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?

another activist from Ethiopia

The Asylum Officer asked:
-inside the prison, what did you hear? coughing of prisoners who had Tuberculosis?
the screams of prisoners being beaten? a large angry prisoner, in your face, yelling at you?
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did you see any blood inside prison?
did you see any insects, flies, rats?
did you see any dead bodies?
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You suffered in your capitol city? so, why not go live in a small village far away? why do you think your government could find you there?
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what have been your political activities here in USA?
what have you done here, that annoys or irritates your government?
Why hasn't your husband suffered any harm since you have been here?
Is there anything else?
What is your favorite exhibit?
Is there anything else?
where is the envelope for this letter?
How do I know your husband really wrote this letter? maybe someone else did?

an activist from Ethiopia

The Asylum Officer asked:
-show me your passport! did you photocopy each page of your passport?
Tell me about all of your international travel: where did you go, why, how long, what was your status in each country; how come you did not apply for asylum in each country?
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Tell me about each member of your family: where are they, why not here in USA, did they suffer physical harm? emotional harm? economic harm?
1] your husband: did he suffer any a] physical harm; b] emotional harm; c] economic harm?
2] your oldest child?
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You stood on the sidewalk in front of your Embassy in Washington DC, holding a large sign criticizing your government, and you chanted slogans, criticizing your government?
-did anyone inside the Embassy notice you? did anyone look out of the window?
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You say your government knows you, because you protested in front of your Embassy? If so, why don't they punish or harm you? why don't they punish or harm your husband?
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What is the ethnic group of the leader of your country?
what is your ethnic group? how does his group feel about your group?
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what is the religion of the leader? what is your religion? how does he feel about your religion?
Is your ethnic group important to your asylum claim? How?
is your religion important to your asylum claim? how?
How do you feel about your government?
Why are you against your government?
What were your political activities in your country?
Where did you distribute pamphlets?
Did any of your political activities in your country come to the attention of your governemnt? How? how do you know that? does anyone agree with you?
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what did you do, to get the attention of your government, in your country?
What does "a photo is worth 1,000 words" mean?
What does your government spend money on? what do you think your government should spend money on?
What have you done, politically, in your country, to get you into trouble in your country?
Where were you at the moment of your arrest?
What words did the soldiers say?
Where did they take you? what words did they say in that building?
Why were you released? what did they say to you, on the day of your release?
What was the motive of the government? why did they target you?
What was the worst thing that happened to you inside the prison?

I suffered FGM 30 years ago

The Asylum Officer asked:
-today, is there pain upon urination? how many times per day do you urinate?
-Who did the cutting? what was her training?
Did she cut other girls the same day? did blood from another girl get on you?
What is your opinion about FGM?
What percent of the girls in your country get FGM?
Do you know anyone who died from it?
What is a "cyst"? is it a large growth of flesh or tissue, in a place where you do not want it, such as "down there."?
-What percent of girls who suffer FGM at age ten have large cysts growing in or near their vaginas at age 40?
-Are you sure you do not have a cyst down there?

a minority from Iraq

The Asylum Officer asked:
-has the blue sheet about translation been explained to you?
Can you repeat everything on page one of Form I-589?
-everything on page 2? your last address in your country?
Did anyone help you prepare this application?
How did you enter the USA?
How many passports have you been issued by Government?
where is each passport, right now?
Tell me about all of your international travel?
Why did you visit Lebanon? why not seek asylum there?
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Why do you seek asylum now, but not earlier?
When did you decide to apply for asylum?
how did you learn about the ability to file asylum?
who told you? when?
Today, here in USA: where do you live, and who lives with you?
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do you have a political opinion?
what does "pro-democracy" mean?
What is democracy? don't you have democracy in your country?
Was your husband a member of the Baath party?
Have you ever been harmed in your country?
what is "emotional" harm? what is "economic" harm?
Some one made a threat over the telephone?
Who was it? who do you think it was?
Why was the man targeting your husband?
the man was angry at the entire family, or just your husband?
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you say the man who made the threats was mad at your husband because he helped the Americans? how did the man know that your husband helped the Americans?
-after the threat, did you report it to the police? why not?
Later, your brother was attacked on the street?
by whom? why?
Did anyone report the attack to the police? why not?
why is it a waste of time to report to the police?
Did you have any problems in your country?
between the years 2009-2010, any problems?
Who hurt you, and why?
During the year 2011, any problems?
Who hurt you, and why?
How did they know things about you?
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Why did you come to the USA?
why do you want asylum?
if you return to your country, what would happen?
You say the militias hate you? why?
You say you have lived here in USA for over two years. Why is this important?
How would the militias know that you have lived here for over two years?
What emotions do you have about hijabs? would you wear one if you return?
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You say your country is very dangerous? If so, why did you voluntarily return there in 2011?
Is there anything else?