The U.S. Government lawyer asked:
You say you spoke on radio in USA and criticized your government? where is a transcript of what you said? did anyone hear your words?
=
You say the government hates Jacques and all of his relatives?
OK, so in the year 2014, tell me where each relative lived and what happened to each one.
You departed from your country in 2013? since that time, has your government asked one relative of yours even one question? So, your government has forgotten about you, correct?
=
You say you were beaten up. Did you seek medical attention? any permanent injuries or scars? How long were you in pain? two weeks? two days?
=
your brother criticized your government? how and when? did the government know that he criticized it? how do you know that the government was aware of what brother was doing?
-did you report your problems to the police?
Is internal relocation possible? this means: OK, you had problems in City #1. Why not go live in City #2? how would anyone in city #2 know you were the relative of Jacques?
=
you traveled to Kenya? why not seek asylum there? from Kenya, you returned to the "dangerous" country of Rwanda? RTDC? you voluntarily returned to a place of great danger?
When you lived in Kigali, did your government watch you? 60 minutes/day? how do you know?
Tell me about each member of your family. where do they live, and what happened to each one!
=
you have six cousins? what was the worst thing that happened to one of them?
Monday, September 28, 2015
what are your activities here in USA?
the asylum officer concluded the interview with these questions, on 8/21/14:
1. has your government talked to your family, in your country, about you, in the past year?
2. has anyone talked to any member of your family, about you, in the past year?
3. You departed from your country in 2008, and went to Saudi Arabia? in Saudi Arabia, did you participate in any activities against your government?
4. Why not?
5. Have you been participating in any activities here in USA?
6. why not?
7. Have you participated in any political activities in USA?
= = =
the applicant answered all of the above questions with NO.
-The government of applicant's country has forgotten about applicant
-the applicant has forgotten about his government, apparently
-note that questions #5 and #7 are the same: the officer repeated this question.
=
The fact that the officer asked the same question, twice, tells you what about how important the answer to the question is?
=
This applicant was denied asylum.
What should he have done to have improved his chances of winning?
What should you do, between now and the time of your interview with the asylum officer?
1. has your government talked to your family, in your country, about you, in the past year?
2. has anyone talked to any member of your family, about you, in the past year?
3. You departed from your country in 2008, and went to Saudi Arabia? in Saudi Arabia, did you participate in any activities against your government?
4. Why not?
5. Have you been participating in any activities here in USA?
6. why not?
7. Have you participated in any political activities in USA?
= = =
the applicant answered all of the above questions with NO.
-The government of applicant's country has forgotten about applicant
-the applicant has forgotten about his government, apparently
-note that questions #5 and #7 are the same: the officer repeated this question.
=
The fact that the officer asked the same question, twice, tells you what about how important the answer to the question is?
=
This applicant was denied asylum.
What should he have done to have improved his chances of winning?
What should you do, between now and the time of your interview with the asylum officer?
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
an activist from the DRC
The Judge asked:
-show me the original of your party membership card!
-where is the letter from your political party, which says you are a member?
-show me the letter from the doctor who observed bruises and scars
-show me the original of your party membership card!
-where is the letter from your political party, which says you are a member?
-show me the letter from the doctor who observed bruises and scars
Thursday, July 23, 2015
activist from Syria #2
More Questions:
-what happened during each day of your detention?
Did you belong to an organization in your country?
why did you decide to join?
what is the goal or platform of that organization?
What was your role?
what did you do? what would a movie camera record you doing?
-standing on the street, distributing pamphlets? walking and knocking on doors?
-sitting at a computer, sending out emails and talking on the phone?
Did your party ask you to do anything? what?
You sat in a chair, in silence, alone in a room, and had some private thoughts?
=
did you suffer any injuries? NO? then what are you complaining about? what do you need asylum for?
There are physical injuries, which require the attention of a doctor?
Did you suffer "emotional" harm? Yes? why didn't you say so, earlier?
=
did a member of your family receive a threat? when?
=
Have you done any political activity here in USA?
Did you stand on the sidewalk, holding a sign?
Why haven't you joined an organization here in USA?
