what does "political activity" mean?

The BIA made some comments in Matter of N-M-, 25 I&N Dec. 526 [2011]: why did applicant join the party? what was attractive about the party? -how often did he attend meetings? while at the meetings, did he speak? -how often did he invite others to attend? -how often did he attend public rallies? while at the rallies, did he speak or shout or chant slogans? -how often did he invite others to the rallies? -did he distribute literature about the coming rally? = did he speak out loud somewhere or anywhere? to whom? who was listening at the time? did passers-by listen? -did he ever write something political? where was it published? who read it? -did a newspaper ever publish anything he wrote? did anyone actually read the article in the newspaper?

fleeing gangs in El Salvador

The Asylum Officer asked: -when have you visited USA? tell me about each visit: what year, what purpose? -what were your activities in your country? What was your job? what did you do in your job? = What threats have you received, during your life? When was the first threat? how did you receive it? via phone? a text message? a letter? did you report this problem to the police? Do the gangs extort money from every single business in your city? every single one? if so, the gang does not care if the business owner has, or does not have, a political opinion? = the gang does not care if the business owner did, or did not talk to the police? What happened to you? What did the gang want? Did anyone, similarly-situated to you, suffer in the last six months? If you walk down the street in your city, what do you see? do you see men with tattoos or special colors? how do you know who is in the gang, and who is not? = what thoughts went through your mind when you found out the gang delivered a message to your brother?

dissident from Cameroon #3

The Asylum Officer asked: -why did you join that political party? what were the goals of that party? why did you join at that time, and not earlier? What specifically did you do, as a member? -sit on a chair, during meetings? -distribute tracts on the streets? -make phone calls, to solicit money and members? - talk to your friends, face-to-face, about joining? = you say you were arrested again? where? why? how did the police know you were there? did you suffer any physical harm? Where were you taken? what happened upon your arrival at the jail? was anyone else arrested? why no letter from him? what did you hear inside the cell? what did you smell inside? what fears did you have, inside the cell? what food did you eat? what did you drink/? = do the police have a central file, which they can read, and find out if you had been arreted earlier? Did they ask you any questions inside the cell? = after you escaped from the prison, where did you go? how did you get there? -did the police talk to members of your family after your escape? what did the police say? = you were arrested about 18 months ago? now, the police have forgotten about you? Who says they are still interested in you? If you return to your country, what would happen? why? You were injured in city #1? OK, so why don't you live in City #2? Is there anything else? yes? what? OK, now, is there anything else?

dissisdent from Cameroon, #2

More questions: -on the day of your arrest, was anyone else arrested? Tell me the name of one such person. Why didn't that person write a letter of support for you? -why did you protest that day? what did you want from the government? What specifically did YOU do? [not what others did; what did you do?] -did you walk in the street, chanting slogans? did you stand near another protestor, who was holding a large banner, which said something? What language did you chant in? = where were you taken to? a police station? where was it? -did you suffer physical harm inside? how? -did you suffer emotional harm inside? how? -how did you escape, or depart from the prison? what was the conversation on your last day? -who was inside the cell, with you? why didn't that person write a letter of support for you? -please describe the cell: how big? lighting? furniture? beds? bucket for toilet? insects? flies? what could you hear, while inside? What was it like, being detained in the cell? What thoughts went through your mind, while you were there? Did you have any fears, while you were there? Did you say any words to an officer? what? did the officer say any words to you? in what language? = where were you, at the time of your beating? inside the cell, or somewhere else? what weapons did the officers have? = did your family know you were inside the prison? how did they find out? did they visit you? why not?

a dissident from Cameroon

The Asylum Officer asked: -without looking at page one of your I-589, can you repeat what it says? - i.e., what is your exact name? address? DOB? POB? when did you last leave your country? Who helped you prepare your application? who else helped? -after it was prepared, was it read back to you in a language you can understand? -you received some letters? how did you receive them? through ordinary mail? through DHL? -via hand-delivery? -how did you get the medical documents? the doctor gave them to your hand? the doctor gave them to your mother, who mailed them to you? = Where are the originals? willl you put them here, on the desk, in front of me? = When did you apply for a student visa? why did you decide to apply? what questions did the man at the Embassy ask you? -tell me about all of your international travel: what countries did you visit; why, and in what years? -how did you learn about the ability to apply for asylum? who told you? = why did you decide to leave your country? When did you make that decision? why didn't you depart earlier? = where were you, at the moment of your arrest? inside a room, sitting on a chair? standing outside, in the street? - why were you arrested? what words did the officer say to you? in what language? -did the officer have any weapons? did he use them? how?

