AP: Mexico won't deport 11 Iraqi Christians

[Eugene]

Posted on Thu, Feb. 01, 2007

Mexico won't deport 11 Iraqi Christians
Associated Press

MEXICO CITY - The head of Mexico's Immigration Institute said Wednesday the
government won't deport or repatriate 11 Iraqi Christians detained Jan. 20 in the
northern city of Monterrey.

Cecilia Romero said the detainees may be granted asylum or simply be freed and allowed
to go where they want. The group of nine men, one woman and a two-year-old girl had
said they were trying to reach California, where there is a sizable community of Iraqi
Chaldean Christians.

"The situation in Iraq, as we all know, is a conflict situation," Romero told reporters.
"The most recent group that arrived in Nuevo Leon were fleeing the war in their country,
so we couldn't simply say to them 'go,' without raising the question, where?"

The Iraqis had traveled from Madrid, Spain, and were carrying false passports when they
were arrested at Monterrey's airport. None appeared on terrorist watch lists.

Chaldean Christians frequently try to enter the United States through Mexico, claiming
they face persecution in Iraq.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/16593281.htm

Last week: 11 Iraqis with fake ID are arrested in Monterrey - San Antonio Express-News via LBN

[lligrd]

1. Hmm, This Should Be Interesting

I wonder what the Christian Right will do with them when they try to cross the border.