The Asylum Officer asked this of the woman from Saudi Arabia:
-did anyone help you fill out this application?
can you repeat all the info on page 1 of I-589? on page 4?
What is your political opinion?
How did you first become interested in this problem?
When did you first become active and involved?
you joined the group in 2008? why not join it in 2007?
how did you express yourself?
why did you change from one activity to another?
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Tell me about all of your international travel: when and why did you go to each country?
why weren't you arrested at the airport upon departure?
how were you able to re-new your passport?
you departed from your country, and then you voluntarily returned to it? why? weren't you afraid?
-why didn't you flee from your "dangerous" country earlier?
why did n't you seek asylum earlier? you applied in the year 2014; why not apply in the year 2013?
What would happen if you return to your country?
Who is it, exactly, that you fear? do you fear more than one person?
How has your country treated other human rights activists?
you had problems in the capitol city; OK, so why not go live in city #2 or in city #3?
Where are the original documents?
is there anything else?
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
an activist from Togo was able to answer all of these questions from the Judge
1. YOUR FAMILY
where does husband live now, what does he do?
each brother and sister: live where, do what?
mother lives where, does what?
father, lives where, does what?
each of your children: live where, do what?
Did any of these people suffer harm? please tell me what the harm was, and MONTH/YEAR/CITY
2. YOUR EDUCATION
did you get a bachelor's degree?
3. EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
for the last ten years, what jobs have you held?
when you quit your last job, what did you tell your employer? [did you tell him you were going to depart from the country and seek asylum in the USA? did you lie to your employer, as you departed?]
4. YOUR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
tell me about all of your travel to other countries:
2003: went to Ghana for 6 weeks to visit friend 2004: went to DRC for two weeks on business
= =
5. ARRESTS: HOW MANY TIMES WERE YOU ARRESTED AND DETAINED?
6. YOUR FIRST ARREST
where were you at the moment of your arrest? what time was it? what were you doing? who was with you?
You are marching on the street, chanting slogans and holding large signs?
how did you travel to the protest?
what were you protesting? what was the basis of the protest?
Soldeir #1 hit you, on the street? what was he wearing? what weapons did he have? what language did he speak? what words did he say?
-did you suffer any harm, at his hands?
-at that time, were any of your friends close by, and saw what happened?
did that friend write a declaration for you? why not? did you ask that person?
a] travel from the street to the police building
how did you travel? they put you in a truck? did anyone hit you, during the travel?
were you abused during the travel?
b] at the police building
-what happened? were you hit?
what questions did they ask?
what were your injuries?
= = = =
DID YOU HAVE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS?
what were your injuries from 2007-2010?
from 2011-2012?
PASSPORT
how did you get your passport? did you have any problems getting it?
did you have to pay a bribe to get it? why did you want a passport?
-if your government was angry at you, why would it give you a passport?
VISA AT US EMBASSY
when did you get a visa? what day? what was the process? did you tell lies to get it?
-did you fill out DS-160, five pages long, and answer lots of questions?
DID YOU JOIN A POLITICAL PARTY?
name? what was its platform
did you hold a leadership position?
what did you do, specifically? who did you talk to? where?
=
what was your last contact with your family?
what would happen if you return?
where does husband live now, what does he do?
each brother and sister: live where, do what?
mother lives where, does what?
father, lives where, does what?
each of your children: live where, do what?
Did any of these people suffer harm? please tell me what the harm was, and MONTH/YEAR/CITY
2. YOUR EDUCATION
did you get a bachelor's degree?
3. EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
for the last ten years, what jobs have you held?
when you quit your last job, what did you tell your employer? [did you tell him you were going to depart from the country and seek asylum in the USA? did you lie to your employer, as you departed?]
4. YOUR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
tell me about all of your travel to other countries:
2003: went to Ghana for 6 weeks to visit friend 2004: went to DRC for two weeks on business
= =
5. ARRESTS: HOW MANY TIMES WERE YOU ARRESTED AND DETAINED?
6. YOUR FIRST ARREST
where were you at the moment of your arrest? what time was it? what were you doing? who was with you?
You are marching on the street, chanting slogans and holding large signs?
how did you travel to the protest?
what were you protesting? what was the basis of the protest?
Soldeir #1 hit you, on the street? what was he wearing? what weapons did he have? what language did he speak? what words did he say?