dissident from Congo #2

The Asylum Officer asked: So, you were harmed in your country? What kind of harm did you suffer? 1] harm to your body 2] harm to your house, car, or church 3] economic harm, such as loss of job or loss of income? = Did you suffer emotional harm? you felt very sad when you found out they killed your brother? = For each harm that you suffered, can you tell me the month/year/city? Also, tell me why you were harmed, and how you were harmed. OK: March 2011: you were in the city of Brazzaville, at the house of John? You were inside the house, or sitting outside, in the back yard? Who came? how did they come? how many police came? what did they say? did they have any weapons? how and where on your body did they hit you? what did they say, as they were hitting you? What did you do, to make the police want to arrest you? How did the police know you did that? At the time of your arrest, at that moment, where were you? = the police took you to a large building? they put you where? in a small cell? who else was in the cell? What thoughts went through your mind, while you were sitting in the dark cell? = Your second arrest; tell me month/year/city: Where were you at the moment of your arrest? standing in the street? why did they arrest you? what words did you chant? what words were written on the large placard? what weapons did the police have? what words did the police say? what did you say? was anyone else arrested? does anyone know that you were arrested that day? why didn't John write a letter of support for you? = inside the cell, did they ask you any questions? what? What happened on the day of your release? what did the officer say? where did you go, after being released? you were in good health, or not? = WEAPONS and WORDS did the police have weapons? such as what? what language did the police speak? what words did they say? Did you see any blood? where was the blood? = you departed from your country on December 5, 2011? you arrived here in USA on December 6th? As you went to the airport in Brazzaville, intending to fly out, did you fear you might be arrested at the airport? Why weren't you arrested at the airport? Has anything happened in your country since you arrived here? When was the last time you talked to your wife? she said what? Did the president of y our country talk on television or on the radio recently? what did he say? Is your government STILL interested in you, even today? maybe they have forgotten about you? You were harmed in City #1 and in City #2. OK, so why can't you live in City #3? is there anywhere that is safe for you to live in your country? = did one member of your political party suffer in the last six months? who, and why? = OK, we are finished. Is there anything else? What is your favorite exhibit? is there anything else? what?

a dissident from Congo

The Asylum Officer asked: -what is your name? address? DOB? POB? your ethnic group? when arrive in USA? when does your passport expire? [the Officer, in silence, looked at each page of the passport] name of wife? date of marriage? = Why don't you want to return to your country? why do you fear government? why would government kill you? What is your political opinion? If your government receives revenues, how should the money be spent? -spend it on schools, roads, and electricity, or spend it on a palace for the President? = Did you join a political party in your country? When did you join? why? what attracted you to the party? How did you join? did a friend invite you? To join, did you just fill out a one-page form and pay some money? nothing else? So, it is very easy to join? an informer, or a spy, could join it? How long has the party existed? who is the national leader? who is the local leader of the party? what was your role or position? The party believes what? is your party illegal, or legal? = Did you do any activities for the party? -you sat on a chair at a meeting and listened to others talk? did you say anything yourself? Did you invite others to the meeting? did you walk door-to-door and invite people? call anyone on the phone? send anyone emails? did you collect money for the party? How did you do these things? Did anyone see you do these things? If a movie camera followed you around, and filmed you, what would the film show? = How often did you have meetings? where were the meetings? what did you do at the meetings? who did most of the talking? = do you have strong political opinions, today? Yes? what are they? Are you active here in USA, or do you just sit, drink coffee, and watch futbol? Why didn't you join a party here in USA? you say there is no such party? why didn't you start one? Why didn't you create a blog and share your opinions to the world? = you say you protested in front of your Embassy, here in USA? did anyone inside the Embassy notice you? what views did you express, while standing in front of the embassy?