November 29, 2016
By Brendan Kirby
Experts question the process that allowed Ohio State attacker to enter America as a refugee
The Somali-born Ohio State University student accused of committing a car-and-knife attack on campus Monday reportedly came with his family as a refugee, but it is unclear what precisely the family was fleeing.
Federal law and international treaties set out specific criteria for qualifying as refugees. One of those requirements is that the would-be refugee apply for protection in the first country he reaches. But Abdul Razak Ali Artan and his family reportedly were living in Pakistan for years before coming to America.
“To be a refugee, one should be fleeing an area that is under duress,” said Kyle Shideler, director of threat assessment for the Washington-based Center for Security Policy.
Shideler added that he has no specific knowledge about Artan. But he said the questions are worth asking.
“What program permitted his entry into the United States?” he asked. … Read the full story by Brendan Kirby.
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