It's because of the Romanian law prohibiting homosexuality that caused Banu to be arrested, jailed and beaten. He was granted political asylum in the United States in February 1997 and now calls Chicago home. But if Banu, who came to the United States in late 1995, arrived later on this year, he may not have been allowed to stay. It also give immigration officers at airports and other ports of entry the unprecedented, final authority to expel international travelers without a hearing. America loves freedom.
Freedom is the most important thing.
Banu has lived most of his life without freedom. His first run in with the police occurred when he was in high school. Officers harassed him for listening to Radio Free Europe, a station that promotes Western ideas of democracy and human rights. After high school, Banu wanted to go to college but police interference with his efforts forced him to eliminate college as an option. He arrived at the local police station to speak to the lieutenant who had stopped by his home four days earlier, but Banu wasn't home then.