DATE=3/12/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-39234
TITLE=IRAQI DEPORTATIONS
BYLINE=GREG FLAKUS
DATELINE=LOS ANGELES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN LOS ANGELES, SIX IRAQIS WHO CLAIM TO HAVE WORKED FOR
THE U-S CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY IN AN EFFORT TO TOPPLE IRAQI
LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN ARE FACING DEPORTATION. AS CORRESPONDENT
GREG FLAKUS REPORTS FROM LOS ANGELES, INFORMATION ON WHY THEY ARE
BEING DEPORTED IS BEING KEPT SECRET, EVEN FROM THE MEN AND THEIR
ATTORNEYS.
TEXT: AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE RULED MONDAY THE SIX IRAQI MEN SHOULD
BE DEPORTED, EVEN THOUGH THEY CLAIM THEY ONCE WORKED FOR THE
C-I-A, AND THEY WOULD BE EXECUTED IF THEY RETURNED TO THEIR
HOMELAND.
THE DECISION WAS BASED ON CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS AND TESTIMONY FROM
F-B-I AGENTS WHICH CONVINCED JUDGE D-D SITGRAVES THE SIX MEN
REPRESENT A DANGER TO U-S NATIONAL SECURITY. NO FURTHER
EXPLANATION WAS PROVIDED IN COURT, AND THE DOCUMENTS AND MUCH OF
THE TESTIMONY WAS KEPT FROM THE IRAQIS AND THEIR ATTORNEYS.
SUPREME COURT RULINGS HAVE DECLARED IMMIGRATION COURT PROCEEDINGS
EXEMPT FROM THE USUAL DUE PROCESS OF LAW GUARANTEE THAT GIVES
DEFENDANTS THE RIGHT TO CONFRONT WITNESSES IN COURT. BUT NEILS
FRENZEN, AN ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE SIX MEN, SAYS AN EXCEPTION
SHOULD BE MADE IN THIS CASE.
/// FRENZEN ACT ///
FOR THE U-S GOVERNMENT TO BASICALLY TURN THE TABLES ON
OUR CLIENTS AND SAY, "WE BROUGHT YOU HERE BUT WE HAVE
DECIDED FOR WHATEVER REASON WE DO NOT WANT YOU HERE AND
WE ARE GOING TO SEND YOU BACK TO YOUR DEATHS IN IRAQ AND
WE ARE NOT GOING TO TELL YOU THE REASONS FOR THAT
DECISION". WE BELIEVE THAT VIOLATES THE DUE PROCESS
PROTECTIONS OF THE U-S CONSTITUTION, BUT SO FAR, THE
JUDGE HAS NOT AGREED WITH THAT.
/// END ACT ///
THE JUDGE RELIED ON GUIDANCE FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR
IMMIGRATION REVIEW IN FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA. SPOKESMAN RICK
KINNEY SAYS NORMAL DUE PROCESS RIGHTS DO NOT APPLY BECAUSE
IMMIGRATION COURTS ARE NOT JUDICIAL COURTS.
/// KINNEY ACT ///
THIS IS NOT THE JUDICIAL BRANCH. THIS IS THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH. IT IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING. IT IS
GOVERNED BY DIFFERENT STATUTES AND DIFFERENT
REGULATIONS. THE LAW ALLOWS THE GOVERNMENT TO ESTABLISH
CONTROLS OVER THE ENTRY OF PEOPLE WHO CAN CREATE
POSSIBLE HARM IN THIS COUNTRY. THAT IS WHAT THE PEOPLE
ASKED CONGRESS TO DO AND THEY DID IT.
/// END ACT ///
BUT ATTORNEY NEILS FRENZEN SAYS THE LEGAL EXPLANATIONS ARE OF
LITTLE COMFORT TO HIS CLIENTS, WHO HE SAYS FACE SOMETHING WORSE
THAN DEATH IF THEY ARE DEPORTED BACK TO IRAQ.
/// FRENZEN ACT ///
WE HAVE ACTUALLY HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS VERY
SITUATION AND IT IS OUR CLIENTS' DESIRE THAT IF THEY ARE
TO BE DEPORTED TO IRAQ, IT IS THEIR HOPE THAT THEY WILL
BE KILLED QUICKLY BECAUSE SADDAM HUSSEIN AND HIS
SECURITY FORCES GENERALLY WILL TORTURE PEOPLE BEFORE
KILLING THEM. SO, SEVERAL OF OUR CLIENTS HAVE SAID "I
DO NOT FEAR A QUICK DEATH, WHAT I FEAR IS A SLOW DEATH
AS THE RESULT OF TORTURE."
/// END ACT ///
MR FRENZEN AND HIS PARTNERS ARE WORKING ON AN APPEAL TO THE
IMMIGRATION COURT DECISION. MEANWHILE, THE SIX IRAQI MEN REMAIN
CONFINED IN A LOS ANGELES DETENTION CENTER. (SIGNED).
NEB/GF/TMD/RAE
12-Mar-98 1:56 PM EST (1856 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
