Statement: Federal response to fraud allegations further victimizes refugees
STATEMENT: (Minneapolis, Minn.) — As reports flood in about our refugee clients being taken by government agents, we can confirm this is indeed happening. We find these detainments to be an extraordinary effort to the claim that removing refugees will somehow combat fraud.
To attain refugee status, our clients have endured unspeakable hardships and already have been thoroughly vetted by processes of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Our position is that if there are indications of fraud then the proper method of screening could be to have refugees re-interview with USCIS when deciding whether to adjudicate their applications for adjustment of status.
“Refugees have been targeted and detained, despite having legal immigration status, and moved around the country beyond their support system. This has created an atmosphere of fear in our communities. It has hurt local businesses. It is also antithetical to basic tenets of our justice system.”
-Deputy Director Yasin Alsaidi, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid
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Media contact:
Lisa Ramirez | Lramirez@mylegalaid.org
Communications Director
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid