No Safe Haven: Law Enforcement Operations Against Foreign Human Rights Violators in the U.S.

Hearing
Date:
Location:
334 Cannon House Office Building

Hearing Notice

Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a hearing on United States law enforcement actions against human rights violators in the United States.

Individuals seeking to escape from persecution and other abuses occurring around the world have often sought protection in the United States. Unfortunately, a few of those refugees have included the very perpetrators and accomplices of those human rights violations. Certain individuals come to the United States in an attempt to avoid punishment for their crimes, while others seek to enjoy the fruits of their crimes in our open society. Worse still, some of these violators “hide” in the communities of those they once persecuted. In some cases, these perpetrators are not only human rights violators but also national security threats.

This hearing will examine the mechanisms the U.S. government uses to track down, investigate, prosecute, and deport human rights violators. Witnesses from the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice will discuss the history, successes, and challenges related to their programs. Also, a witness from the Center of Justice and Accountability will offer a non-governmental organization’s perspective of the program and talk about ways for the government, private groups, and citizens to work together and make sure that the U.S. is not a “safe haven” for human rights violators.

If you have any questions, please contact Colleen Costello (Rep. McGovern) or Wendy Sneff (Rep. Wolf) at 202-225-3599, or send an email to tlhrc@mail.house.gov.

Hosted by:

James P. McGovern
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Frank R. Wolf
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Witnesses

Opening Remarks

Witnesses

Panel I

  • John P. Woods, Deputy Assistant Director, Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
    Written testimony
  • Eli Rosenbaum, Director, Human Rights Enforcement Strategy and Policy, Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
    Written testimony

Panel II

  • Pamela Merchant, Executive Director, Center for Justice & Accountability (CJA)
    Written testimony

Bios

Meeting Documents

Video

Contact The Commission

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
4150 O'Neill House Office Building
200 C Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20515
United States of America

Phone: +1 (202) 225-3599
TLHRC@mail.house.gov

Accessibility

The Commission seeks to make its events, meetings and hearings accessible to persons with disabilities.

If you are in need of special accommodations, please call (202) 225-3599 at least four business days in advance.

Questions with regard to special accommodations in general (including availability of Commission materials in alternative formats and assistive listening devices, sign language interpretation, etc.) may be directed to the Commission.

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