Jewish group: Asylum seekers at risk

A Jewish group expressed concern at a new report that said political asylum seekers are at risk in America. In a report requested by U.S. Sens. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), the U.S.  Commission on International Religious Freedom said that recommendations it made two years ago have not been implemented, putting asylum seekers at risk. Instead, the Homeland Security Department has expanded expedited removal, which is meant to turn away aliens who lack proper documentation. Asylum seekers often fall into that group. “What is of particular concern to us is the incarceration of asylum seekers in jails or jail-like facilities, the failure of Customs and Border Patrol to follow their own rules on the protection of asylum seekers at ports of entry, and the expansion of expedited removal without fixing these problems,” said Gideon Aronoff, president of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. “We have an obligation to treat asylum seekers with dignity, fairness and respect as they seek refuge in our country.”