Palestinian Seeks U.S. Asylum
Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS —
A Palestinian stowaway, reportedly in handcuffs, jumped from a freighter at Baton Rouge, La., early today. He was plucked from the Mississippi River and handed over to U.S. officials for a hearing on his request for political asylum, the Border Patrol said.
The man, identified as Mohamad Marie, 20, was born in Syria and claimed he feared persecution there, Border Patrol agent Darrell Goff said. He said the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization service will hold a hearing on asylum.
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