political asylum

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Good News for the Widow of Jamal Khashoggi

Hanan Elatr has been granted political asylum in the US

(Newser) - After Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in October 2018, his widow has since feared for her own safety. Now, good news from the United States for Hanan Elatr: She's been granted political asylum here, reports the BBC . According to documents seen by the UK broadcaster, Elatr was...

Chinese Defector: I'll Wait 'Months' in Airport If I Have to

Tiananmen Square critic Chen Siming says he feels safe in Taiwan, though he wants to go to US

(Newser) - A Chinese dissident known for his commemorations of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre is currently holed up in a Taiwan airport, pleading for asylum from the United States, or Canada if the US won't take him. Chen Siming has been hunkered down since Friday at Taoyuan International Airport near...

White House Mirrors Trump-Era Attempt to Limit Asylum

The measure is expected to take effect when pandemic-era Title 42 expires

(Newser) - The Biden administration said Tuesday that it will generally deny asylum to migrants who show up at the US southern border without first seeking protection in a country they passed through, mirroring an attempt by the Trump administration that never took effect because it was blocked in court, the AP...

White House Asks SCOTUS to Lift Trump-Era Border Policy

High court had previously temporarily blocked the lifting of the asylum restrictions

(Newser) - The Biden administration on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to lift Trump-era asylum restrictions—but not necessarily on Wednesday, when they were originally set to expire before the high court temporarily blocked that from happening. A coalition of conservative states is seeking to keep the Title 42 border policy in...

Chess Prodigy Gets Early Holiday Gift From the US
Chess Prodigy, 12,
Is Granted Asylum
Dec 15, 2022 12:37 PM CST

Chess Prodigy, 12, Is Granted Asylum

Nigerian Tani Adewumi, 12, can now travel globally for chess competitions

(Newser) - In 2019, 8-year-old Tanitoluwa "Tani" Adewumi defeated 73 of the best players in his age group at a New York state chess championship, breaking a record by doing so. Now, three years later, he "just won his biggest match" ever, per NPR : The now-12-year-old Nigerian boy and his...

One Country Is Prepared to Offer Assange Asylum

That would be Mexico, according to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador

(Newser) - Julian Assange won't be extradited to America, but he could be North America-bound. Reuters reports that in the wake of a British judge's rejection of a US request to extradite the WikiLeaks founder, Mexico announced it is ready to welcome Assange. "I’m going to ask the...

Sierra Leone's Sitting VP Requests US Asylum

Samuel Sam-Sumana got kicked out of his own party last week

(Newser) - Sierra Leone's vice president says he is seeking asylum from the United States after soldiers came to his house and disarmed his security team. Samuel Sam-Sumana said he did not feel safe after top officials with the presidential guard informed him that his security team was being disarmed on...

Scared Dad Seeks Asylum Over Moustache

Pakistani man: Extremists are threatening my life

(Newser) - Now that's a stache: Pakistani businessman Malik Amir Mohammad Khan Afridi sports a 30-inch moustache that he calls his pride and joy—but admits could get him killed, the Independent reports. "People give me a lot of respect," says Afridi, who spends $150 monthly to treat the...

Snowden to Meet With Activists at Airport
 Snowden Seeks 
 Asylum in Russia: Report 
UPDATED
Jul 12, 2013 9:44 AM CDT

Snowden Seeks Asylum in Russia: Report

At least for now, he says in meeting with Human Rights Watch

(Newser) - Edward Snowden will seek political asylum in Russia, at least temporarily, he told human rights groups in a meeting today at Sheremetyevo International Airport. The news comes via New York Times reporter Ellen Barry , who cites a Human Rights Watch researcher at the meeting. Snowden say he's fine with...

Famed China Police Chief May Be Seeking US Asylum

Wang Lijun has dropped from sight amid rumors

(Newser) - The former top cop of a major Chinese city has dropped from sight amid unconfirmed reports he is seeking US asylum following a quarrel with one of China's most powerful local politicians. Wang Lijun, a crusading lawman who made his name busting crime gangs and inspired a drama on...

Where Is Moammar Gadhafi?
 Where in the World Is Gadhafi? 
Aug 22, 2011 6:24 PM CDT

Where in the World Is Gadhafi?

Plus, expert outlines his most likely options as endgame plays out

(Newser) - For a guy who loved being the center of a spectacle, Moammar Gadhafi is noticeably missing in action as his regime crumbles. The Libyan strongman hasn't been in the public arena since June, notes Reuters, which outlines the two most likely options: One, that he's fled Tripoli, either...

Obama's Aunt Can Stay in US
 Obama's Aunt Can Stay in US 
May 17, 2010 1:40 PM CDT

Obama's Aunt Can Stay in US

Zeituni Onyango granted asylum

(Newser) - Barack Obama's aunt, has received permission to stay in the US. An immigration judge granted Zeituni Onyango's plea for asylum today, agreeing with her lawyer's arguments that she would face tribal violence if she returned home to Kenya. Oyanga was not well known to her nephew, but she became a...

Obama's Aunt Makes Second Plea for Asylum

Kenyan immigrant was ordered deported in 2004, but stayed

(Newser) - President Obama's Kenyan aunt is going before a Massachusetts immigration judge today for a second time to argue she should be allowed to stay in the US. Kenya native Zeituni Onyango is making her case this morning in US Immigration Court in Boston on medical grounds. She moved to the...

Abused Wife Wins Political Asylum in US

Decision sets precedent for women fleeing domestic abuse

(Newser) - The Obama administration has recommended that a Guatemalan woman who came to America fleeing horrific domestic abuse be granted political asylum. Rody Alvarado Peña's case has been in the courts since 1995 and lawyers say the decision will finally clarify the rules on whether abused women in foreign countries...

South Africa Rages as Canada Grants White Asylum

Charges of racism after one-man board approves refugee

(Newser) - A white South African man won asylum in Canada after a one-man immigration board ruled that his "fear of persecution by African South Africans" was justified, reports the Times of London. Brandon Huntley fled to Canada in April and told authorities he was attacked seven times by blacks calling...

US Brands Refugees 'Terrorists', Denies Asylum

All armed groups considered "terrorists"

(Newser) - Refugees hoping to stay in America are SOL if they backed armed movements back home—even if they fought dictators or have since worked for the United States, McClatchy reports. Following a Patriot Act provision, officials have denied more than 7,000 requests for green cards, refugee status, and asylum...

Shoe-Hurler Wants Swiss Asylum

Lawyer says al-Zaidi is in danger if he remains in Iraq

(Newser) - A Swiss lawyer working on behalf of the Iraqi journalist who threw shoes at President Bush said today his client will seek political asylum in Switzerland. The Geneva-based lawyer said Muntadhar al-Zaidi's life is in danger if he stays in Iraq. Al-Zaidi has been detained in an Iraqi jail awaiting...

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