Homeland Security Chief Uses His Authority To Allow Refugees
Michael Chertoff, U.S. secretary of homeland security, says he is using his discretionary authority for foreign nationals to petition the U.S. government for asylum despite providing assistance to terrorist groups under duress.
"The United States of America has a great legacy as a welcoming nation to legitimate refugee and asylum seekers from around the world. Indeed, America has traditionally welcomed more refugee and asylum seekers than any other nation in the world," says Chertoff. "The federal government has upheld that tradition while working hard to eliminate the risk of unintentionally admitting a potentially dangerous and fraudulent petitioner in a post-9/11 world.
"A select group of foreign nationals have been unable to pursue the protections provided by our refugee and asylum laws because they have been uniquely victimized by terrorist groups," Department of Homeland Security boss Chertoff adds. "This group as a whole does not represent a threat to our homeland security. I, therefore, will exercise my discretionary authority to permit consideration of applications for refugee status, asylum or adjustment of status from some who have provided material support to groups while under duress."
Homeland security chief Chertoff says he also decided, in consultation with the U.S. departments of State and Justice, to exercise his discretionary authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to not apply material support to terrorism provisions to those seeking asylum or adjustment of status that have provided support to eight groups.
Chertoff says those groups are: the Karen National Union and Karen National Liberation Army, Chin National Front and Chin National Army, Chin National League for Democracy, Kayan New Land Party, Arakan Liberation Party, Tibetan Mustangs, Cuban Alzados, and Karenni National Progressive Party.
"The material support to terrorism exemption will apply to individuals who do not represent a public safety or national security risk to the United States," homeland security chief Chertoff says. "In addition to exempting from the material support bar eligible individuals in these two categories, the federal government will also seek legislation from Congress to further expand our discretionary exemption authority. We are deeply committed to ensuring that those who deserve humanitarian relief from our immigration system receive it, and that America continues to be a beacon of hope and protection for the persecuted."
Bookmark http://universeeverything.blogspot.com/ and drop back in sometime.
"The United States of America has a great legacy as a welcoming nation to legitimate refugee and asylum seekers from around the world. Indeed, America has traditionally welcomed more refugee and asylum seekers than any other nation in the world," says Chertoff. "The federal government has upheld that tradition while working hard to eliminate the risk of unintentionally admitting a potentially dangerous and fraudulent petitioner in a post-9/11 world.
"A select group of foreign nationals have been unable to pursue the protections provided by our refugee and asylum laws because they have been uniquely victimized by terrorist groups," Department of Homeland Security boss Chertoff adds. "This group as a whole does not represent a threat to our homeland security. I, therefore, will exercise my discretionary authority to permit consideration of applications for refugee status, asylum or adjustment of status from some who have provided material support to groups while under duress."
Homeland security chief Chertoff says he also decided, in consultation with the U.S. departments of State and Justice, to exercise his discretionary authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to not apply material support to terrorism provisions to those seeking asylum or adjustment of status that have provided support to eight groups.
Chertoff says those groups are: the Karen National Union and Karen National Liberation Army, Chin National Front and Chin National Army, Chin National League for Democracy, Kayan New Land Party, Arakan Liberation Party, Tibetan Mustangs, Cuban Alzados, and Karenni National Progressive Party.
"The material support to terrorism exemption will apply to individuals who do not represent a public safety or national security risk to the United States," homeland security chief Chertoff says. "In addition to exempting from the material support bar eligible individuals in these two categories, the federal government will also seek legislation from Congress to further expand our discretionary exemption authority. We are deeply committed to ensuring that those who deserve humanitarian relief from our immigration system receive it, and that America continues to be a beacon of hope and protection for the persecuted."
Bookmark http://universeeverything.blogspot.com/ and drop back in sometime.
Labels: homeland security, refugees, terrorism, terrorist groups
posted by Scott Nance at
1/24/2007 11:10:00 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home