AP: Anti-Terrorism Restrictions Eased (refugees, asylum)

[Eugene]

Anti-Terrorism Restrictions Eased

By SUZANNE GAMBOA
The Associated Press
Friday, January 12, 2007; 7:34 AM

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration is shifting policy to allow foreigners
who have aided armed groups not considered terrorists to seek asylum or
resettle in the United States.

Hundreds of foreigners already in the country _ including some who have been
held for months or years in detention _ claim to have been forced to help violent
groups. Many are fleeing violence from the groups they were forced to assist.

-snip-

The applicants will have to show that they were forced to provide the support or
did so "under duress" to be granted asylum or legal permanent residency. They
must pass other intelligence and background checks as well.

Human rights, refugee and conservative groups drew media attention to refugee
cases affected by the anti-terrorism laws following Sept. 11. The USA Patriot Act
and REAL ID law, for example, prohibited asylum for a Sri Lankan fisherman who paid
a $500 ransom to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam who had kidnapped him.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/12/AR2007011200821.html