Refugees fight for amnesty

By Carly Southworth
Daily Staff Reporter
http://www.pub.umich.edu/daily/1998/jan/01-23-98/news/news8.html

In a Detroit shelter, refugees from all around the world are learning to cook, make candles, speak English, and, most importantly, overcome their fears of persecution.

The Freedom House, a multi-ethnic shelter for refugees in Detroit, temporarily houses those seeking asylum.

The University's Amnesty International chapter invited three representatives from Freedom House along with an attorney to participate in a panel discussion last night on refugee issues in the United States.

"We at Amnesty believe that, in a very uncertain world, human beings deserve rights just because they are human," said Abby Schlaff, co-coordinator of the University's chapter of Amnesty International. "They should not have to earn these rights."

PAUL TALANIAN/Daily
Niels Frenzen, an attorney who specializes in asylum cases, and refugee Yves Banda-Nyangu discuss refugee issues last night at the Michigan Union.

The issue of human rights was the topic last night as panelists shared their personal accounts of involvement with refugee issues.

Yves Banda-Nyangu ended up in the United States after fleeing 10 countries in an attempt to escape the government of his native country, Zaire. Banda-Nyangu, former vice president of a political party in Zaire, feared being persecuted for a newspaper article he wrote about establishing democracy.

When Banda-Nyangu landed in Detroit on his way to Montreal, he was arrested. Police neglected to help him find an interpreter or a lawyer. Eventually, an immigration judge appointed a lawyer from Freedom House so Banda-Nyangu could begin the legal process of seeking safety.

Like many other refugees, Banda-Nyangu fought the U.S. government for his freedom. Eventually, he won.

"You come here seeking asylum because your life is in danger. (The U.S. government) keeps you for a few months in jail and then sends you back to your country," Banda-Nyangu said.

Niels Frenzen, a non-profit asylum law attorney, said it is a miracle that Banda-Nyangu won asylum. The U.S. government is structured in such a way as to avoid giving refugees the chance of seeking protection, he said.

"The Constitution of the United States is irrelevant when it comes to persons, non-citizens and aliens seeking asylum in the United States," Frenzen said.

Frenzen and Freedom House are both working to change refugee law. One issue they are concerned with is the incarceration of refugees while they wait for hearings.

01-23-98

Refugees fight for amnesty

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