ICE Detention Standards Compliance Audit - Study of the U.S. Expedited Removal Process - Report to U.S. DHS, UNHCR, 2003
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• ((t» !re!!!2~mmiSSionerfor Refugees
Haut Commissariat des Nations Unies pour les refugies
UNHCR
1775 K Street, NW
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006
Tel.: 2022965191
Fax: 2022965660
Email: usawa@unhcr.ch
31 December 2003
BY FIRST CLASS MAIL
Mr. Anthony Tangeman, Director
Office of Detention and Removal Operations
US Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement
801 Eye Street, NW, Suite 900
Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20536
Mr. Jayson Ahem, Assistant Commissioner
Office ofField Operations
US Bureau of Customs and Border Protection
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 5.5C
Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20229
Re:
UNHCR Site Visit to Dallas Area Detention Facilities
& Meeting with Local CBP Officials re: Dallas-Forth Worth International Airport
Dear Mr. Tangeman and Mr. Ahem,
Please find enclosed the report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR) on its visit to the Dallas area during the week of 10 November 2003,
during which time we visited the Suzanne L. Kays Detention Center and the Rolling Plains
Regional Detention Center. We also met with local representatives of US Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) to discuss operations at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. We wish
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
to thank
Chief, Detention Compliance Branch, US Immigration and Customs
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
Enforcement,
Field Office Director for the Dallas District of the Department of
Homeland Security, Bureau ofImmigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Detention and
Removal, and (b)(6), (b)(7)c
CBP Area Port Director, for facilitating the visit of
(b)(6)
UNHCR Protection Officer. I have been informed that local ICE / CBP officials and county jail
staff at each location were extremely courteous and accommodating during the visit. I very
much appreciate both the time that they devoted to our visits and their full and forthright answers
to our many questions about facility and port operations.
This visit was a follow-up to UNHCR's trip to the Dallas area in November 2001 to
assess what changes, if any, had occurred since then. A full report containing our observations,
comments and recommendations is attached for your review. Since the Dallas district is no
longer using any ofthe five detention facilities that UNHCR visited in 2001, we have provided a
full comprehensive report for the two facilities which are now used.
.-
.\®UNHCR
Please note that we have included as an attachment to this report references to the
international standards implicated by the conditions and procedures we observed. We hope that
these international standards will be useful for you and your staff in assessing the adequacy of
ICE detention conditions and port of entry operations. Copies of the underlying international
instruments and policy guidance materials were forwarded to your Office in September 2003.
While detailed comments and observations are contained in the attached report, we would
like to highlight the following.
Assessment of Changes in Conditions and Procedures Since November 2001 Visit
General Areas of Improvement
UNHCR noted a number of improvements in detention conditions in the Dallas area since
our last visit in November 2001. These improvements include the following:
(1) Decision to No Longer Use George Allen and Lou Sterrett Detention Facilities: In our 2001
report, UNHCR recommended that INS cease holding asylum-seekers at these facilities due
to a number of serious deficiencies in the conditions of confinement there. We were pleased
to learn during this last visit that ICE is no longer holding its detainees at that jail, though we
are concerned about the occasional use of George Allen.
(2) Consolidation ofDetention Facilities: ICE has now consolidated its detainee population into
two county jails, which limits the number of transfers for detained asylum-seekers between
facilities. This consolidation should also provide ICE with greater leverage in ensuring
adequate conditions of confinement.
(3) Regular Detainee Access to ICE: The Dallas district has developed ajai11iaison team
composed of immigration enforcement agents. A team of two agents visits each facility
weekly to meet with detainees and answer their questions. A priority is placed on providing
requested information to detainees the same day or, at the latest, by the appropriate
deportation officer within 72 hours.
(4) Installation ofPre-Paid Phone Systems: During UNHCR's 2001 visit, a major problem was
the inability of detained asylum-seekers to contact the immigration courts and local NGOs
because of the agencies' inability to accept collect phone calls. ICE's pre-paid phone system,
allowing for free calls to consulates, NGOs, and immigration courts has since been installed
at a number of the jails visited, making it easier for detained asylum-seekers to obtain case
information and communicate with their lawyers. UNHCR's phone number was not included
on the list for collect calls, though Ms. Prendes has indicated to UNHCR a willingness to
promptly add this number to the list.