-did you suffer any harm, at his hands?
-at that time, were any of your friends close by, and saw what happened?
did that friend write a declaration for you? why not? did you ask that person?
a] travel from the street to the police building
how did you travel? they put you in a truck? did anyone hit you, during the travel?
were you abused during the travel?
b] at the police building
-what happened? were you hit?
what questions did they ask?
what were your injuries?
= = = =
DID YOU HAVE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS?
what were your injuries from 2007-2010?
from 2011-2012?
PASSPORT
how did you get your passport? did you have any problems getting it?
did you have to pay a bribe to get it? why did you want a passport?
-if your government was angry at you, why would it give you a passport?
VISA AT US EMBASSY
when did you get a visa? what day? what was the process? did you tell lies to get it?
-did you fill out DS-160, five pages long, and answer lots of questions?
DID YOU JOIN A POLITICAL PARTY?
name? what was its platform
did you hold a leadership position?
what did you do, specifically? who did you talk to? where?
=
what was your last contact with your family?
what would happen if you return?
Monday, June 9, 2014
an activist from Cameroon
The Asylum Officer asked:
-did you earlier, apply for a visa? what did you say on Form DS-160?
your ethnic group?
is there an error on Page 1 of I-589? your lawyer was too busy to double-check?
Where is your husband today? does he suffer anything?
where is child #1 today? does he have any problems?
Why don't you want to return to your country?
Why were you imprisoned?
What did you oppose? your government did what, that you did not like?
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why did you protest for the first time? what events led you to want to protest?
Why did you protest?
how did you get released from your first detention?
how were you treated in detention?
why was the journalist arrested?
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why did you join the UDC? what is their platform?
why did you distribute pamphlets?
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what questions did they ask you in prison?
What did they do for at the hospital?
Why were you released from prison?
What motivated you to continue to protest?
didn't you fear getting arrested again?
Why were you arested?
who else was arrested? you were put into a cell with whom?
Why did you decide to depart from your country?
why did you decide to apply for asylum?
what would happen if you return to your country?
where did you protest in the USA?
is there anything else? you have nightmares? why?
is there anything else?
-did you earlier, apply for a visa? what did you say on Form DS-160?
your ethnic group?
is there an error on Page 1 of I-589? your lawyer was too busy to double-check?
Where is your husband today? does he suffer anything?
where is child #1 today? does he have any problems?
Why don't you want to return to your country?
Why were you imprisoned?
What did you oppose? your government did what, that you did not like?
=
why did you protest for the first time? what events led you to want to protest?
Why did you protest?
how did you get released from your first detention?
how were you treated in detention?
why was the journalist arrested?
=
why did you join the UDC? what is their platform?
why did you distribute pamphlets?
=
what questions did they ask you in prison?
What did they do for at the hospital?
Why were you released from prison?
What motivated you to continue to protest?
didn't you fear getting arrested again?
Why were you arested?
who else was arrested? you were put into a cell with whom?
Why did you decide to depart from your country?
why did you decide to apply for asylum?
what would happen if you return to your country?
where did you protest in the USA?
is there anything else? you have nightmares? why?
is there anything else?
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Ukranian loses
The Asylum Officer wrote a Notice of Intent to Deny:
1. you were beaten and hospitalized twice; however, you had no permanent injuries. Your physical injuries are not lasting.
2. your psychological harm is minor. You did not see a therapist in USA; no nightmares.
3. you came to USA in October 2012; and then you voluntarily returned to the country you say is dangerous.
4. no one in your family has suffered. They are the same ethnic group, aren't they?
5 . you did not suffer physical harm when they lit your door on fire.
6. the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, available at www.refworld.org says your group does not suffer much
7. the CIA says your group is the majority
8. five articles in www. refworld.org say no big problems in your country
9. your family continues to live safely there.
1. you were beaten and hospitalized twice; however, you had no permanent injuries. Your physical injuries are not lasting.
2. your psychological harm is minor. You did not see a therapist in USA; no nightmares.
3. you came to USA in October 2012; and then you voluntarily returned to the country you say is dangerous.
4. no one in your family has suffered. They are the same ethnic group, aren't they?
5 . you did not suffer physical harm when they lit your door on fire.
