Asylum should include witness protection | Sarah Wildman

Edmond

witness against a criminal Albania Demiraj put his family at risk of retaliation, however, the U.S. still plans to deport

In Houston, Texas, a family is deeply concerned about a mother and her son will be deported. They are more concerned about what will happen if returned to Albania.

the U.S. asylum system is dysfunctional. If 33 years Rudina Demiraj and his teenage son Rediol be forcibly returned to Albania, is likely to be abducted, victims of prostitution, and perhaps even death. And the U.S. knows it.

If not for the U.S. government, the family Demiraj not be in this situation. In 2001, Edmond Demiraj - who had illegally entered the United States - was invited to testify in a federal case against the Albanian national Bedini bill, a suspected trafficker. Demiraj had information, after working in the construction of Bedini. The prosecutor promised protection Demiraj family in exchange for testimony against Bedini.

Bedini

bail and fled the country. Demiraj but was not, as had been promised protection. "[The U.S.] just threw" his wife said Rudin. "I was terrified." Less than a week after being expelled to Albania, Demiraj was kidnapped. Bedini was waiting for him.

Bedini, pointing a gun at Demiraj, said: "I'm here for you You were a witness [against] me .." With that, he was shot in the Demiraj side, narrowly missing just his kidney. Demiraj was taken to hospital, his parents removed soon after surgery, fearing for their safety. The Albanian authorities have refused to follow Demiraj Bedini and again escaped to the United States. This time it was granted "non-refoulement" which is similar to asylum, but can extend to family members.

Soon after, two nieces Demiraj were removed, pooled in a car, bound and sent to Italy by boat. Sefid Papendorf, who now lives in Texas, told the story: "They said 'That's your uncle to pay for everything he did." "In Italy, women were held, bound, without access to bathrooms:. had suffered Initially, he resisted pressure to work as prostitutes, and later changed his mind - the thought would have a better chance of escaping if accepted

• She finally got away - the United States, where they were granted asylum. Meanwhile, the brother of Edmond went into hiding in Greece, and a third was kidnapped his niece and trafficking in Germany.

There is overwhelming evidence, therefore, that the crowd goes to the family of Demiraj. Despite this, a court ruled that New Orleans will be the wife and the son of Edmond and Rudina Demiraj Rediol not granted asylum. They refused asylum by an apparently perverse interpretation of the law on asylum in the United States. "It looked like a clear case," said Bill Frelick, refugee program director at Human Rights Watch - but the court did not see it that way. "Mrs. Bedini Demiraj is at risk of harm to Mr. Demiraj to hurt - not because it has a widespread desire to harm the family as such Demiraj," wrote Judge Catharina Haynes its determination

To change the resolution, Demiraj family to see if it will be heard by U. S. Supreme Court. Under the legal restrictions of the "suspension of deportation" Demiraj not allowed to travel outside their country of residence without informing the immigration authorities, and can not leave the country. However, his wife and son could be deported at any time.

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