(5) Improved Law Library Facilities: Since UNHCR's 2001 visit, ICE has installed immigration
legal materials on computers at the facilities and to provide more current bound materials as
well. UNHCR appreciates this effort, which should greatly assist detained asylum-seekers
who must represent themselves in immigration court. UNHCR remains concerned, however,
that many asylum-seekers may not be computer literate, and recommends that law/computer
tutors (from the detainee population if necessary) be allowed to assist individuals in
conducting their research.
2
I
.<®UNHCR
(6) Improved Recreational Opportunities: Many facilities used in 2001 containing asylumseekers did not have outdoor recreational opportunities. Others did not allow frequent
recreation access. Both facilities used in 2003 have outdoor recreational areas and provide
daily or near-daily recreation. This is a welcome development. As noted in the report,
frequent access to the outdoors can be especially critical for asylum-seekers and refugees
who have experienced personal trauma and have particular difficulty with extended periods
of confinement. It is also critical to those of concern to UNHCR who remain in detention for
extended periods of time.
General Areas of ContinuedlNew Concern
There are also a number of areas of continuing or new concern for UNHCR regarding
detention conditions in the Dallas area. These include the following:
(1) Continued Use ofRemote Jails: UNHCR appreciates ICE's jail consolidation in the Dallas
area. However, its primary facility, Rolling Plains, is a four to five hour drive from Dallas.
This distance makes it difficult for asylum-seekers to secure legal counsel and to maintain
contact with them and with family that may be in Dallas. UNHCR continues to recommend
that ICE use one facility near Dallas that is owned and operated by ICE and that meets both
international and ICE detention standards.
(2) High Cost ofCalls: In order to call family members or attorneys who do not accept collect
calls, detainees at Rolling Plains must purchase calling cards. The cost for these calls is $.50
per minute for domestic calls and $2.00 per minute for international calls. The impact of
these charges can be great on asylum-seekers, who are often indigent and with no local
support network. High charges make it difficult, if not impossible, for detained asylumseekers to maintain contact with private attorneys or with families/friends who can assist in
the preparation of their asylum cases or provide emotional support.
(3) Medical Care: UNHCR remains concerned about the shortage of mental health staff
available to treat detainees. Though the Rolling Plains facility draws on local resources, it
has no on-site mental health professional to treat a population of up to 450. In addition,
UNHCR is concerned with detainee reports oflong waits for doctor visits despite perceptions
ofjail staff that medical requests are addressed promptly.
(4) Use ofNon-Inspected Facilities: ICE transfers male and female detainees with special
medical and mental health needs to a facility known as West Tower. It also transfers
pregnant women to the George Allen Detention Center for obgyn care. On its 2001 visit,
UNHCR determined that George Allen is not in compliance with international detention
standards. Use of West Tower is also of concern since it is not inspected by ICE immigration
enforcement agents, does not prohibit the commingling ofICE detainees with the general
population, and does not offer outdoor recreation. While acknowledging that there may be
few options for detention of asylum-seekers in facilities that conform to international
standards and that relatively small numbers of detainees may be impacted by the use of West
Tower and George Allen, UNHCR nevertheless is concerned with the use of non-inspected
facilities. UNHCR urges ICE to explore the availability of facilities that meet applicable
standards and which can also meet the medical and mental health needs of ICE detainees.
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e®UNHCR
Finally, we would like to briefly note our meeting with CBP officials about operations at
the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. These officials stressed to UNHCR that CBP is using only legacy
INS inspectors in secondary until legacy agricultural and customs personnel and new hires are
adequately trained in procedures in secondary and have accumulated sufficient experience in
primary. UNHCR was concerned that CBP still uses airline interpreters in interviews with
asylum-seekers and recommends that this practice be changed. UNHCR was also informed that
new interpreter guidelines has been received from ICE Headquarters but, apparently, no training
on them has yet occurred on the local level. UNHCR recommends that such training be provided
given UNHCR's observations during its recent study of the US expedited removal process of
consistently poor interpretation in secondary inspection interviews. A copy ofUNHCR's report
of this study is attached for Dallas CBP officials' reference.
In closing, we reiterate our continued concerns about the detention of asylum-seekers in
the United States. As you are aware, UNHCR's Executive Committee (see, e.g., Conclusion No.
