I don’t think people understand how difficult it is for people seeking refugee status to get a fair hearing... especially from the Trump Administration since Trump has many racist and anti-Communist biases.
One thing missed when it comes to asylum seekers is that many have “criminal records” because the government has subjected them to criminal prosecutions because they are involved in struggles for reforms and to defend their rights and livelihoods.
These prosecutions are part of the persecution.
Often the charges are trumped up charges, to boot.
I was deported from Canada and denied a fair hearing before it’s immigration and refugee board because of my numerous arrests in opposition to the Vietnam War and union picket line activity.
One of the “crimes” was for “destruction of government property.” Sounds real bad, doesn’t it.
Well, I posted a bumper sticker on the door of the federal building that said, “We want jobs not war” on the day I was drafted.
So, just because someone has a “criminal record” should not exclude them from getting a hearing because that criminal record might be part of the reason the people are seeking political asylum.
Now, in my own case, the United States government refused to release its files that the FBI maintains on me and refused to cooperate with requests from the Refugee Board.
Now, consider this when it comes to the countries south of our border...
The United States government has been a party to much of the political repression that takes place down there...
A fair hearing on a refugee claim would require that the United States government would have to disclose its participation in the crimes. This will not be easy to do.
In my case I had many lawyers working on my behalf and thousands of dollars were spent trying to get a fair hearing.
I really doubt many of these people coming with refugee claims ever get the fair hearing they are entitled to.
Trump does not want to acknowledge the criminal activity by the CIA and private security firms operating south of the border... thus they are trying to make it difficult for people to get fair hearings on their refugee claims.
And while Trump claims he is against the drug gangs, let us remember that it was through the Iran-Contra Affair that these gangs involved in the drug trade became so strong.
On top of all of this there is the anti-union, anti-Communism and very racist prejudice that is working against people seeking refugee status.
I was deported from Canada and denied a fair hearing before it’s immigration and refugee board because of my numerous arrests in opposition to the Vietnam War and union picket line activity.
One of the “crimes” was for “destruction of government property.” Sounds real bad, doesn’t it.
Well, I posted a bumper sticker on the door of the federal building that said, “We want jobs not war” on the day I was drafted.
So, just because someone has a “criminal record” should not exclude them from getting a hearing because that criminal record might be part of the reason the people are seeking political asylum.
Now, in my own case, the United States government refused to release its files that the FBI maintains on me and refused to cooperate with requests from the Refugee Board.
Now, consider this when it comes to the countries south of our border...
The United States government has been a party to much of the political repression that takes place down there...
A fair hearing on a refugee claim would require that the United States government would have to disclose its participation in the crimes. This will not be easy to do.
In my case I had many lawyers working on my behalf and thousands of dollars were spent trying to get a fair hearing.
I really doubt many of these people coming with refugee claims ever get the fair hearing they are entitled to.
Trump does not want to acknowledge the criminal activity by the CIA and private security firms operating south of the border... thus they are trying to make it difficult for people to get fair hearings on their refugee claims.
And while Trump claims he is against the drug gangs, let us remember that it was through the Iran-Contra Affair that these gangs involved in the drug trade became so strong.
On top of all of this there is the anti-union, anti-Communism and very racist prejudice that is working against people seeking refugee status.