New Asylum-Only INS Office Will Speed Decision Process : Immigration: Anaheim agency is designed to handle 80,000 cases a year. Officials hope quicker action deters bogus claims.

Gebre E. Habtu fled Ethiopia 15 years ago because the government there wanted him dead.

He said he left because of his political and social beliefs. Habtu, now an asylum officer for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, shared his experience Wednesday at the opening of the newest INS office that is expected to speed up asylum cases.

INS Commissioner Gene McNary said the 24,000-square-foot building will serve asylum cases only and will process about 80,000 per year.

“Our goal is to do it quickly so we deter those who really don’t have a claim,” he said.

McNary added that many people claim that they are fleeing their countries because of repression but are economic refugees who cannot find jobs.

Asylum, however, is granted only to those who either have documented proof that they were persecuted in their countries or testify that they were because of their religion, race, nationality, political opinion or membership in particular social groups.

So far this year, more than 100,000 people have sought political asylum in the United States including 43,834 from Guatemala, 6,730 from El Salvador, 5,823 from the former Soviet Union, 5,291 from Haiti, 4,012 from the Philippines, 3,440 from China, 3,323 from Pakistan, 3,160 from India, 2,368 from Cuba and 2,313 from Yugoslavia.

Habtu, a high school history teacher in Ethiopia, told a news conference that he walked nearly 1,000 miles across jungles and deserts on his way to the Sudan and safety.

“Tens of thousands of Ethiopian intellectuals, students and workers were slaughtered in what is known as the ‘Red Terror Campaign,’ ” he said. He also said his students warned him that he would soon join the dead.

Habtu made his way to the United States, became a citizen and now listens to others tell similar stories as an Immigration and Naturalization Service official. “I am a beneficiary of the 1980 Refugee Act,” he said.

“I understand the complex situations people go through,” Habtu added. “It is difficult to leave your roots and to be in a strange land where the language and the culture is unfamiliar and it makes it difficult for many asylum applicants to present their cases.”

Habtu said too many people don’t fit the refugee profile.

“I am afraid timely and fair adjudication may be difficult to attain unless the spurious applications are weeded out,” he said.

The official opening of the new asylum office in Orange County, which began operating in October, marks the last of seven sprinkled throughout the country.

Before being moved to Anaheim, the asylum cases were processed in the district office in Los Angeles and the western regional branch in Laguna Niguel.

“Now, we’re all together here,” said Rosemary L. Melville, director of asylum services. “We’ll be more efficient.”

She said the time it takes for completing an asylum case will be cut in half to six months to a year.

The building has 46 separate offices where asylum officers listen to testimony and 48 other employees work. More than 2,000 square feet is being used to house thousands of files, the oldest case being 5 years old.

New Office

The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service on Wednesday announced the opening of an office in Anaheim for people seeking political asylum:

Where: 290 S. Anaheim Blvd.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Telephone: (714) 635-0126, with service in Spanish.

The office has 46 interview rooms.

Nueva Oficina

El Servicio de Inmigracion y Naturalizacion (INS) el Miercoles anuncio una nueva oficina en Anaheim para personas que desean solicitar asilo politico:

Donde: 290 S. Anaheim Blvd.

Horario: 8 a.m. hasta las 4:30 p.m. Lunes a Viernes.

Telefono: (714) 635-0126, con servicio en Espanol.

La oficina incluye 46 cuartos para entrevistas.

The above information is printed as a public service.