Did you ever voice your opinion, publicly, here in USA?
why not? don't you care about the problems in your country?
Did your government hear what you said about it, here in USA?
how do you know that?
-who says, besides you, that your government has spies here in USA?
If you return to your country, what would happen?
You had problems in the capitol city of your country? why not live in a city 3 hours away?
Wouldn't you be safe there?
Is there anything else?
Is there anything else?
what is your best exhibit, that explains about the problems in your country?
-what happened during each day of your detention?
Did you belong to an organization in your country?
why did you decide to join?
what is the goal or platform of that organization?
What was your role?
what did you do? what would a movie camera record you doing?
-standing on the street, distributing pamphlets? walking and knocking on doors?
-sitting at a computer, sending out emails and talking on the phone?
Did your party ask you to do anything? what?
You sat in a chair, in silence, alone in a room, and had some private thoughts?
=
did you suffer any injuries? NO? then what are you complaining about? what do you need asylum for?
There are physical injuries, which require the attention of a doctor?
Did you suffer "emotional" harm? Yes? why didn't you say so, earlier?
=
did a member of your family receive a threat? when?
=
Have you done any political activity here in USA?
Did you stand on the sidewalk, holding a sign?
Why haven't you joined an organization here in USA?
Did you ever voice your opinion, publicly, here in USA?
why not? don't you care about the problems in your country?
Did your government hear what you said about it, here in USA?
how do you know that?
-who says, besides you, that your government has spies here in USA?
If you return to your country, what would happen?
You had problems in the capitol city of your country? why not live in a city 3 hours away?
Wouldn't you be safe there?
Is there anything else?
Is there anything else?
what is your best exhibit, that explains about the problems in your country?
Monday, July 13, 2015
an activist from Congo-Kinshasa
The Government lawyer asked these questions:
-what is the platform of your political party?
-did the party ask or demand that the president of your country do something?
-did your party give you a membership card?
-did you do anything to bring yourself to the attention of your government while you lived in your country?
Does your government control the daily lives of the citizens?
Do you know any similarly-situated persons who suffered harm?
Were you suprised when you were arrested?
Is your government inconsistent at times? one Department does something, but another department does something different?
-for example, the police department arrests you, but the passport department gives you a passport?
=
was there a time, when you were arrested, and the police did NOT hit you?
Is the scar on your leg from falling off of a bicycle, not from being hit by police?
"moral torture" means what?
You went to New york City and protested? your government knows you protested?
But two months later, the police went to your house in your country to look for you? They do not know where you were?
The government people in NYC did, or did not, give info to the police department in your country?
Do members of your political party sit in Parliament?
-what is the platform of your political party?
-did the party ask or demand that the president of your country do something?
-did your party give you a membership card?
-did you do anything to bring yourself to the attention of your government while you lived in your country?
Does your government control the daily lives of the citizens?
Do you know any similarly-situated persons who suffered harm?
Were you suprised when you were arrested?
Is your government inconsistent at times? one Department does something, but another department does something different?
-for example, the police department arrests you, but the passport department gives you a passport?
=
was there a time, when you were arrested, and the police did NOT hit you?
Is the scar on your leg from falling off of a bicycle, not from being hit by police?
"moral torture" means what?
You went to New york City and protested? your government knows you protested?
But two months later, the police went to your house in your country to look for you? They do not know where you were?
The government people in NYC did, or did not, give info to the police department in your country?
Do members of your political party sit in Parliament?
Friday, April 17, 2015
an activist from the CAR
The asylum officer asked:
Show me all of your passports!
Tell me about all of your international travel!
how did you get the passport? walk in, and it was handed to you?
Or, they gave it to your sister, and she mailed it to you?
In 2009, you flew airplane to London? and then to Paris?
What do your parents do for a living?
How do you suppport yourself in USA? do you work without a permit?
=
you arrived in USA in 2013, but you waited ten months to apply for asylum? why the delay?
In June 2013, you talked face-to-face with a policeman? what did he say? can you repeat the words he said?
Did your sister write a letter of support for you? why not?
