a "black" person from Russia #2

the government lawyer asked: did you travel outside of Russia? where? why? did you have any problems leaving Russia? if Russia hates you, why would it let you leave?
-you say that your country is dangerous? so why did you return voluntarily to it? if you return of your own free will, doesn't that show us that the country is not dangerous? Or, did you have a very good reason to return there?
-your daughter lives in France? can she file a petition for you, so you can get immigration status there?
-are there different kinds of harm? yes? one kind is physical? another kind is emotional? did you suffer emotional or psychological harm? did you suffer any economic harm, such as not being able to get a job?
-you lived in the city of Moscow? you had problems there; so, why no go live in another city? why not live in Stalingrad? why not in Leningrad?
-you say you were attacked in the street? did you report it to the police? why not? do you think the police do not care if you suffer an attack? why do you think that?

a "black" person seeking asylum from Russia

The Government lawyer asked Ms. R, a dark-skinned person, seeking asylum from Russia:
1. Tell me about all of your international travel: where did you go, why, and why did you leave that country?
2. You went to Armenia? when? why? why leave Armenia? why not apply for asylum there? After Armenia, you went to back to Russia? you returned voluntarily to a country you say is dangerous? I guess it is not so dangerous, if you returned there, yes?
3. Or, did you return there only reluctantly, and because you had no real choice?
4. you lived for 6 years in Russia? during that time, you suffered no physical harm? no harm to your church, house, or car?
5. you were able to work? you had a job? your employer was friendly to you? So, you suffered no economic harm?
6. you say one day a Russian threatened to kill you? did you report that to the police? why not? who says it is a waste of time to report such things to the police?
7. your mother, father, brother, and sister all live today in Russia? not one of them suffered physical harm? not one? so why don't you go live with them, because they have found a way to live in safety?
8. you say your brother lives in fear? he does not go out at night because he is afraid? he cannot leave the country because no money and no visa? but he reallyl wants to leave?
9, you say you were fired from your job? but in your I-589, you say you "quit" your job, correct? also in the I-589 you did not mention emotional harm suffered by brother? why do you add things today in court which were not in your I-589? when was the last time you read your I-589? do I know more aboutyour I-589 than you do?

questions asked of an activist from Cameroon

1. upon your release from prison, what did you sign?
2. why were you arrested? did you violate a law of your country? other people were there also; why weren't they arrested?
3. did you join a political party in your country? why? when?
4. why did you come to the USA?
5. to get your visa from the US Embassy, what did you say? did you tell the truth? why not?
6. did you try to re-locate inside your country?
7. you say your government hates you, today? how do you know?
8. is it true that 18 million people live in your country? why would your government care about you? what is so special about you?
9. you suffered no physical harm, correct? did you suffer any emotional harm or emotional distress?

does your government care if you protest?

Ms. C, from Cameroon, testified as follows: "on June 5, 2008, I spoke with Mr. Lawrence Mbah on the telephone. Mr. Mbah works at the Embassy of Cameroon in Washington DC. I asked him if it is true that if 1] a person protests here in Washington against the government of Cameroon, that then 2] that person's family members in Cameroon will be arrested, harassed or attacked?

Mr. Mbah answered by saying that we should be mindful of our activities here in the USA because our family members will pay for what we say or do.

I then asked him: what would happen to me, if I protest here in USA and then return to Cameroon? He answered that we should be mindful of our activities here because we will later pay for what we say or do.
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What does your government embassy think, in the year 2009? can you find out what they think?

why isn't each member of your family dead?

the Assistant Chief Counsel asked these questions of the pro-democracy activist from Ethiopia:
1. where does your older brother live? is he politically active? why not? is he afraid? he has never been arrested or imprisoned? is that because he was not active?
2. where does your younger brother live? why wasn't he arrested, killed, or imprisoned? is it because he is afraid, and is not politically active?
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3. why would your government target you? do they really know you? how did they come to know you? aren't there thousands of students? what makes you so special?
4. to get your visa to enter USA, did you actually go inside the US Embassy in the city of Adis Ababa? did you tell the truth, or did you lie to get your visa? why did you lie?
5. you protested with your friend, Mr. X? he was imprisoned with you? why didn't he write a letter of support for you? did you even ASK him to write a letter? did he tell you he was afraid to write a letter, or is he just lazy?
6. did you try to relocate inside your country? you had trouble in city #1? OK, so go live 500 miles away in City #2? why not do that?

Judge did not believe government cared about protests

in Dankam v. Gonzales, 2007 U.S. App. Lexis 16852 [4th Circuit 2007] Ms. Dankam, from Cameroon, testified she protested in front of her Embassy in Washington Dc, and that she was "sure" her government knew she protested and that her government would get angry and later try to punish her.

However, the Judge said:
"there is no evidence of what your government knows or thinks."
"no one wrotet a letter, agreeing with you"
" there are no photographs of a man inside the Embassy watching you'
"no one bothered or injured your husband and children back in the old country"
"you are not famous; you are not a big shot; you did not speak on the radio; you did not write letters; no one knows who you are"
You lose!

questions to a christian from Indonesia, by IJ

When you left your country, what happened at the airport?
Tell me about your mother and father: they are Christians, they still live in the same house and go to the same church, and they have suffered no harm? you say they did not suffer physical harm; but that they did suffer emotional harm? what do you mean? what is "emotional harm"?
-Did you get a visa from the USA Embassy in your country? how did you leave your country?
Does the recent Department of State report, at page 17, say that the police try to protect churches?
Does the recent Department of State report at page 18, say that violence against Christians "continues to decline"? The Judge, the government lawyer, and your own lawyer read the Department of State reports, but you don't?
You are different from everyone else in the courtroom?
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how were you able to get 24 [twenty four] people to come to court for you today?