Automatic Detention of Selected Asylum Seekers Is 'Discriminatory'
WASHINGTON (March 20, 2003) -- The automatic detention of asylum seekers from selected countries under a new federal policy known as "Operation Liberty Shield" is "discriminatory, violates accepted norms of international law, and undermines our tradition as a safe haven for the oppressed," according the chairman of the Migration Committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
"One of the stated goals of the Administration's policy of removing the current Iraqi government is to liberate the Iraqi people from decades of persecution and horror," said Miami Auxiliary Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, chairman of the bishops' Migration Committee. "This stated goal is inconsistent with jailing those who reach our shores who may be fleeing the abuses of the Iraqi government or similar governments or non-government actors in the Middle East and elsewhere."
According to Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, who announced Operation Liberty Shield on Tuesday, the operation is designed "to increase security and readiness in the United States" against potential terrorism. It includes broad measures to protect infrastructure, food resources, energy supplies, and other possible terrorist targets.
Bishop Wenski acknowledged the need to be vigilant against possible terrorist attacks, but said a "blanket and discriminatory detention policy" was not an appropriate response. He said, "U.S. and international law already provide the means for identifying and responding to asylum seekers who could pose a threat to national security.
"Imposing a policy of detention which targets specific nationals will only further harm innocent persons already traumatized and isolated from family and supportive communities."
Statement of Bishop Thomas G. Wenski
Auxiliary Bishop of Miami
Chairman, USCCB Committee on Migration
on
Operation Liberty Shield
March 20, 2003
On behalf of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on Migration, I am troubled by the recent announcement by the Secretary of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, indicating the intention of the U.S. government to automatically detain asylum-seekers from 33 countries under a security effort entitled "Operation Liberty Shield." Under this new policy, asylum-seekers from these designated countries could be held for months or years until their asylum cases are adjudicated, even though they do not present a security threat to our country.
One of the stated goals of the Administration's policy of removing the current Iraqi government is to liberate the Iraqi people from decades of persecution and horror. This stated goal is inconsistent with jailing those who reach our shores who may be fleeing the abuses of the Iraqi government or similar governments or non-government actors in the Middle East and elsewhere.
Such a comprehensive policy of detention based on national origin harms individuals who are fleeing terror, is inappropriately discriminatory, violates accepted norms of international law, and undermines our tradition as a safe haven for the oppressed.
We understand the legitimate role of the government to protect the security of U.S. citizens at this time of conflict. However, we need not adopt a blanket and discriminatory detention policy to achieve this goal. U.S. and international law already provide for the identification of and appropriate responses to individuals seeking asylum who pose a threat to national security.
We urge the Department of Homeland Security to abandon this policy and conduct individual assessments of these asylum-seekers to ascertain any security threat they may pose to our nation. Imposing a policy of detention which targets specific nationals will only further harm innocent persons already traumatized and isolated from family and supportive communities.