What is the situation in your country, today, April 2015?
Who do you fear? why do you still fear them?
Ms. Samba is the president of your country? what is her ethnic group? Goula. Usually, the Goula people live in the north-east part of your country? they are usually Muslim?
How do they know you are not a Goula?
=
Tomorrow, if you fly airplane to the capitol city of your country, what would happen?
Is your government still interested in you, or have they forgotten about you?
Human Rights Watch recently reported that your president was in favor of democracy and in favor of punishing war criminals? Is this true?
You had problems in city #1; OK, so why not live in city #2?
=
Who are you, in one sentence? a non-Goula, an activist who supports democracy.
in the last six months, has one other similarly-situated person suffered harm in your country?
Is there anything else?
Show me all of your passports!
Tell me about all of your international travel!
how did you get the passport? walk in, and it was handed to you?
Or, they gave it to your sister, and she mailed it to you?
In 2009, you flew airplane to London? and then to Paris?
What do your parents do for a living?
How do you suppport yourself in USA? do you work without a permit?
=
you arrived in USA in 2013, but you waited ten months to apply for asylum? why the delay?
In June 2013, you talked face-to-face with a policeman? what did he say? can you repeat the words he said?
Did your sister write a letter of support for you? why not?
What is the situation in your country, today, April 2015?
Who do you fear? why do you still fear them?
Ms. Samba is the president of your country? what is her ethnic group? Goula. Usually, the Goula people live in the north-east part of your country? they are usually Muslim?
How do they know you are not a Goula?
=
Tomorrow, if you fly airplane to the capitol city of your country, what would happen?
Is your government still interested in you, or have they forgotten about you?
Human Rights Watch recently reported that your president was in favor of democracy and in favor of punishing war criminals? Is this true?
You had problems in city #1; OK, so why not live in city #2?
=
Who are you, in one sentence? a non-Goula, an activist who supports democracy.
in the last six months, has one other similarly-situated person suffered harm in your country?
Is there anything else?
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Kurdish activist from Syria
The asylum officer asked:
"What is it like, being Kurdish in Syria?"
-why doesn't the government like the Kurds?
Were you a member of any organizations in your country?
are you a member of any organizations here in USA? NO? why not?
What were your political activiites in your country?
What are your political activities here in usa?
=
Did you ever suffer physical harm?
ever suffer emotional harm, as from threats?
ever suffer economic harm, as from having to pay large bribes or fines?
=
Do the Kurds govern their own territory today?
Who are the bad guys? who are the groups you fear?
Is there anyone else who wants to harm you?
=
How do they know you are a Kurd? if you walk down the street in silence, and they look at you, do you look different from others? how? your nose is bigger? your head is bigger? you are taller?
Your accent, when you speak Arabic?
Your name? your first name is what? would any Arab name his son that name?
Clothes? are your clothes different?
=
Tell me all of your international travel!
Tell me the name of each country you visited, and what was your immigration status in that country?
Why did you depart from Jordan? why did you depart from your country? why not depart earlier?
If you return, what would happen?
Tell me the name of one Kurd who was killed in the past six months, by the government, because of his political opinion!
You had problems in the city of Damascus? OK, so why not live in City #2? how about City
=
ever use any other date of births?
-how did you avoid compulsory service in your country?
Ever get stopped at a road block, or checkpoint? ever pay any $ to get through? how much?
Ever had any contact with extremists?
DID YOU EVER GIVE "MATERIAL SUPPORT" TO ANYONE?
-ever give 3 $, or a drink of water, to a terrorist?
EVER USE FACEBOOK? EVER USE TWITTER?
What did you post? did anyone in your country read your Facebook account?
Tell me all of your international travel, including brief cities of transit!
did you ever join any group?
Did you ever give false information to U.S. government?
Does anyone in Syria know you go to a Christian church, here in USA?
"What is it like, being Kurdish in Syria?"
-why doesn't the government like the Kurds?
Were you a member of any organizations in your country?
are you a member of any organizations here in USA? NO? why not?
What were your political activiites in your country?
What are your political activities here in usa?
