PSI Legal Role play IMMIGRATION Asylum seeker

CONTEXT: An Immigration Officer is having problems understanding a man who has just come
through the port with no passport or papers speaking Spanish. The Immigration Officer has
requested an interpreter to be made available to interpret between him and the man.

CONSECUTIVE INTERPRETING:

Immigration Officer: I have some questions I need to ask you. We have an interpreter
here who will help us communicate.

Asylum Seeker: Oh, ok, thank you.

IO: Can you please give me your name and date of birth?

AS: My name is …… and my date of birth is 21/11/1994.

IO: What is your nationality?

AS: I am ……, but also Spanish. I lived in Spain for 4 years.

IO: Can you tell me where you are coming from, why you are coming to this country and
how long you intend to stay for?

AS: I am not going back to my country; please don’t make me go back! I’ve fled
… because I’m in danger there. A few weeks ago, my brother was imprisoned
by the government. I don’t know what for. I want to apply for asylum. Please,
don’t make me go back, they will kill me.

IO: What date was that exactly?

AS: It was on January 10th. They came one night and took him away. Then I
heard they had tortured my brother and suddenly one morning, they dumped
the body in front of the house. They arrested me at the same time but only
kept me for one week. They broke my leg in prison and now I’m in constant pain
and I limp. I’m very frightened as they have taken my other brother now. I
left because I thought they might come back for me.

IO: What exactly did you do in your country?

AS: I worked as a manager in a government office for the import of

foodstuffs. I was in charge of a ledger. I input information.

IO: Do you have a passport or any ID papers?

AS: No, I don’t have anything. I left quickly and took nothing with me.
IO: How did you get out of your country?

AS: Fortunately, my colleagues managed to contact a group which helps people

leave the country in secret and which helped me get across the border. It was
particularly risky because I had to cross the border on foot and my injured leg
made it difficult to walk quickly. From there I managed to reach this country.
Some members of the group who helped me escape were caught soon after I
left and I’ve heard they are in prison, perhaps even dead by now.

IO: I see, I feel there are discrepancies in your account and these cast doubt on the
credibility of your claim for asylum. For one thing, you don’t seem to have trouble walking.

AS: I told you, I WAS injured in prison. As the prison officer said: “Your leg
has been broken to teach you not to interfere with the government”. Why do
you keep asking me questions? I told you I’m scared, I can’t go back; I don’t
know what the security forces might do to me.

And I’m worried about my wife as well; everyone knows she is married to
someone who has fled abroad. I’m worried they will do something to her and
our children, everyone knows the regime is arbitrary in who it arrests and
executes. You’ve got to help me, please.

IO: Please calm down and answer my questions. Getting excited won’t help your case. I
would like you to give me a detailed statement leading up to your arrival in this country.
Also, have you any idea why you were arrested?

AS: No – or maybe because of my trade union associations. I was just trying

to get better working conditions for my people…

IO: Why didn’t you mention this before?

AS: I didn’t mention my involvement with the trade union because I didn’t
think it was important.

IO: Is there anyone who can corroborate your story and the reasons why you came to fear
for your safety?

AS: Why is it so important for someone else to back up my experiences? Is

my word not enough?
IO: Each application for asylum is based on the credibility of the account which the asylum
seeker gives. If the impression is given that the asylum seeker is not full and frank on the
matter of the reason for persecution then this will undermine the claim to asylum.
Secondly, evidence of discrimination or harassment does not automatically constitute
persecution so it helps to establish beyond a doubt that the client has suffered persecution
and has reason to fear the same on return to the country of origin. So it is very helpful to
have someone who can corroborate your account.

AS: No, I don’t know anyone here. Do you think I made friends with them
while imprisoned?

IO: Well, we need to establish all the facts. Whether you can live in the UK legally will
depend on your circumstances. As an illegal resident your situation is unusual and you won’t
be able to make an application without the facts and the help of a specialist legal adviser.

AS: Ok, so what do you think I should do?

IO: First of all, have you got a medical report or any other document from your country
showing the extent of injuries arising from detention?

AS: No, I told you, I don’t have any papers. I don’t understand how things
work here so I didn’t know what I would need, what papers to bring!

IO: I will have to speak with the senior officer to decide what action to take as I am not
satisfied you are a genuine refugee at this stage.

AS: I can’t understand why you won’t let me in. I have had direct experience of
prisons and cannot imagine risking returning there. I keep telling you my life is in
serious danger but you keep treating me as though I’m lying, do you have no humanity?
I came here because I heard that this is a good country with good people who care
about others but I’m not so sure now.

IO: Please calm down. I will leave you to write out a detailed account while I consult the
Chief Immigration Officer. We are going to ask you to stay here until we get clarifications.
It should not take more than a couple of hours. Do you understand?

AS: Yes.

IO: Do you have any questions?

AS: What is going to happen to me?

IO: I am going to consult the Chief Immigration officer. I’ll be back in about an hour. Then
we will organise vouchers for food, and a bed and breakfast. We are also going to consult
the … Support Group for Asylum seekers. They will be able to provide you with some
support until we clarify your situation. But it could take quite a while.

AS: Thank you.

IO: Thank you, Interpreter.