The government lawyer asked these questions of an activist from Cameroon:
-did you join a political organization here in USA? why not?
Why did you go to the protest in front of your embassy? was it just so that photos could be taken?
I know I asked this before, but why haven't you joined an organization here in USA?
Why are you in the protest photos? what is the purpose of taking the photos?
Are the photos re-published on YouTube, to encourgage others to protest?
=
When did you decide to come to USA?
who filled out Form DS-160? is everything on it true, or not?
Why did you join that particular political party?
Why were you arrrested?
The police believed what about you?
=
your brothers and sisters still live in your country, and the government does not harm them? why not?
Is your government interested in you? Your government has forgotten about you, correct?
What was the purpose of the protest? what were you hoping for?
Who should replace the dictator who is in power now?
-in 2016, what party do you support?
You like the UFDC? why? who is its current leader?
Do you follow the politics of your party in your country?
Mr. Biya is a member of what party? what do the letters stand for?
At the time of your arrest, what was your political opinion?
What is your political opinion today?
you say you wrote a lettter to your embassy in DC? who helped you write the letter?
did the Embassy actually receive the letter?
What would happen if you return to your country? why would you be arrested?
what do embassy workers think and feel about protestors who stand outside with large signs?
I know I asked this before, but : 1] why didn't you join an organization here in USA?
2] did your ambassador actually receive your letter?
Friday, April 8, 2016
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Monday, September 28, 2015
questions of an activist from Rwanda
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?
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?
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?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)