=
Did you ever suffer physical harm?
ever suffer emotional harm, as from threats?
ever suffer economic harm, as from having to pay large bribes or fines?
=
Do the Kurds govern their own territory today?
Who are the bad guys? who are the groups you fear?
Is there anyone else who wants to harm you?
=
How do they know you are a Kurd? if you walk down the street in silence, and they look at you, do you look different from others? how? your nose is bigger? your head is bigger? you are taller?
Your accent, when you speak Arabic?
Your name? your first name is what? would any Arab name his son that name?
Clothes? are your clothes different?
=
Tell me all of your international travel!
Tell me the name of each country you visited, and what was your immigration status in that country?
Why did you depart from Jordan? why did you depart from your country? why not depart earlier?
If you return, what would happen?
Tell me the name of one Kurd who was killed in the past six months, by the government, because of his political opinion!
You had problems in the city of Damascus? OK, so why not live in City #2? how about City
=
ever use any other date of births?
-how did you avoid compulsory service in your country?
Ever get stopped at a road block, or checkpoint? ever pay any $ to get through? how much?
Ever had any contact with extremists?
DID YOU EVER GIVE "MATERIAL SUPPORT" TO ANYONE?
-ever give 3 $, or a drink of water, to a terrorist?
EVER USE FACEBOOK? EVER USE TWITTER?
What did you post? did anyone in your country read your Facebook account?
Tell me all of your international travel, including brief cities of transit!
did you ever join any group?
Did you ever give false information to U.S. government?
Does anyone in Syria know you go to a Christian church, here in USA?
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
domestic violence victim from Tanzania #2
The asylum officer asked:
-why did you come to USA?
-you voluntarily left your children behind, to come to USA?
Tell me all of your international travel! all of it, not just some.
What does each stamp in your passport indicate?
Why did you go to Zimbabwe in 2011?
why go to Kenya in 2012? and then, voluntarily, you returned to the "dangerous country"?
You tried to escape from the mean boyfriend in 2010, 2011, but not in 2012? You are inconsistent, aren't you?
-did your boyfriend know you applied for a passport?
If he didn't want you to travel, why didn't he take passport away from you?
Did he ask you about your passport?
Why didn't he ask? is he stupid?
=
How did the police find out what you were doing in March 2013?
How did you pay for your trip to Kenya?
How did you pay for trip to USA?
=
is there anything else?
You say, "in my culture," you must do certain things? like what? what is the penalty if you break the rules?
-why did you come to USA?
-you voluntarily left your children behind, to come to USA?
Tell me all of your international travel! all of it, not just some.
What does each stamp in your passport indicate?
Why did you go to Zimbabwe in 2011?
why go to Kenya in 2012? and then, voluntarily, you returned to the "dangerous country"?
You tried to escape from the mean boyfriend in 2010, 2011, but not in 2012? You are inconsistent, aren't you?
-did your boyfriend know you applied for a passport?
If he didn't want you to travel, why didn't he take passport away from you?
Did he ask you about your passport?
Why didn't he ask? is he stupid?
=
How did the police find out what you were doing in March 2013?
How did you pay for your trip to Kenya?
How did you pay for trip to USA?
=
is there anything else?
You say, "in my culture," you must do certain things? like what? what is the penalty if you break the rules?
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
domestic violence victim from Tanzania
The asylum officer asked these questions:
When did you last leave your country? what does your passport say? why is there a mistake on page one?
What was your last address in your country?
What did you say at US Embassy to get your visa? what address did you give to them?
Do you work in USA? where?
Who prepared your application?
How was your personal statement prepared?
are you aware of its contents?
did someone read it back to you, in your language?
Why did you travel to the USA in January 2013?
What was your plan? what was your intent?
=
What did brother tell you on the phone? he said he talked to the bad guy? what did the bad guy say?
Can you repeat his words?
what did you do, during the last 30 days you lived in your country? what preparations did you make? what did you tell your employer? your kids? your husband?
=
When did you decide you wanted to apply for asylum? why not apply sooner?
Why did Mr. X hit your mother?
