Amos Yee not released from detention in US despite being granted asylum

He is getting detained longer and longer.

Belmont Lay | March 30, 2017, 11:32 AM

Supposedly free man Amos Yee remains detained in a Wisconsin facility in the United States despite being granted asylum last Friday, March 24.

Grossman Law LLC, the law firm representing Yee, said in a media update on Wednesday, March 29, they were informed by officers at the Chicago Field Office of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that Yee will remain detained “on a potential, but not yet filed, appeal” by the US Department of Homeland Security.

The 18-year-old has been detained in the US since Dec. 16 last year.

It is unknown for long much longer Yee will be held. He has been detained in the US for more than 100 days so far. It was previously reported that Yee had been jailed for 50 days in total while in Singapore.

Protesting the appeal, the law firm said: “Yee should have been released immediately after he was granted asylum”.

According to a 13-page opinion by US immigration judge in Chicago, Yee was granted asylum on the basis that he was persecuted for his political opinions in Singapore.

Yee, who had been jailed twice in Singapore, qualifies as a political refugee and was referred to as a “young political dissident” by the judge.

However, the Department of Homeland Security had objected to the asylum bid, as Yee had been lawfully prosecuted in Singapore.

The law firm said on Wednesday they are renewing a request to release Amos on humanitarian parole and is exploring all other viable legal options.

People familiar with immigration practices said Yee's continued detention is unusual.

Yee had previously expressed his fear of returning to Singapore, which is still possible, in the event his asylum bid ultimately fails.

 

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