44), has stated that asylum-seekers should normally not be detained. This principle is also found
in UNHCR's Detention Guidelines. We encourage ICE to release individuals who should not be
detained and to aggressively pursue alternatives to detention in this country. To the extent that
detention is utilized, we trust that the attached report will be useful to you and your colleagues in
the field in reviewing facility conditions. We remain available, of course, to discuss any aspects
of the report that require further clarification or discussion. Please do not hesitate to contact us
should you so desire. We look forward to working with you further on this and future UNHCR
mISSIOns.
Sincerely,
(b)(6)
Officer in Charge
cc:
Joseph Langlois
Director
Asylum Division
Citizenship and Immigration
Services
Washington, DC
Molly Groom
Chief, Refugee and Asylum Law Division
Office of Policy and Legal Affairs
Citizenship and Immigration Services
Washington, DC
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
Chief
Detention Compliance Branch
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Washington, DC
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'I
e®>UNHCR
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Field Office Director for the Dallas District of the Department of Homeland Security
Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Office of Detention and Removal
Dallas, TX
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CBP Area Port Director
Dallas, TX
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UNHCR/nited States Exchange of Letters for
Monitoring Safe-Third Country Agreement Implementation
On December 5, 2002, the governments of the United States and Canada entered into the Agreement
between the Government of the United States and the Government of Canada for Cooperation in the
Third Countries ("Agreement"). The
Examination of Refugee Status Claims from Nationals of
Agreement became effective on December 29,2004.
To ensure that the implementation of the Agreement is consistent with its terms and principles, and
with international refugee law, the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will
contribute by monitoring the process of the implementation. As a result of a series of meetings and
discussions between the United States, Canada and UNHCR, the three parties agreed on a monitoring
plan proposal, which is attached as Annex 1.
By this exchange of letters, the United States and UNHCR United States wish to confirm their full
commitment to the implementation of the monitoring plan.
~i)gned?.,
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Kolude Doherty,
Regional Representative
UNHCR United States
Wesley Lee (date)
Acting Director
Detention and Removal Operations
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
UNHCR/Canada Exchange of Letters for
Monitoring Safe-Third Country Agreement Implementation
On December 5, 2002, the governments of the United States and Canada entered into the Agreement
between the Government of the United States and the Government of Canada for Cooperation in the
Examination of Refugee Status Claims from Nationals of Third Countries ("Agreement"). The
Agreement became effective on December 29,2004.
To ensure that the implementation of the Agreement is consistent with its terms and principles, and
with international refugee law, the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will
contribute by monitoring the process of the implementation. As a result of a series of meetings and
discussions between the United States, Canada and UNHCR, the three parties agreed on a monitoring
plan proposal, which is attached as Annex 1.
By this exchange of letters, Canada and UNHCR Canada wish to confirm their full commitment to the
implementation of the monitoring plan.
Signed by:
J ahanshah Assadi,
(date)
Robert Orr (date)
Representati ve
Director
UNHCR Canada
Refugee Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
UNHCR MONITORING PLAN
US-CANADA "SAFE THIRD COUNTRY" AGREEMENT
(Subject to final exchange of letters between the Parties and UNHCR)
The Safe Third Country agreement (hereinafter "the Agreement") notes, in keeping
with the advice of UNHCR and its Executive Committee, that agreements among
states may enhance international protection of refugees by promotion of orderly
handling of asylum applications by the responsible party and the principle of burden
sharing.
legal obligations of the Government
of Canada and the Government of the United States (the "Parties") under the principle
of non-refoulement outlined in the 1951 Convention and its 1967 Protocol, as well as
The Agreement acknowledges the international
the 1984 Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment (Convention Against Torture).
The Agreement notes the Parties' determination to safeguard for each eligible refugee
claimant on its territory access to a full and fair refugee status determination
procedure as a means to afford the protections of the 1951 Convention, its Protocol
and the Convention Against Torture.
Article 8(3) of the Agreement further provides that the parties to the Agreement will
invite UNHCR to participate in the first review of the Agreement and its
implementation. Under the Agreement, this review is to take place not later than
twelve months from the date of the Agreement's entry into force. Under Article 8(3)
"Parties shall cooperate with UNHCR in the monitoring of this Agreement and seek
input from non-governmental organizations."
Objectives of UNHCR Monitoring
Pursuant to Article 8(3) of the Agreement, and further to its mandate under the 1951
Refugees Convention and Protocol, UNHCR will monitor the Agreement to assess
whether implementation is consistent with its terms and principles, and with
international refugee law.
