Cameroon? why?
What did your friends in Cameroon tell you about the photos you sent them?
Does the government of Cameroon care about its international reputation?
What do you think would happen to you, if you fly back to Cameroon tomorrow?
Why would they arrest you?
Is there anything else? really? what?
OK, is there anything else?

activist from Cameroon #2

The Asylum Officer wanted to know:
-did you join any political parties in the USA? why not?
did you join a party in Cameroon?
What was the purpose of that group?
Does the group have more than one purpose?
was your government aware of your group? how do you know?
What did your government think about your group?
How do you know what your government thought?
=
how often did yor group have meetings?
how often did you attend?
what happened during the meetings?
Did you sit on a chair and listen to what other people said?
did you do anything else at the meetings, beside sit and listen?
for example, did you say something?
=
when were you arrested? you say in March 2010? what day in March? was it on a Sunday?
What were you doing at the moment of your arrest? sitting on a chair reading a book? standing on the sidewalk, holding a large sign?
Where did they take you?
what happened at the police station?
Can you repeat the words of the guard? what language did he speak, and what did he say?
What happened after they put you in the cell?
what furniture was in the cell?
how were you supposed to go to the bathroom? in a bucket? latrine?
What words did the guard say? what did you say?
=
what damage was done to you?
did you see blood? where did you see blood?
Today, how do you feel? do you have any problems today, resulting from the beating?
=
how did you join your group? pay some money? fill out an application?
What are the rules for joining? can anyone join?
=
right before your arrest, what thoughts went through your mind?
When you saw the man, what did you think, at first? that he was an ordinary criminal?
Why did the officer arrest you?
why did he slap you?
How did the police find out, about your activities?
Did an informer, spy, or infiltrator tell the police?

a pro-democracy activist from Cameroon

The Asylum Officer asked:
1] show me your passport! when was it issued, when does it expire, what does each stamp mean?
2] is your interpreter going to translate everything, or just the things he thinks are important?
3] if you say six sentences, can the interpreter translate everything you said? what if you said just two sentences, and then stopped? would that be better?
=
I will ask questions in a random manner; I will not go in a chronological way. If I do that, can you still tell your story?
=
where do you live, here in the USA? who do you live with? Ms. Lucy? how did you find Ms. Lucy? who introduced you to her?
=
when you lived in Yaounde, who else lived in the house?
-have you ever harmed anyone?
-Why did the soldier beat you?
what weapon did he use, and where did he hit you?
What damage was caused, by the hitting?
Are you a member of a tribe? is Mr. Paul Biya a member of a tribe? is that important?
Who works at the Cameroon Embassy in Washington DC? just members of the Beti tribe?
Do any members of the Bamileke tribe work inside the Embassy?
how do you know?
Who demonstrated on the sidewalk outside of the Embassy?
What percent of them were Bamileke?
were there any spies, informers, or infiltrators standing with you?

a Christian from Burma

The government lawyer asked these questions, of the Christian from burma:
-in burma, did anyone ever stop you from going to Church?
-were any churches closed in the year 2009?
in the year 2010?
-the government told you NOT to build a church? because you did not have a building permit?
do people need building permits to build here in USA? yes?
-you lived there from 2007 to 2009 without any problems? not even one problem?
=
how did you get this photo, Exhibit F? did someone hand it to you? did someone mail it to you? if so, where is the envelope?
-where is the original of this letter? how did you get it? mail?
-how did you find out what happened in your village in 2009, if no one has a telephone there?
-you say that Ms. Kay saw you on television, in Burma? could Kay have written a letter, confirming that fact?
-Did you even ask Kay to write a letter?
-you were too busy to work on your asylum case for the past 10 months?
When did VOA begin to broadcast into Burma?
=
You say the government put you into prison for 10 days in 2009? was that the ONLY problem you had in Burma?
Did you post any photos of yourself protesting on the internet?
why did you create and publish a Facebook page?
Why did you create and publish a blog?
why did you post a video of yourself on YouTube?
=
upon arrival here in USA, what was your intent?
Did someone encourage you to apply for asylum? who?
How did you find out about asylum? who told you?

