US citizens seek asylum from land of the free (Australia)

The Weekend Australian ^ | 25th April 2015 | Tessa Akerman

[naturalman1975]

America promotes itself as “the land of the free and the home of the brave’’, but more than 100 US citizens have sought asylum in Australia in the past six years.

They have sought asylum in Australia on the basis of unemployment due to the global financial crisis, the impact of ­Obamacare, a high crime rate, claims America is a terrorist ­target, religious persecution and persecution because of sexuality or ­perceived sexuality.

.....

This month, the Australian Federal Circuit Court referred the case of an American woman back to the Refugee Review Tribunal for reconsideration.

The woman, known as SZUQO, arrived in Australia in January 2008 with 54.3g of heroin and 111.6g of cocaine that she had ingested. She was convicted and sentenced to six years’ imprisonment.

.....

In November 2012, the woman made a second application for a protection visa, claiming among other things that she feared harm on the basis she was bisexual.

The woman further claimed “gays and lesbians were killed in the USA merely for being gay”.

[naturalman1975]

I'm embarrassed that an Australian court is apparently entertaining the idea of accepting an asylum claim from a convicted drug smuggler who claims she'd be murdered in America for being a lesbian.

I can believe her life would be in danger from America - from fellow low life scum drug peddlers. I find it difficult to care, though.

[Zeppelin]

Agreed...as an American living in Australia, this is downright ridiculous...

[doc1019]

I find it difficult to care, though

Ditto

[ExCTCitizen]

Ms SUZUQO, a low life drug peddling scum thinks that she’d be murdered because she gay. How about if you get murdered by another low life drug peddling scum? Heterosexuals don’t kill gays unless you are sexually harassing a straight.

[FredZarguna]

Send her back to America on a raft. If Thor Heyerdahl can cross the Pacific that way, so can she. During the interim, neither country need be bothered. If/When she makes landfall, she should be returned. Sorry. No tag-backs!

[Jean2]

As an American who had a an Aussie mother and who lived there for 2 years in the 1970s; ICAM!

[moehoward]

Seriously. Those “John Does” from WI could make a pretty compelling case for asylum.

[John Valentine]

The woman, known as SZUQO, arrived in Australia in January 2008 with 54.3g of heroin and 111.6g of cocaine that she had ingested. She was convicted and sentenced to six years’ imprisonment.

Send her and her stash to Indonesia. Bali ought to do well, lots of flights from OZ to Bali. And be sure the Australian National Police tip off the Indonesians that she’s on her way.

[Myrddin]

I have a very talented friend who has worked for Microsoft and other significant software companies. She decided to emigrate to Australia and because an Australian citizen last year. It's a win for the Aussies. If you have even accessed Microsoft Exchange via the web OWA path, you are enjoying her invention.