From Persecution to Prison - Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of ...

IX. ARRIVAL IN THE UNITED STATESBellevue/NYU-PHR’s findings document that some legitimate asyleesreported being mistreated at the airport upon arrival. Asylum seekerscome to the United States seeking safe haven because of persecutionand/or fear of persecution in their countries of origin. Their initial interactionswith immigration officials are a critical juncture in this process. Thisstudy raises concerns about the manner in which asylum seekers aretreated upon arrival in the United States.Study participants frequently reported that INS officials failed toexplain their right to asylum. Asylum seekers often described a lack ofadequate privacy during interviews conducted at airports or other pointsof entry, particularly when being asked to describe intimate and traumaticdetails of their past. Reports of poor translations and difficulty communicatingduring interviews upon arrival were also common. In addition, asylumseekers frequently reported feeling as if they were treated likecriminals, being bound with shackles and often subjected to verbal abuse.When being transported to detention facilities, most asylum seekersreported that they did not know where they were being taken, and manyfeared that they were being immediately deported.This study provides a rare glimpse into the experiences of asylum seekersat ports of entry in the US. INS officials have markedly curtailed accessof independent observers to these sites. Human rights organizations havepreviously questioned whether asylum seekers are adequately informed oftheir rights, and the possibility that asylum seekers may be refused entrywithout due process. The findings of this study raise concerns that asylumseekers may be turned away without adequate evaluation and safeguards.Individuals fleeing persecution may not be familiar with proceedings, andthe lack of adequate translation and intimidating atmosphere reported bymany highlights the concern by Bellevue/NYU-PHR that asylum seekersare not being given adequate opportunity to protect themselves fromunjust deportation.Survey FindingsTreatment/abuses reported by survey respondents upon arrival in theUnited States are summarized in Table 16. Most of the detained asylumseekers interviewed by Bellevue/NYU-PHR for this study (59%) reportedthat when they were first interviewed at the airport or other port of entry,ARRIVAL IN THE UNITED STATES 137