activist from Bolivia

The Asylum Officer asked:
-who helped you to prepare your application?
when did you last leave your country?
when does passport expire?
do you have any family in USA?
Why did you miss the one-year deadline?
when did you decide to apply for asylum?
-you say Mr. X was corrupt? how did you find this out?
Does Mr. X know what you think? How would he find out what you were thinking privately inside your own head?
=
if you return to your country, what would happen? why would that happen?
Why did you leave your country?
What did the bad guys want? what did they say?
Why did they want you to leave the country?
What thoughts went through your mind, when you got the phone call?
Mr. X wanted to hurt you in the year 2008; but what about now? it is 2011, three years later- maybe he forgot about you?
You lived in City #1, and had problems? OK, so why not go live in City #2? or #3?
Is there anything else? yes, there is? what?
Is there anything else? What?
What is your favorite exhibit?

be consistent with yourself

Mr. Yang was denied asylum by the IJ, because:

-in his written statement, it said his wife had to have IUD checks TWICE per year; but in court, he orally testified it was 3 times per year;
-in his written statement, it said wife hid at the house of HUSBAND'S aunt; but in court, he orally testified wife hid at the house of wife's aunt;
-in his written statement, it said a possible prison term of three months; but in court, he orally stated there was a possible prison term of MORE THAN THREE MONTHS;
-in his written statement, it said he left China in November 2004; but in court, he orally testified he left in November 2005

an activist from Burma was not active enough

Mr. N, from Burma, was denied asylum.
-in court, he said the police talked to his mother, in Burma, just one time. However, the letter from mother said that the police talked to her several times.
-he had a brother in Burma, who knew that the police talked to mother, but the brother did not write a letter. Why not?
Mr. N, did you even ask brother to write a letter?
whose fault is it, that there is no letter?

Mr. N did protest three times in front of the Burmese Embassy. So what?
There is no evidence that the government knows or cares about protestors.
There is no evidence the government is interested in Mr. N.
Mr. N is not famous, noisy, notorious or conspicuous here in USA.
He did not send certified letters to his Embassy. He did not create a blog where he criticized his government. He only protested three times in three years.
He did not seek to re-new his passport. Professor Kyaw, from New York University, did NOT testify in court. Mr. N did not even ask the Professor to come.

an activist from Ethiopia

The government lawyer asked:
-tell me your complete immigration history here in USA: you entered in 2001 as a tourist? as a diplomat?
-then you filed for an extension, I-539?
-when was your passport issued? when was it re-newed?
-Tell me about all of your international travel!
-you were safe here in USA, and then you returned to the country that you say is "dangerous"?
Why?
Was your passport ever cancelled?
In your country, did you engage in "oppositional political activity"? [OPA]
did you engage in OPA here in the USA?
why not?
You say you joined the Democratic party here in USA?
Did you hold an office?
Did you write any letters or make phone calls for them?
you just sat in a chair, in a room, while other people talked?

an activist from Senegal

The Judge and the government lawyer asked:
-why are you applying for asylum?
why did they beat you?
how did they know your brother was an activist?
how did they know you raised money for the party?
=
how did you get your passport?
when did you first travel outside of your country? the second time?
What was your intent, before you got on the airplane, to fly to USA? did you tell anyone your intent?
How much information did you have? if you had only a little information, could you form an intent? maybe you had no intent, except to get out of your country, and to then ask for advice after arrival in USA?
=
in 2003, they arrested you at "your" house? does the house have a number, is it on a street? what is the address?
-The title to this house is in whose name? did you own the house? who was the owner?
=
What was your employment in your country?
you traveled outside of your country, and then returned to your job?
What did your employer think about that? your employer lets you come and go, as you please?

does letter from mother agree with your claim?

Ms. Jin, from China, was denied asylum.
She said the police came to her house with a warrant.
-but letter from mother did not mention a warrant.