Policy & Operating Guidelines
Before the commencement of monitoring activities, UNHCR will receive copies of all
American and Canadian policy and operating guidelines for the Agreement. These
will include any guidelines or instructions specific to each of the five major ports of
entry (POEs) to be visited by UNHCR on a regular basis.
Methodology
Before Agreement Enters into Force
. One tripartite meeting (US, Canada, and UNHCR) to discuss the monitoring plan,
on 6 August 2004, to be followed by any subsequent meetings deemed necessary
by the parties;
· To the extent the data are reliable and may reasonably be obtained, US and
Canada supply the latest statistics on the number of persons who presented
refugee claims at a US-Canada land border POE and, of those, the number who
were then detained;
· An "introductory" UNHCR visit to one designated land border POE after the
monitoring plan is finalized and prior to entry into force of the Agreement;
· "Exchange of Letters" between US, Canada and UNHCR.
After Agreement Enters Into Force
· UNHCR visits to US-Canada designated land border POEs, in accordance with
existing field visit protocols;
· UNHCR visits to detention centers in Canada and the US which hold asylum
claimants referred by border officials, in accordance with existing practice or field
visit protocols;
· Analysis of DHSIDOJ and CIC statistics, policies, case files, and other relevant
documents;
· Analysis of information received from NGOs, including statistics, case files, and
other relevant documents;
· Ongoing discussions with governmental and non-governmental counterparts;
· Interviews with individual asylum-seekers subject to the Agreement;
· Two tri-partite meetings (US, Canada and UNHCR) to discuss findings, after 6
months and 12 months of monitoring, as part of the first annual review (see also
"Reporting" below).
Reporting
· General: UNHCR will formally report to the Parties its findings on the
Agreement's implementation approximately six months and twelve months after
the Agreement has entered into force. UNHCR expects that these reports will
assist the Parties both in their implementation of the Agreement during the first
year, and in their twelve-month review of the Agreements' implementation.
· UNHCR Six-Month Briefing: UNHCR will report orally to the Parties its interim
observations regarding the implementation of the Agreement approximately six
months after its entry into force.
· UNHCR Twelve-Month Review: UNHCR will report orally to the Parties its
observations on the implementation of the Agreement approximately twelve
months from the date of entry into force, focusing primarily on the last six months
of implementation. The Parties and UNHCR will also discuss UNHCR's draft
written monitoring report at this time. The final written monitoring report will be
submitted to the Parties prior to their final review of the Agreement's
implementation.
· Parties' Twelve-Month Report: The Parties will prepare, and share with UNHCR,
their twelve-month implementation report, for review and comments. Following
tripartite discussions on the Parties' draft report, the Parties and UNHCR will
adopt a final report, provided UNHCR is satisfied that its credibility and
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independence would be properly maintained. The joint tripartite report will be
made public upon agreement of the Parties and UNHCR.
. UNHCR may report on, and/or request additional tripartite meetings to discuss
emergent issues as necessary. This would not affect any ongoing and regular
bilateral dialogue between UNHCR and the respective host Government on the
Agreement.
Site Visits: Ports of Entry (POE) and Detention Facilties
In accordance with existing field visit protocols, UNHCR will conduct site visits to
US/Canada POEs during the twelve months following the entry into force of the
Agreement. The focus of the site visits will be to the major ports of entry, namely:
. Detroitfindsor
. Buffalo/Fort Erie, coupled with
. Niagara/Rainbow Bridge
. Champlain/aColle
. BlainelDouglas
Some visits may be extended over a period of days. UNHCR visits to other landborder POEs may also be undertaken.
UNHCR staff in the US and in Canada may visit area detention facilities in
connection with the scheduled monitoring visits; each office may visit detention
centres on other occasions, scheduled separately by each office.
Prior to and/or during visits to ports of entry and detention facilities, the Parties will
make individual case files available to UNHCR upon request, either with applicant's
consent or redacted as necessary, and will enable UNHCR to have access to
individual applicants detained either at the POE or at a detention facility (for purposes
of confidential interviews, with applicants' consent).
Assumptions / Constraints
. UNHCR human and financial resources;
. UNHCR access to all aspects of border procedures, including to individuals
seeking asylum subject to the Agreement and related documentation; Availability
of reliable statistical data.
