The United States Commission on Immigration Reform, a nine member commission charged with reviewing US immigration policy and making recommendations for change, has issued an interim report on the US refugee program. The Commission was originally headed by the late Barbara Jordan. Last fall, Shirley Hufstedler replaced Jordan after Jordan died last year. The 61 page report includes a number of recommendations including the amending of various asylum rules contained in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 that are deemed overreaching and which actually reduce the efficiency of the asylum system. One part of the new law which was specifically cited as being troublesome is the new expedited removal system that is seen as potentially leading to the exclusion of bona fide asylum seekers. The Commission recommended a policy of releasing asylum seekers from detention who have demonstrated a likelihood of obtaining asylum. The report also criticized the new welfare reform bill’s provisions which deny benefits to refugees and lawful permanent residents. The Commission was specifically concerned about denial of benefits to the elderly and disabled.
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