6. the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, available at www.refworld.org says your group does not suffer much
7. the CIA says your group is the majority
8. five articles in www. refworld.org say no big problems in your country
9. your family continues to live safely there.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Oromo from Ethiopia loses
The Asylum Officer ruled against Mr. O, the applicant, because:
1. Mr. O did not repeat each element in his written application. In writing, he said he witnessed the shooting death of his brother. However, when asked, "did you have any problems?" he did not mention that event.
2. He departed from his country, found a place of safety, and then voluntarily returned to the so-called dangerous country. If your country is indeed so dangerous, why did you voluntarily return to it?'=
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3. He went to Belgium, but did not apply for asylum there. Why not? If you really want and need asylum, you would apply as soon as possible, wouldn't you?
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4. You failed to name even one high-profile prisoner in prison. Not even one? I, the asylum officer, know more about your country than you do!
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5. You did not provide details about your political activity. I asked you what you did, and you said,"I attended meetings." Anything else? you could not think of anything.
"Lack of details" is in my instruction book: if the applicant does not give multitudes of details, deny him!
1. Mr. O did not repeat each element in his written application. In writing, he said he witnessed the shooting death of his brother. However, when asked, "did you have any problems?" he did not mention that event.
2. He departed from his country, found a place of safety, and then voluntarily returned to the so-called dangerous country. If your country is indeed so dangerous, why did you voluntarily return to it?'=
=
3. He went to Belgium, but did not apply for asylum there. Why not? If you really want and need asylum, you would apply as soon as possible, wouldn't you?
=
4. You failed to name even one high-profile prisoner in prison. Not even one? I, the asylum officer, know more about your country than you do!
=
5. You did not provide details about your political activity. I asked you what you did, and you said,"I attended meetings." Anything else? you could not think of anything.
"Lack of details" is in my instruction book: if the applicant does not give multitudes of details, deny him!
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
a Shia from Iraq
The asylum officer asked :
When you were earlier in USA, why not apply for asylum?
why not talk to the police?
why do you fear your government?
who is the person you are most afraid of?
tell me about each of your brothers and sisters: their immigration status and jobs
what is the immigration status of your mother?
if you stay in USA, what would you do?
If you return to Iraq tomorrow, what would happen?
is anywhere safe for you in Iraq?
why wouldn't the police protect you?
Is there anything else?
How would anyone know what your ethnic group is?
What does your last name tell to others?
what cultural rules have you broken?
When you were earlier in USA, why not apply for asylum?
why not talk to the police?
why do you fear your government?
who is the person you are most afraid of?
tell me about each of your brothers and sisters: their immigration status and jobs
what is the immigration status of your mother?
if you stay in USA, what would you do?
If you return to Iraq tomorrow, what would happen?
is anywhere safe for you in Iraq?
why wouldn't the police protect you?
Is there anything else?
How would anyone know what your ethnic group is?
What does your last name tell to others?
what cultural rules have you broken?
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
activist from Sudan #2
The Asylum Officer also asked:
What does your government want?
Why do they care about you?
Your brother came to USA, was granted asylum, and then he returned to Sudan?
Did he suffer any harm when he returned? NO, so, how about you? how are you different from your brother?
=
while you were in the jail cell, what weapons did the guard have?
what words did he say? what language did he speak in?
What thoughts went through your mind at that time?
When did you decide to depart from Sudan?
How did you arrange for your travel to USA?
Can you return to Sudan today?
who would harm you? how would they harm you?
Has anyone been looking for you, since you departed?
Today, how many family members live in Sudan? how much has each one suffered?
If no one has bothered them, why would you be bothered?
=
you had problems in the city of Khartoum? Ok, so why not go live in a different city?
What does your government want?
Why do they care about you?
Your brother came to USA, was granted asylum, and then he returned to Sudan?
Did he suffer any harm when he returned? NO, so, how about you? how are you different from your brother?
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while you were in the jail cell, what weapons did the guard have?
what words did he say? what language did he speak in?
What thoughts went through your mind at that time?
When did you decide to depart from Sudan?
How did you arrange for your travel to USA?
Can you return to Sudan today?
who would harm you? how would they harm you?
Has anyone been looking for you, since you departed?
Today, how many family members live in Sudan? how much has each one suffered?
If no one has bothered them, why would you be bothered?
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you had problems in the city of Khartoum? Ok, so why not go live in a different city?
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