Ms. Jin said the police came to the house three times.
-but letter from mother only discussed one visit.

What do we learn from the case of Ms. Lin?
-know your story, and know each detail. If you get a letter from family member, read it carefully. What details are in that letter? Are those details the same as what you remember?

will your mother talk to US Embassy official?

Ms. K, from Kenya, was denied asylum. She said she was beat up by the Mungiki, was taken to the "X" hospital, and was treated by Dr. "Y."
-An official from the US Embassy in Kenya called the hospital, and asked to speak to Dr. Y. The hospital said that Dr. Y did not work there. So, no asylum, said the Judge.
=
Ms. K later said that Dr. Y was a visiting teaching doctor, who was only at the hospital for a short time.
=
the mother of Ms. K, who still lives in Kenya, should have visited the US Embassy, and told them that her daughter really was in the hospital, and really was injured. "I saw her lying down on the bed with bandages."
=
will your mother or father talk to the US Embassy in your country?

what dates are stamped in your passport?

The Immigration Judge asked these questions of Ms. X, a pro-democracy activist from Senegal:
-what does your passport say about your international travel?
-"why are you applying for asylum?"
-why did government think you were not loyal?
why did they beat you?
why did they think you raised money in the USA?
-how did you get your passport?
-when you arrived in USA the first time, what was your intent? stay here forever? apply for asylum? or were you confused, you had no information, and you had no intent?
-if you have no information, you cannot plan, and you cannot form an intent, correct?
-what was your complete immmigration history in USA?
did you file I-539? I-589? what is the difference between I-539 and I-589?
=
you had problems in your country in 2002? why not flee immediately?
-you had no visa and no money for airplane tickets?
=
where did you work?
when did you work there?
-if you miss time from work because of travel or being in prison, what does employer think?
-was your employer the government? you worked at a government hospital? you say your government hates you, but it gives you a job?
=
where were you, at the moment of your arrest?
who was with you, at that time?
if they saw you get arrested, how come they did not write a letter of suppport for you?
-upon release from prison, where did you go?
how did you get there?
sister gave you a ride in her car?
if you were so injured, why not go to the hospital?
-Did your government want to punish you? why?
What does "punish" mean?
When you protested in the USA, did anyone in the Embassy see you?
Is it true that a photograph is worth one thousand words?

is your political opinion the same or different from wife?

Mr. C, from Iraq, was asked about his own political opinion: what is it? how did you express it? did anyone notice it?
-did your wife have a political opinion? how did she express it? where? when? did anyone notice it?
-did you even ASK your wife to testify here today? she lives only one hour away; she is not here? why not? whose fault? yours or hers?
-in the last six months, did you do an Oppositional Political Activity [OPA] in the USA? why no OPA in the USA?
-you say you are a member of the Juno group? does your government know you are a member? how do you know that they know?
-you say your government has informants, spies, and infiltrators? [ISI] how do you know that?

what is your immigration history here in USA?

Mr.T, from Togo, suffered real physical harm in his country: he was imprisoned, beaten, theatened with death, and fired from his job. However, in court, the government lawyer asked him these questions:
1. how many times did you earlier come to the USA?
2. what was your status? what kind of visa did you have? a tourist visa?
3. However, your I-589 says you entered USA as a F-1 student? NO? why do you say NO?
I have your I-589 right here in front of me!
4. Do I know more about your I-589 than you do?
5. what was the job of your husband? he was a diplomat?
6. according to your I-589, what was the job of your husband? a teacher?
7. according to your passport, what was the job of your husband?
8. so, in other words, you cannot repeat what your I-589 says? you cannot repeat what your passport says?
ORALLY, YOU SAY THAT "X" IS TRUE. DID YOU ALSO GIVE US SOME PAPERS, SAYING SOMETHING ELSE? YOU DID NOT READ YOUR I-589 BEFORE COMING TO COURT? YOU DID NOT READ YOUR PASSPORT BEFORE COMING TO COURT?