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Archive for September 16, 2008Iran (Country threat level - 4):September 16, 2008 by Tim McDowell.
On 15 September 2008 the U.S. Department of State issued the following updated Travel Warning: “The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens to carefully consider the risks of travel to Iran. Dual national Iranian-American citizens may encounter difficulty in departing Iran. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning for Iran issued January 3, 2008. “Some elements of the Iranian regime and the population remain hostile to the United States. As a result, American citizens may be subject to harassment or arrest while traveling or residing in Iran. In 2007, Iranian authorities prevented a number of Iranian-American citizen academics, journalists, and others who traveled to Iran for personal reasons from leaving for several months, and in some cases detained and imprisoned them on various charges, including espionage and posing a threat to national security. Americans of Iranian origin should consider the risk of being targeted by authorities before planning travel to Iran. Iranian authorities may deny dual nationals access to the United States Interests Section in Tehran, because they are considered to be solely Iranian citizens. “The Iranian regime continues to repress its minority religious and ethnic groups, including Bahai, Arabs, Kurds, Azeris, and others. Consequently, some areas within the country where these minorities reside, including the Baluchistan border area near Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Kurdish northwest of the country, and areas near the Iraqi border, remain unsafe. Armed attacks on the road between Bam and Kerman in May 2007 also render this area unsafe. “Large-scale demonstrations have taken place in various regions throughout Iran over the past several years as a result of a sometimes volatile political climate. U.S. citizens who travel to Iran despite this Travel Warning should exercise caution. “The U.S. government does not have diplomatic or consular relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran and therefore cannot provide protection or routine consular services to American citizens in Iran. The Swiss government, acting through its Embassy in Tehran, serves as protecting power for U.S. interests in Iran. Neither U.S. passports nor visas to the United States are issued in Tehran. The Iranian Government does not recognize dual citizenship and generally does not permit the Swiss to provide protective services for U.S. citizens who are also Iranian nationals. U.S. citizens of Iranian origin who are considered by Iran to be Iranian citizens have been detained and harassed by Iranian authorities. Former Muslims who have converted to other religions, as well as persons who encourage Muslims to convert, are subject to arrest and prosecution.” Posted in HLD | Print | No Comments » Ukraine (Country threat level - 3):September 16, 2008 by Tim McDowell.
On 16 September 2008 the speaker of the Ukrainian legislature announced that the ruling government coalition has been officially dissolved. The coalition has been attempting to resolve its differences since President Victor Yushchenko’s Our Ukraine party pulled out of the alliance earlier in the month. The Ukrainian government now has 30 days to form a new coalition or risk being dissolved and new elections called. Rivalry between Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, which was further intensified by Russia’s military operation in Georgia, is believed to have contributed to the collapse. Posted in HLD | Print | No Comments » Pakistan’s military has ordered its forces to open fire if U.S. troops launch another air or ground raid across the Afghan border, an army spokesman said Tuesday.September 16, 2008 by Tim McDowell.
Pakistan’s civilian leaders have protested the raid but say the dispute should be resolved through diplomatic channels. However, army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas told The Associated Press that after U.S. helicopters ferried troops into a militant stronghold in the South Waziristan tribal region, the military told field commanders to prevent any similar raids. “The orders are clear,” Abbas said in an interview. “In case it happens again in this form, that there is a very significant detection, which is very definite, no ambiguity, across the border, on ground or in the air: open fire.” U.S. military commanders accuse Islamabad of doing too little to prevent the Taliban and other militant groups from recruiting, training and resupplying in Pakistan’s wild tribal belt. Posted in HLD | Print | No Comments » City of Colorado Springs offers free emergency training to citizens.September 16, 2008 by Tim McDowell.
Posted in State & Local, HLD | Print | No Comments » Read this! Did we not give Iraq a formal government? Asylum from What!September 16, 2008 by Tim McDowell.
