PHR CAMPAIGNS

PHR Action Center

Preserve Safe Haven in the US for Asylum Seekers

Thousands of vulnerable refugees have been prevented from receiving asylum or resettlement in the United States under sweeping immigration law definitions that end up punishing the victims of persecution. Implementation of current immigration law bars from admission to the United States anyone who provides "material support" to a "terrorist organization." "Material support" refers to financial means, lodging, training, expert advice, false documentation, equipment and weapons, lethal substances, personnel, transportation or other physical assets.

While refusing entry to potential terrorists and their supporters is important, the interpretation of "material support" and "terrorist organization" is so broad that it has prevented thousands of vulnerable refugees from receiving asylum or other status in the United States.

Tell President Bush to change policies punishing health workers and other victims of violence who are seeking asylum.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Preserve Safe Haven in the US for Asylum Seekers

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I write to urge your intervention to resolve a crisis that threatens to undermine America's historic role as a haven for those who seek freedom from oppression.

Thousands of refugees and asylum seekers are being prevented from receiving asylum, resettlement, or more permanent residence in this country under overly broad immigration definitions that punish the victims of persecution. The U.S. refugee resettlement program - a lifeline for those who flee oppression - has been devastated by the failure to resolve this crisis. At the same time, the Department of Homeland Security has failed to set up a process to exempt eligible refugees in the asylum process from these provisions.

Surely this is not what Congress intended, and it clearly contravenes your commitment to promoting human dignity and standing with those who resist oppression.

I ask you to ensure that this problem is fully addressed early in the new year. In particular, we ask you to: 1) ensure that the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, and State recognize that duress is a defense to these immigration provisions so that the victims of violence and oppression are not deprived of protection; and 2) support bipartisan legislation - likely forthcoming early in the next Congress - that proposes to fix the problems caused by these overly broad immigration law definitions.

I ask for your help in making sure that this New Year's resolution becomes a reality, and well before the next holiday season.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
December 12, 2006

Background Information

While refusing entry to potential terrorists and their supporters is important, the interpretation of “material support” and “terrorist organization” is so broad that it has prevented thousands of vulnerable refugees from receiving asylum or other status in the United States.

These refugees include:

Health workers who are forced to provide medical care to rebel groups;
Women who were raped and enslaved by armed militias in Liberia;
Victims of extortion forced to pay violent militants in Colombia to protect their lives and their children

According to Human Rights First, many of these refugees are actually the ictims of violence and extortion or have provided support to pro-democracy groups with armed wings that have resisted repressive regimes in places like Burma and Cuba, while some supported groups that fought alongside US forces during the war in Vietnam. The US government does not consider these groups to be “terrorist organizations” in any other context, but because these groups have used arms, they are categorized as “terrorist organizations” under these immigration law provisions.

Physicians for Human Rights, in collaboration with other human rights and refugee organizations, urges you to ask President Bush to:

Ensure that the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, and State recognize duress as a defense to these immigration provisions, thus preventing victims of violence and oppression to be deprived of protection;

Support forthcoming bipartisan legislation that proposes to fix the problems caused by these overly broad immigration law definitions.

Write to the President and let him know what you think.

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