Opinion ID: 2453
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Credible Fear Interview (June 12, 2003)

Text: On June 12, 2003, an asylum officer conducted a credible fear interview with petitioner at an Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) facility in Jamaica, New York, where petitioner had been detained since her airport interview. Petitioner was once more provided with a Mandarin interpreter. At the start of the interview, the asylum officer read petitioner the following statement: The purpose of this interview is to determine whether you may be eligible for asylum or protection from removal to a country where you fear persecution or torture. I am going to ask you questions about why you fear returning to your country.... It is very important that you tell the truth during the interview and that you respond to all of my questions. This may be your only opportunity to give such information. Please feel comfortable telling me why you fear harm. U.S. law has strict rules to prevent the disclosure of what you tell me today about the reasons why you fear harm. The information you tell me about the reasons for your fear will not be disclosed to your government, except in exceptional circumstances. The statements you make today may be used in deciding your claim and in any future immigration proceedings. It is important that we understand each other. If at any time I make a statement you do not understand, please stop me and tell me you do not understand so that I can explain it to you. In response to the asylum officer's question about whether petitioner or any member of her family had ever been mistreated or threatened by anyone in any country to which [she] may be returned, petitioner provided the following statement: After I had my son in 1990, I was forced to have an [intrauterine device (IUD)] insertion by the Family Planning Officials (FPO). I attempted to remove it once to have more children in 1997 but was found to have had it removed and it was reinserted. In August 2002, I had to have surgery for my heart problems and the IUD was removed. The doctors said that I could not have the IUD inserted again because it will interfere with my heart problems. The FPO's [ sic ] came to re-insert the IUD in December 2002 but when my husband and I protested, they were going to arrest us, so we ran away and hid. If I have the IUD inserted again, I may die from complications from my heart medication and I will not be able to have more children. In response to the inspector's question about whether she would be harmed if returned to her home country, petitioner stated: The Family Planning Officials will arrest me and have another IUD inserted in me if I go back. If this happens, I may die from complications due to my heart condition. On the basis of petitioner's statements, petitioner was referred for a full hearing on her claims for asylum and withholding of removal. Pending a full hearing, petitioner was transferred to an INS Minor and Family Shelter in Pennsylvania, which allowed her to be housed together with her minor son, and petitioner and her son were eventually released on parole from INS custody in September 2003.