The New York Times/Letters

Thursday, July 1, 1999

Refugees' Worse Deal?

To the Editor:

Re "The Rough Landing We Give Refugees" (Op-Ed, June 26): Hundreds of asylum seekers, including many Kosovars, are being held in jails and detention centers around the country. They face a much meaner welcome than refugees who are processed abroad. Rather than worrying about welfare benefits, these asylum seekers need something more basic: they need to be let out of jail so that they can live with their relatives and begin recovering from the atrocities they have fled.

The jailing of asylum seekers retraumatizes people who have already suffered torture and other persecution. The Immigration and Naturalization Service should broaden its parole policy and release asylum seekers who have passed screening interviews and who are not a danger to the community.

MARY MC CLENAHAN

New York, June 28, 1999

(The writer is a staff attorney, Catholic Legal Immigration Network.)