From Persecution to Prison - Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of ...
From Persecution to Prison - Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of ...
From Persecution to Prison - Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of ...
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number <strong>of</strong> refugees and asylum seekers fleeing <strong>to</strong>rture and other humanright abuses.Throughout the United States, approximately 5,000 asylum seekers areestimated <strong>to</strong> be held in detention, although reliable statistics are unavailable.One <strong>of</strong> the largest concentrations <strong>of</strong> detained asylum seekers in theUS is in the New York metropolitan area where, at any given time,approximately 500 individuals are detained in two INS contract facilities,and an unknown number <strong>of</strong> individuals are detained in county jails.Parole rates and length <strong>of</strong> detention among asylum seekers arriving withoutproper documentation in the US appear <strong>to</strong> vary widely across thecountry, with the New York and New Jersey districts reportedly havingmuch lower rates <strong>of</strong> parole. Furthermore, since September 11, 2001, concernshave been raised that parole rates nationally have likely decreased. 3The practice <strong>of</strong> detaining asylum seekers in the US and other nationshas greatly concerned health pr<strong>of</strong>essionals and human rights advocates, inpart because <strong>of</strong> the potential detrimental effects <strong>of</strong> detention on the mentalhealth <strong>of</strong> asylum seekers. Many asylum seekers have suffered trauma,such as <strong>to</strong>rture, prior <strong>to</strong> immigration, which contributes <strong>to</strong> high rates <strong>of</strong>psychiatric morbidity in this population. Detention may exacerbate priorsymp<strong>to</strong>ms or even foster development <strong>of</strong> new problems. Systematicresearch on the health <strong>of</strong> detained asylum seekers has been extremely limited,chiefly due <strong>to</strong> difficulties gaining access <strong>to</strong> detention centers.Summary <strong>of</strong> Methods 4For this study, the INS permitted access <strong>to</strong> detention facilities and jails inNew York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. However, citing confidentialityreasons, the INS denied <strong>Bellevue</strong>/<strong>NYU</strong>-PHR researchers’ request <strong>for</strong> theaccess necessary <strong>to</strong> conduct a random sampling <strong>of</strong> detained asylum seekers.Instead, six local organizations 5 that provide pro-bono legal representation<strong>to</strong> detained asylum seekers were asked <strong>to</strong> contact all <strong>of</strong> theirdetained asylum-seeking clients and inquire about their willingness <strong>to</strong> participatein the study. Those who consented were interviewed. Detaineeswere in<strong>for</strong>med <strong>of</strong> the voluntary nature <strong>of</strong> the study and that participation(or refusal) would not affect their asylum applications.3See Chapter II <strong>for</strong> a more complete review <strong>of</strong> detention <strong>of</strong> asylum seekers. The INS hasfailed <strong>to</strong> provide statistics relating <strong>to</strong> detained asylum seekers, even though a federal statuerequired it <strong>to</strong> provide this in<strong>for</strong>mation. ( See: Acer , E. “Living up <strong>to</strong> America’s Values:Re<strong>for</strong>ming the US Detention System <strong>for</strong> Asylum Seekers.” Refuge Vol. 20, #3, 44-57. Centre<strong>for</strong> Refugee Studies, York University, Canada, 2003.)4For a detailed description <strong>of</strong> methods, see Chapter III.5Organizations which provided referrals <strong>for</strong> this study included the Lawyers Committee <strong>for</strong>Human Rights, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, New York Association <strong>for</strong> New Americans,Catholic Legal Immigration Network, American Friends Service Committee, and CircleYork.EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3