U.S. Embassies Violate Asylum Seeker Confidentiality

Two recent incidents involving my asylum seeker clients have revealed what might be a disturbing trend at the overseas U.S. consulates: A near complete disregard for asylum seeker confidentiality.

Both incidents involved family members of asylum seekers who had applied for visas to enter the United States. One incident occurred in Europe; the other in the Middle East. In each case, family members of asylum applicants applied for non-immigrant visas to the United States. The asylum cases were pending at the time the family members went for their interviews. In each case, the consular officer denied the visa and told the family member that the reason for the denial was because their relative had filed for asylum in the U.S., and that they (the family members) were thus intending immigrants, ineligible for non-immigrant visas.

Some people just can't keep a secret.
Some people just can’t keep a secret.

Asylum cases are supposed to be confidential. Confidentiality is important because some foreign governments will punish people who have “defamed” them by seeking asylum abroad. Indeed, when the U.S. government has violated an asylum seeker’s confidentiality, it may create a new basis for an asylum claim. The most well-known example is President Obama’s aunt, who received asylum after her case was leaked to the press.

I have successfully made such claims on behalf of clients whose confidentiality was violated by U.S. Embassies during overseas investigations. The most egregious case involved the U.S. Embassy in Cameroon (this was some years ago).  The Embassy submitted a letter, stating that they had inquired only whether a certain police officer worked at a certain police station (the officer had signed a warrant against my client). The Embassy letter emphasized that confidentiality had been maintained. In the response letter from the police in Cameroon, it was clear that the U.S. Embassy had revealed much more information about my client–the letter referenced the case number against the client and the date of his arrest. If the Embassy had revealed only what they claimed to have revealed about my client, there is no way that the Cameroonian police would have had this additional information. By revealing identifying information to the police, the U.S. Embassy put my client at additional risk.

The more recent cases from Europe and the Middle East are perhaps less egregious because the information was revealed to family members and not to the home government. Nevertheless, it is a problem. Many people–including many of my clients–have claimed asylum based on persecution by family members. This is true in cases involving domestic violence, forced marriage, and (sometimes) persecution based on sexual orientation, for example. Thus, revealing an asylum application, even to family members, potentially endangers the applicant.

In addition, of course, it is a violation of the law, which requires confidentiality. See 8 C.F.R. §§ 208.6(c) & 1208.6(c). Indeed, government officials who violate this provision can be fired. See Lewis v. Dep’t of Justice, 34 Fed. Appx. 774 (Fed.Cir.2002) (unpublished opinion) (affirming decision of Merit Systems Protection Board concluding that breach of section 208.6 was a firing offense irrespective of whether that breach was harmless).  

So what will become of my clients and their family members? And what about the consular officers who violated my clients’ confidentiality?

I don’t see how the rejection of the family members could affect my clients’ asylum cases. Of course, they will remain separated from their families, which is a severe hardship, but it should not impact their chances to receive asylum (in fact, one of the clients did recently receive asylum). As for the family members, instead of coming here immediately, they will now wait for a “follow to join” petition and they will have to come here as asylees. This may not be what they want, but there is no other option.

As for the consular officers, it is unlikely that my clients will make complaints against them. We do not even know their names (though I suppose we could find out) and it would be the family members’ words against the consular officers, so I doubt anything would come of it.

I do hope that the State Department will be more careful about revealing confidential information in the future. There really was no reason to tell the family members about my clients’ asylum applications. The consular officers could simply have denied the visas without an explanation (as they often do anyway).

Confidentiality of asylum claims is important to the asylum seekers and to the integrity of the asylum system. I hope that consular officers will take their responsibility in this regard more seriously.

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12 comments

  1. […] the most part, confidentiality is respected. But I have seen instances where the U.S. government inadvertently or negligently revealed information about the asylum claim […]

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  2. I am an assylum seeker in Costa Rica, my job is requesting me to travel for an internal conference to USA. I need to request a b1 visa . Do I need to inform the consulate agent about my status? Or this could also be confidential? And just take evidence of my liaison with CR as job , spouse, kids enrolled in school.. and my company who is sponsoring the trip.thanks for your advise

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    • It’s a good question, but I do not know the answer. It seems to me that you may need to inform them about your status, and it might actually help you get a visa since they will see that you are not eligible for asylum in the US (since you already have asylum in CR). If you are worried about getting the visa, you may want to consult a US lawyer who specializes in non-immigrant visas (I don’t). Take care, Jason

      Reply
  3. I am a terrible outcast here in INDIA…….firstly,I am a closeted CHRISTIAN and secondly,I am a WRITER in the language ENGLISH.Besides,I have had a lot of trouble with orthodox Hindus here.Does my plea for asylum stand any chance

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    • If you have been harmed or if you fear harm because of your religion or your political opinion (things you have written), that can form the basis for asylum. You will need to show that the government cannot protect you and that you cannot relocate to a safe place in India, but the situation you describe may be a good case. You would need to talk to a lawyer about the specifics in order to know for sure. Also, to apply for asylum in the US, you have to be physically present in the country. Take care, Jason

      Reply
  4. Hi Jason, I asylum case still pending, and I want my mama to come in US just for 3 weeks, can my friend invite him?if yes whow.

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    • She would have to apply for a visa like anyone else. The fact that you are seeking asylum may make that more difficult, but she should submit evidence of her plan to return after her visit (evidence that she has other children or a spouse in her country, that she has a job, property, money, etc). There are lawyers who assist people to get visitor visas, but I am not one of them. Maybe talk to such a lawyer so your mother can present the strongest cases possible. Take care, Jason

      Reply
  5. […] Even if your family members already have visitor visas, that is no guarantee they will be allowed to enter the United States.  In fact, there are many reports of the Department of State cancelling the visas when a relative applies for asylum in the United States.  Jason Duzbow of The Asylumist has written some excellent articles about this problem here and here. […]

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  6. Respected Sir,

    If someone wants to come to a country and apply for asylum, should they mention it to the visa officer at the time of interview? So that their application can get accepted and they can leave the country?

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    • Generally, if the visa officer thinks you plan to seek asylum in the U.S., the visa will be denied.

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  7. Jason, I agree that the U.S. Embassy personnel had no business revealing to anyone, family or not, that the relative had applied for asylum. That is absolutely egregious. Having said that, I do always advise my asylum clients that, once they apply for asylum, their immediate relatives are likely to be rejected for visit visas because the visa application requires them to disclose the names and whereabouts of their close relatives, and the Embassy can check. However, in those cases the reason for denial should be withheld.

    Reply
    • Thank you mentioning this – of course you are right that we should advise our clients that once they file for asylum, it could affect the cases/visa applications of their family members.

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