What was the plan, concerning your children? who would take care of them? for how long?
What would happen if you return to your country?
Why did your husband mistreat you?
What words did husband say? can you repeat his words?
=
you had problems in the city where your family lived? OK, so why not live in city #2, which is 300 miles away?
-could husband find you in that far-away city? how?
Tell me about all of your international travel!
is there anything else?
You say that Mr. X is angry at you? why?
When did you last leave your country? what does your passport say? why is there a mistake on page one?
What was your last address in your country?
What did you say at US Embassy to get your visa? what address did you give to them?
Do you work in USA? where?
Who prepared your application?
How was your personal statement prepared?
are you aware of its contents?
did someone read it back to you, in your language?
Why did you travel to the USA in January 2013?
What was your plan? what was your intent?
=
What did brother tell you on the phone? he said he talked to the bad guy? what did the bad guy say?
Can you repeat his words?
what did you do, during the last 30 days you lived in your country? what preparations did you make? what did you tell your employer? your kids? your husband?
=
When did you decide you wanted to apply for asylum? why not apply sooner?
Why did Mr. X hit your mother?
What was the plan, concerning your children? who would take care of them? for how long?
What would happen if you return to your country?
Why did your husband mistreat you?
What words did husband say? can you repeat his words?
=
you had problems in the city where your family lived? OK, so why not live in city #2, which is 300 miles away?
-could husband find you in that far-away city? how?
Tell me about all of your international travel!
is there anything else?
You say that Mr. X is angry at you? why?
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
activist from Cameroon denied asylum by a Judge
Mr. T, from Cameroon, was denied asylum by a Judge, who stated:
1] Mr. T claims his government is angry at him, and that prison guards beat him up in 2007. However, after that time, T departed from Cameroon and came to the USA, and did not apply for asylum! Why not? and then he returned to the country he says is so dangerous. Why would anyone return to a place where the government is angry at you?
2] his family still lives in Cameroon, and no one bothers them. If the government hates Mr. T, why doesn't the government punish the family?
3] Mr. T did not know his own international travel. Why not? The Court is interested in the "stamps" in his passport. Yes, the passport pages are blurry, and the stamps are overlapping, but the Court asked his clerk to personally photocopy each page of the passport.
4] he did not apply for asylum in Egypt. why not?
5] Mr. N testified in court, but he was inconsistent with the letter he had written. Mr. N was unable to repeat a 3-paragraph letter?
6] yes, Mr. T has a scar on his head. Some one hit him. By who? and why? there is insufficient evidence that a government agent hit him because to the political opinion of T.
7] T departed from, and returned to, the "dangerous country." [the Judge repeated this; see #1 above]
=
8] T departed from his country years ago. Is his government still interested in him, or did the government forget about him? There is no evidence of what the government thinks today, January 2015.
9] the sister wrote a letter saying, "the government tortured T in front of me," but she also said "I could not visit him in prison." This is confusing and inconsistent.
10] the wife wrote a letter of support, but she has her own motives: she wants to come live here in USA; so she exaggerates to help herself [if husband wins, she wins]
11] T says he was beaten on his feet; Dr. Smith says he saw no problems with his feet.
12] T says he was beaten in 2007 and also in 2008; the letter from Dr. Jones only talks about 2007.
13] Ms. Ossa wrote that "I saw the police arrest T" but she gives no other details.
14] things are getting better in Cameroon. On April 14, 2013, the country held its first Senate elections in history, "and the Dept of State considered the elections to be generally free and fair."
=
15] there is no evidence his government cares about him today. T has not been active here in USA; he is not a leader or officeholder in his party.
16] the government has not harmed his family; the government has not even talked to any member of the family.
1] Mr. T claims his government is angry at him, and that prison guards beat him up in 2007. However, after that time, T departed from Cameroon and came to the USA, and did not apply for asylum! Why not? and then he returned to the country he says is so dangerous. Why would anyone return to a place where the government is angry at you?
2] his family still lives in Cameroon, and no one bothers them. If the government hates Mr. T, why doesn't the government punish the family?