Statistics
The following statistical information from the Parties may assist the UNHCR in its
monitoring objectives, once the Agreement comes into force. The following list is not
exhaustive and may be supplemented at any time. In keeping with Article 8(3) of the
Agreement, UNHCR will also seek input, to the extent available, from nongovernmental organizations. For statistics originating from agencies other than the
US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or the Canadian Citizenship and
Immigration Canada (CIC), the Parties will make best efforts to ensure that the
requested information is made available to UNHCR. With respect to the statistics
3
described below, the Parties will provide them to the extent that they are reliable and
reasonably available. The Parties will inform UNHCR if requested data is not being
provided for reasons of reliability or availability.
1. General
(The Parties will provide statistical data in this category on a monthly basis. All data
will be broken down to reflect each of the five major ports of entry separately. Data
on all other ports of entry may be grouped or provided individually. Data will also be
broken down to reflect gender, age and country of origin.)
a) Total number of persons requesting asylum in the US and Canada at a US-
Canada land border POE;
b) Total number of persons found not to meet an exception and returned to
country of last presence under the Agreement, and total number found to meet
an exception.
2. Exceptions under Article 4 (2) (a) and (b) - Family Unity
(The Parties will provide statistical data in this category on a monthly basis. All data
will be broken down to reflect each of the five major ports of entry separately. Data
on all other ports of entry may be grouped or provided individually. Data will also be
broken down to reflect gender, age and country of origin.)
a) Number of persons deemed eligible to lodge refugee protection claims in the
receiving country under Article 4(2)(a) and (b), and number of persons found
to be ineligible under this exception.
3. Exceptions under Article 4 (2) (c) Unaccompanied Minors
(The Parties will provide statistical data in this category on a monthly basis. All data
wil be broken down to reflect each of the five major ports of entry separately. Data
on all other ports of entry may be grouped or provided individually. Data will also be
broken down to reflect gender, age and country of origin.)
a) Number of persons considered "unaccompanied minors" subject to Article
4(2)(c);
b) Number of unaccompanied minors (persons under the age of 18 not
accompanied by a parent/guardian) who have parents, guardians, or close
family members in the receiving country, but do not fall under Article 4(2)(a)
or (b) of the Agreement, and who are returned to the country of last presence
under the Agreement;
c) To facilitate UNHCR access to these statistics in the US, UNHCR requests
that the DHS Bureau of Customs and Border Protection provide Alien
Registration Numbers and names of unaccompanied minors placed in removal
proceedings at US-Canada land border POEs to the Executive Office for
4
Immigration Review so that appropriate cases may be identified and case-files
made available for review by UNHCR.
4. Detention
(The Parties will provide statistical data in this category on a monthly basis. All data
will be broken down to reflect each of the five major ports of entry separately vis a vis
where the application was initially lodged. Data on all other ports of entry may be
grouped or provided individually. Data will also be broken down to reflect gender,
age and country of origin.)
Total number of persons detained for more than 48 hours in the US or Canada while
their cases are being examined under the Agreement. Data should include: (a) names
and locations of detention centers; (b) reasons for detention; (c) dates of detention;
and (d) for those detained while their cases are being examined under the Agreement,
whether the person was deemed eligible to lodge a refugee claim in the receiving
country under the Agreement.
5. Processing time
(The Parties will provide statistical data in this category on a monthly basis, broken
down to reflect each of the five major ports of entry separately. Data on all other
ports of entry may be grouped or provided individually.)
The length of time it takes the Parties to make a decision regarding eligibility to apply
for refugee protection in the receiving country under the Agreement for each
application for refugee protection received, as well as the average length of time.
6. Expedited Removal
(The Parties will provide statistical data in this category on a monthly basis. All data
will be broken down to reflect each of the five major ports of entry separately. Data
on all other ports of entry may be grouped or provided individually. Data will also be
broken down to reflect gender, age and country of origin.)
a) Number of persons seeking refugee protection in the US at a US-Canada land
border POE who were placed in: (1) expedited removal proceedings, and, (2)
regular (INA 240) removal proceedings.
b) Of those persons identified in (a)(1) and (a)(2) above, the number of persons
deemed eligible to lodge an asylum claim in the US under the Agreement.
