U.S. anti-terrorism law seen hampering refugee work (Reuters)

[Eugene]

U.S. anti-terrorism law seen hampering refugee work

Reuters
Monday, October 2, 2006; 1:09 PM

GENEVA (Reuters) - Refugees in need of protection are being prevented
from gaining asylum in the United States by an anti-terrorism law
that was not deliberately aimed at them, a senior U.S. official said
on Monday.

Assistant Secretary of State Ellen Sauerbrey said changes to an immigration
legislation by Congress meant anybody considered to have helped an illegal
armed group could not be admitted.

The measure can affect anti-Castro groups in Cuba, regardless of whether
they enjoy or not the political backing of Washington, or anyone who has
provided assistance, even reluctantly, to rebel groups in Colombia or Myanmar.

-snip-

"If two people are acting together with weapons without support of the
government they could be (considered a) terrorist group," she added.

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/02/AR2006100200539.html

[Jim Lane]

1. You mean it might affect the anti-Castro Cubans?

The same bunch who helped stage a riot to prevent the Florida 2000 vote count from continuing, because they didn't want the will of the people to prevail if the people favored Gore?

And now some of them might be excluded, or perhaps even deported, because of this law?

Well, I still think it's a terrible bill, but, as the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining.

[Jim Lane]

2. (edit to remove accidental dupe)