Refugees Already Are Given “Extreme Vetting!”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2017/02/01/refugees-are-already-vigorously-vetted-i-know-because-i-vetted-them/?utm_term=.56efba544468

Former U.S. Immigration Officer and refugee processor Natasha Hall writes in the Washington Post:

“This is what President Trump’s recent executive order has done. The order bans entry for citizens of seven countries for 90 days, suspends all refugee admissions for 120 days, halves the total number of refugees allowed into the United States this year and bars refugees from Syria indefinitely. It demands “a uniform screening standard and procedure,” “questions aimed at identifying fraudulent answers and malicious intent,” “a mechanism to ensure that the applicant is who the applicant claims to be” and “a mechanism to assess whether or not the applicant has the intent to commit criminal or terrorist acts.”

Whoever wrote this order is evidently not aware that these screenings, procedures and questions already exist.

During nearly four years as an immigration officer, I conducted in-person interviews with hundreds of refugees of 20 different nationalities in 10 countries. I saw countless refugees break down crying in my interview room because of the length and severity of the vetting process. From that experience and numerous security briefings, it’s clear that the authors of Trump’s order are unfamiliar with the U.S. immigration system, U.S. laws, international law and the security threats facing our nation. I can’t speak for all refugee and asylum officers, but I can say that those who have been working in immigration for years from opposite ends of the political spectrum are appalled by these new policies.”

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The current ruckus over “vetting” has led to many folks failing to appreciate the outstanding job that the much-maligned DHS, the State Department, The FBI, our NGO partners, U.S. Intelligence Agencies, and the Obama Administration, working together, did in keeping our country safe from foreign terrorist attacks.

PWS

02/05/17

From “John Kelly’s Washington” In The Washington Post: Kudos To Local NGOs Homestretch And The Tahirih Justice Center For Saving A Migrant Victim Of Human Trafficking!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/it-feels-horrible-and-lonely-a-victim-of-human-trafficking-describes-her-ordeal/2017/01/05/18ab5654-d281-11e6-945a-76f69a399dd5_story.html?utm_term=.a3085f919767

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Tahirih Justice Center did some wonderful pro bono representation in the Arlington Immigration Court.  As I frequently note, representation is the key to success in immigration matters!

PWS

01/06/17

 

EOIR Hits The Airwaves with First YouTube Release — See The Blockbuster Hit “Recognition And Accreditation Programs — 2016” Starring Steven Lang and Peggy Gleason! Learn About The Recently Revised Procedures For Recognition and Accreditation!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV_yNi23nbQ

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This is “Must See TV” for all NGOs who practice, or wish to practice, before the U.S. Immigration Court and the DHS!  An impressive offering for an agency that houses the only major U.S. court system unable to implement the not-so-new technology for electronic filing!

PWS

01/06/17