3] Mr. T did not know his own international travel. Why not? The Court is interested in the "stamps" in his passport. Yes, the passport pages are blurry, and the stamps are overlapping, but the Court asked his clerk to personally photocopy each page of the passport.
4] he did not apply for asylum in Egypt. why not?
5] Mr. N testified in court, but he was inconsistent with the letter he had written. Mr. N was unable to repeat a 3-paragraph letter?
6] yes, Mr. T has a scar on his head. Some one hit him. By who? and why? there is insufficient evidence that a government agent hit him because to the political opinion of T.
7] T departed from, and returned to, the "dangerous country." [the Judge repeated this; see #1 above]
=
8] T departed from his country years ago. Is his government still interested in him, or did the government forget about him? There is no evidence of what the government thinks today, January 2015.
9] the sister wrote a letter saying, "the government tortured T in front of me," but she also said "I could not visit him in prison." This is confusing and inconsistent.
10] the wife wrote a letter of support, but she has her own motives: she wants to come live here in USA; so she exaggerates to help herself [if husband wins, she wins]
11] T says he was beaten on his feet; Dr. Smith says he saw no problems with his feet.
12] T says he was beaten in 2007 and also in 2008; the letter from Dr. Jones only talks about 2007.
13] Ms. Ossa wrote that "I saw the police arrest T" but she gives no other details.
14] things are getting better in Cameroon. On April 14, 2013, the country held its first Senate elections in history, "and the Dept of State considered the elections to be generally free and fair."
=
15] there is no evidence his government cares about him today. T has not been active here in USA; he is not a leader or officeholder in his party.
16] the government has not harmed his family; the government has not even talked to any member of the family.
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
activist from Iraq
The asylum officer asked:
why are you applying for asylum?
Whom do you fear?
Whom do you fear the most?
Did you receive any direct threats?
did you suffer any physical harm?
Why did the soldier hurt you?
Why is Mr. Mustapha angry at you?
How does he know about your political opinion?
=
What is your political opinion?
How did you come to feel this way/
How did you first get involved with your political party? what motivated you to jon?
How does your government view you?
Why did ISIS kidnap those people?
How does anyone know you are a Kurd?
-
Were there any specific threats against you?
You arrived here in USA in June 2012, but did not apply for asylum? and then you returned to the dangerous country?
-when you returned to Iraq, did you take any precautions to avoid harm?
When did you first decide to apply for asylum>
If you return, what would happen to you?
You had problems in the city of Baghdad? OK< so, why not live in the city of Basra?
=
Tell me about all of your international travel!
Did you ever have to pay money to travel in your country?
did you ever have to pay money to someone, even if you didn't want to?
did you ever give money to a terrorist? ever give money, even if you didn't want to, to a bad guy?
Did you ever pay $ to a 1] terrorist 2] smuggler 3] stranger 4] taxi driver?
Ever get stopped at a roadblock, or at a checkpoint? YOu
why are you applying for asylum?
Whom do you fear?
Whom do you fear the most?
Did you receive any direct threats?
did you suffer any physical harm?
Why did the soldier hurt you?
Why is Mr. Mustapha angry at you?
How does he know about your political opinion?
=
What is your political opinion?
How did you come to feel this way/
How did you first get involved with your political party? what motivated you to jon?
How does your government view you?
Why did ISIS kidnap those people?
How does anyone know you are a Kurd?
-
Were there any specific threats against you?
You arrived here in USA in June 2012, but did not apply for asylum? and then you returned to the dangerous country?
-when you returned to Iraq, did you take any precautions to avoid harm?
When did you first decide to apply for asylum>
If you return, what would happen to you?
You had problems in the city of Baghdad? OK< so, why not live in the city of Basra?
=
Tell me about all of your international travel!
Did you ever have to pay money to travel in your country?
did you ever have to pay money to someone, even if you didn't want to?
did you ever give money to a terrorist? ever give money, even if you didn't want to, to a bad guy?
Did you ever pay $ to a 1] terrorist 2] smuggler 3] stranger 4] taxi driver?
Ever get stopped at a roadblock, or at a checkpoint? YOu
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