PHR Library

March 24, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

US Policy Puts Asylum Seekers in Danger

Today, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) criticized the US Department of Homeland Security’s announcement that, as part of “Operation Liberty Shield,” it will detain asylum seekers from 34 nations, including Iraq. Operation Liberty Shield has been described as an integrated approach by federal, state and local officials to implement “national protective measures.”

“This is a hypocrisy,” said Samantha Morse, PHR Asylum Network Coordinator. “The Bush administration has publicly denounced countries like Iraq for its use of torture, yet we are arbitrarily detaining asylum seekers, many of whom are fleeing from the very abuse we have condemned.”

Under the newly proposed policy, it appears that even asylum seekers, who are determined to pose no risk and would otherwise merit parole, will be detained. This will inevitably cause asylum applicants to spend months, if not years, in detention facilities even though there are ample procedures already in place for detaining any non-citizen suspected to constitute a risk to national security.

In the past 8 years, Physicians for Human Rights’ Asylum Network has provided expert medical testimony in over 2000 asylum cases. Nearly 400 health professionals in the Network have documented physical and psychological evidence of torture and other forms of persecution. Moreover, PHR’s own research has shown that prolonged detention is a significant detriment to the health of asylum seekers. This type of unnecessary arbitrary detention will traumatize a population that has already suffered greatly.

“Operation Liberty Shield will shield legitimate asylum seekers from the liberty and freedom they deserve.” said Morse. “Targeting asylum seekers because of their nationality is discriminatory and flies in the face of the principle of due process.”

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) mobilizes the health professions to advance the health and dignity of all people by protecting human rights. As a founding member of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, PHR shared the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize.