political asylum at Brave New Films

Deporting Weng back to Communist Repression

2008-05-26T13:54:20Z

Seven years ago, Zhenliang Weng escaped China to seek political refuge in the United States and enjoy our freedoms and liberties not granted by the China Communist Party (CCP). Today he faces deportation because he made the mistake of obtaining a fake passport in order to get here. While in the United States, Weng became politically active against the Chinese government to the point that if he gets deported from the United States, Weng faces prisontime, torture and maybe even death if deported back to China. His case is now being reviewed for political asylum.

"I am so scared about going back to China," Weng said before dropping his head on the table, breaking down in tears during an interview in the county jail.
"I was just trying to help my country," he said. "I’m not a criminal. I just wanted a better life for myself.
"In China, there is no freedom. I don’t like China."

The United States has a 'wet feet, dry feet' policy under which Cuban immigrants stopped by U.S. ships at sea are sent back to Cuba, but those who make it to dry ground are allowed to remain but the same benefits don't extend to Chinese or Haitians escaping Communist rule in their countries. Why the hypocrisy and different immigration rules for different nationalities experiencing similar political repression?

Gay Iranian Seeks Asylum

2008-08-21T07:22:12Z

I was livid when I heard that Mehdi Kazemi, a gay teenager from Iran was being denied political asylum in the UK and then by a Dutch Court even after he could prove substantial risk to his life.

"I wish to inform secretary of state that I did not come to the UK to claim asylum … But in the past few months my situation back home has changed. The Iranian authorities have found out that I am a homosexual and they are looking for me."

He continued, "I can not stop my attraction to men … If I return to Iran I will be arrested and executed like [my boyfriend]. Since this incident … I have been so scared."

Finally, today, Britain halted the move to deport the teenager and granted temporary reprieve. For now, we can all sigh in relief that the international public outcry against the folly of deporting the gay teenager to Iran has halted the order. However, I couldn't help thinking of another gay Iranian friend of mine who is in the United States, and like me, also 'out-of-status' and awaiting his DREAMs to come to life.

T. Don Hutto: Internment Camp for Refugee Children

2008-06-05T21:29:58Z

Watch the video