Fact Sheet: Iraqi Refugee ProcessingRelease Date: March 11, 2008 The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of State (DOS) have been committed to streamlining the process for admitting Iraqi refugees to the U.S. while at the same time ensuring the highest level of security. Starting in May 2007, DHS and DOS have worked cooperatively to administer the overseas component of the U.S. refugee admissions program (USRAP). DOS’ Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) has overall management responsibility for the USRAP and has the lead in proposing admissions ceilings and processing priorities. Within DHS, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has responsibility for interviewing refugee applicants and adjudicating applications for refugee status. Through its cooperative agreements with Overseas Processing Entities, PRM handles the intake of refugee referrals from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and U.S. embassies, and the prescreening of cases. USCIS and PRM share responsibility Refugee Admissions ProgramUSRAP is an inter-agency effort involving a number of governmental and non-governmental partners, both overseas and domestically, whose mission is to resettle refugees in the U.S. In the last year, the USRAP expanded its capacity dramatically to consider Iraqi refugees for resettlement.
Process for ResettlementIn identifying cases for referral to the USRAP, the UNHCR and DOS have been prioritizing processing of individuals who are affiliated with the U.S. Government and religious minorities, among several categories of especially vulnerable refugees. Iraqi refugees may gain access to this program through referrals by UNHCR, a U.S. Embassy, or a nongovernmental organization (NGO). Iraqi applicants who worked for the U.S. government, a U.S. contractor, or a U.S.-based media organization or NGO and their family members, can apply directly without a UNHCR referral in Jordan and Egypt. In addition, Iraqi applicants will be considered for resettlement if an eligible family member applies on their behalf in the U.S. The vast majority of cases processed so far by the USRAP have been referrals from UNHCR. USCIS officers are interviewing Iraqi refugee applicants primarily in Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Turkey, and Lebanon. In addition, DOS and DHS have begun in-country refugee processing in Iraq for U.S. Embassy staff (direct hires) who have decided to avail themselves of this opportunity. This will allow these individuals to seek resettlement in the U.S. while they continue to assist coalition efforts in Iraq. Determining Eligibility for RefugeesEligibility for refugee status is decided on an individual, or case-by-case, basis. A USCIS officer conducts a personal interview of the applicant designed to elicit information about the applicant’s claim for refugee status. During the interview, the officer confirms the basic biographical data of the applicant; verifies that the applicant was properly given access to the USRAP; determines whether the applicant has suffered past persecution (or has a well-founded fear of future persecution) on the basis of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion in his or her home country; determines whether the applicant is admissible to the U.S. and whether he or she has been firmly resettled in another country; and assesses the credibility of the applicant. Ensuring SecurityWe are committed to conducting the most rigorous screening that will ensure that the Iraqi refugee population is not infiltrated by individuals seeking to harm the homeland. On May 29, 2007, DHS announced and implemented an Administration-coordinated, enhanced background and security check process for Iraqi refugees applying for resettlement in the U.S. No case is finally approved until results from all security checks have been received and analyzed. The enhanced security checks do not impede the flow of genuine refugees to the U.S., since this process runs concurrently with other out-processing steps. On average, the total processing time for Iraqi cases is significantly less than for any other refugee group worldwide. Procedures for Iraqi Citizens Currently in the U.S.Iraqis currently in the U.S. who are not able to return to Iraq because they have been persecuted or fear they will be persecuted on account of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion may apply for asylum with USCIS. Information on the process of applying for asylum in the U.S. can be found on our website: www.USCIS.gov. To view the asylum information, click on the Services and Benefits link, then Humanitarian Benefits and then Asylum. Procedures for Iraqi Citizens Living Outside of IraqRefugees and asylum seekers should seek to comply with all legal requirements of the country in which they are located, including registration with host governments if required. In addition, all Iraqi asylum seekers located in third countries should register with the nearest UNHCR office. UNHCR has the international mandate to provide protection and assistance to refugees and can provide a protection document and possibly other assistance if needed. For a small number of extremely vulnerable individuals, this could include referral to the USRAP or another country’s resettlement program. UNHCR will identify individuals for resettlement referral based on an assessment of their vulnerability at the time of registration. Iraqi asylum seekers eligible for USRAP processing in Jordan or Egypt must meet certain criteria which have recently been expanded by legislation. Eligible categories include full-time interpreters/translators for the U.S. Government or Multi-National Forces, Locally Employed Staff engaged by the U.S. Government, employees of U.S. contractors and U.S.-based media organizations and NGOs, and certain family members of these individuals. Please visit the DOS/PRM website: www.state.gov/g/prm/ for additional information. Posted in CIP, HLD | Print | No Comments » DHS invites demonstrations of counter-IED technologySeptember 16, 2008 by Tim McDowell.
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