7. Removal through Territory of Other Party (Article 5)
(The Parties will provide statistical data in this category on a quarterly basis, which
will be broken down to reflect gender, age and country of origin.)
a) Total number of persons removed from Canada via the US and the number
returned to Canada under Article 5(a);
5
b) Total number of persons removed from the US via Canada, who are subject to
Article 5(b)(i);
c) Total number of
persons removed from the US via Canada, who are returned
to the United States under Article 5(b )(ii).
8. Effective Review Procedures
(The Parties will provide statistical data in this category on a monthly basis. Data will
also be broken down to reflect gender, age and country of origin.)
a) For the US, the total number of persons placed in regular (INA § 240) removal
proceedings who appealed the decision of the Immigration Judge regarding
their eligibility to apply for asylum in the US under the Agreement, and the
decisions of the Board of Immigration Appeals on those appeals;
b) For the US, total number of applicants placed in regular (INA § 240) removal
proceedings who sought reconsideration of a determination that they do not
fall under any of the exceptions to the Agreement. Information should also
include: (i) the exception of the Agreement at issue (e.g., Article 4(2)(a)), and
(ii) final decision rendered. For Canada, and to the extent possible, the
number of persons who sought the review of the negative decision before the
Federal Court;
c) To facilitate UNHCR access to the requested statistics under (a) and (b) above
in the US, UNHCR requests that the DHS Bureau of Customs and Border
Protection provide Alien Registration Numbers and names of unaccompanied
minors placed in removal proceedings at US-Canada land border POEs to the
Executive Office for Immigration Review so that appropriate cases may be
identified and case-files made available for review by UNHCR;
d) The total number of cases reconsidered by each Party under the bilateral
dispute resolution mechanism, the substantive provision of the Agreement at
issue, and the outcome of such reconsiderations/decisions.
9. Use of Discretion (Article 6)
(The Parties will provide statistical data in this category on a monthly basis. All data
will be broken down to reflect each of the five major ports of entry separately. Data
on all other ports of entry may be grouped or provided individually. Data will also be
broken down to reflect gender, age and country of origin.)
Total number of cases considered under Article 6 of the Agreement and total number
deemed eligible to lodge a refugee protection claim in the receiving country under
Article 6.
10. Resettlement provision (Article 9)
6
(The Parties will provide statistical data in this category once before the six-month
review and as available thereafter.)
Total number of persons resettled to either the US or Canada, including information
on first country of asylum, dates of resettlement and country of resettlement pursuant
to Article 9 of the Agreement.
11. Other information on asylum applications
(The Parties will provide statistical data in this category on a monthly basis.)
Total number ofrefugee claims lodged inland in either country (i.e., not at a POE).
Total number for the same period of claims lodged in either country during the
previous year, broken down by month, should also be provided.
Estimated UNHCR Monitorin2 Costs (in U8$)
The estimated costs (both UNHCR Canada and UNHCR USA) for the proposed
UNHCR monitoring plan is approximately $200,000, covering costs of staff travel,
vehicle rental and daily subsistence allowances while on mission. The cost could be
higher, depending on the number of site visits undertaken. Given UNHCR's current
financial constraints, UNHCR encourages both governments to underwrite these costs
to the extent possible.
14 December 2004
7
UNDCR/United States Exchange of Letters for
Monitoring Safe-Third Country Agreement Implementation
..
On December 5, 2002, the govemments of the United'States and Canada entered into the Agreement
between the Govemment of the United States and the Government of Canada for Cooperation in the
Third Countries ("Agreement"). The
Ewmination of Refugee Status Claims from Nationals of
Agreement became effective on December 29,2004.
To ensure that the implementation of the Agreement is consistent with its terms and principles, and
with intemational refugee law, the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) wil
contribute by monitoring the process of the implementation. As a result of a series of meetings and
discussions between the United States, Canada and UNHCR, the three parties agreed on a monitoring
plan proposal, which is attached as Annex I.
B)i this exchange of letters, the United States and UNHCR United States wish to confirm their full
commitment to the implementation of the monitoring plan.
Signed ~
i. .~:/
/:',/'/tú Pl""~
Kolude Doherty,
Regional Representative
IJNHC:R United States
ose h Cu
Director
Office of Refugee, Asylum, and International
Operations
U.S. Citizenship, and Immigration Services
)
(datf:l;
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(b)(6)
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(b)(6)
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(b)(6)
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(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
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(b)(6)
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(b)(6)
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(2)High
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(2)High
(b)(6)
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6)
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6)
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6), (b)(7)c
(b)(6), (b)(7)c