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Time Business News
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Time Business News
From Asylum to Airport Detention: A Journey Cut Short
VANCOUVER, B.C. — In an era of unprecedented global migration and heightened security protocols, stories of hope and fear often collide at international borders. For thousands seeking refuge, the airport is not a gateway to freedom—it's the final stop in a journey of desperation. Despite the promise of asylum protections under international law, many asylum seekers are detained upon arrival, held without charge, and sometimes deported back into danger. This press release examines the legal landscape, historical precedent, and recent high-profile cases that highlight the fragility of asylum rights when they conflict with national security interests. Amicus International Consulting, a firm specializing in legal identity transitions and global asylum advisory services, has seen a marked increase in clients facing 'airport limbo'—a state of uncertainty where neither asylum nor freedom is guaranteed. Asylum and the Airport: Where Law Meets Reality The 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol form the foundation of global asylum law, obligating signatory countries not to return individuals to territories where their life or freedom would be threatened. Known as the principle of non-refoulement, it is a central principle of international human rights law. But at international airports, these protections can fall apart. Travellers arriving without valid visas or documentation—even those declaring an intent to seek asylum—are often detained in secure transit areas or immigration holding centers. In many cases, they are denied entry before ever setting foot on sovereign soil, creating a legal gray area. Case Study: The Detention of Edward Snowden In 2013, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden found himself stranded in the transit zone of Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. After leaking classified documents about U.S. surveillance programs, Snowden attempted to seek asylum in multiple countries. Though he had applied for asylum, he had no valid passport. The U.S. had cancelled his travel document mid-flight. Trapped in legal limbo for over a month, Snowden's case demonstrated how state power and passport control can override humanitarian protections. It also spotlighted how modern airports can serve as detention facilities by another name. The Practice of 'Inadmissibility' Countries including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia commonly rely on inadmissibility determinations to prevent entry. In such cases, an arriving asylum seeker is denied access on the grounds of documentation failure, a criminal record, or security concerns—even before a refugee hearing can be held. In many of these jurisdictions, immigration officers have the authority to exercise discretion at the border. And while claimants can request a hearing or legal review, the process is often delayed or inaccessible from inside detention. Case Study: The Syrian Family in Malaysia In 2017, a Syrian family fleeing civil war arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, seeking asylum. With no valid entry visa, they were denied access and spent over seven months in the transit area, surviving on airline food and sleeping in terminal chairs. Despite Malaysia not being a signatory to the Refugee Convention, human rights groups intervened, and eventually, Canada agreed to resettle them. Their case raised urgent questions about moral obligations beyond legal treaties and the role of non-signatory states in humanitarian crises. Statelessness and Detention One of the most vulnerable groups facing indefinite detention at airports is stateless individuals—those without nationality or recognized citizenship. With no travel documents, no issuing authority to accept them, and no country of return, stateless people can languish in holding areas for years. Notable Example: Mehran Karimi Nasseri The inspiration behind Steven Spielberg's The Terminal , Mehran Karimi Nasseri, lived in Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport's Terminal 1 for 18 years. A complex web of lost documents, denied entry, and bureaucratic impasses left him in a perpetual state of limbo. Though dramatized in pop culture, his case remains a chilling example of bureaucratic abandonment in global mobility systems. When the System Backfires: Cases of Return to Danger While many countries promise legal due process for asylum seekers, expedited removals have led to tragic outcomes. In 2022, a Cameroonian journalist, fleeing political persecution, was deported back after being denied asylum at a U.S. airport. Within weeks, he was reportedly imprisoned and tortured by government forces. In 2024, an Iranian LGBTQ+ activist was detained upon arrival in Istanbul. Despite declaring intent to seek asylum, he was returned to Tehran under a bilateral deportation agreement. His fate remains unknown. These cases highlight the life-and-death consequences of ignoring asylum declarations made in transit. How Technology Is Weaponizing Borders Modern border surveillance technology—biometric scans, advanced passenger screening (APIS), and artificial intelligence—has made it easier for governments to pre-screen and flag travellers before they arrive. In 2025, over 120 countries are expected to participate in Passenger Name Record (PNR) data sharing, which tracks a wide range of details, including meal preferences and seat selections. When correlated with immigration risk profiles, this can result in pre-arrival denials or on-the-spot detentions. According to Amicus International's research, more than 4,000 travellers were denied boarding based on advanced biometric or risk analysis in 2024 alone. The Legal Loophole: 'Not Yet Admitted' A central problem lies in the legal status of individuals who arrive at an airport but are 'not yet admitted' into a country. In this state, they are often not considered to be under the country's jurisdiction, despite being physically present within its borders. This loophole allows countries to bypass due process by claiming that immigration laws don't apply until the individual is officially admitted. Critics argue that this destroys the intent of asylum law and creates a humanitarian vacuum in some of the world's most modern transportation hubs. Amicus International: Creating Legal Pathways Before the Journey Begins At Amicus International Consulting, clients are advised not to wait until they are at the airport to begin their asylum process. Instead, the firm helps at-risk individuals: Obtain second passports through legal citizenship-by-investment or ancestry programs through legal citizenship-by-investment or ancestry programs File pre-travel asylum or humanitarian visa requests Legally change names and identities when doing so provides enhanced security when doing so provides enhanced security Secure legal counsel in receiving countries before embarking on high-risk travel before embarking on high-risk travel Create documented case files that support asylum or protected status Amicus believes that the key to avoiding airport detention is preparation and proactivity, rather than post-arrival improvisation. Case Study: Asylum Success Through Strategic Planning In 2023, Amicus assisted a Rwandan political dissident targeted by government militias. Rather than risk detention in transit, the client was helped through a multi-jurisdictional citizenship program, securing Saint Lucia nationality via investment. With that passport, they entered Europe visa-free and applied for asylum once safely within a cooperative jurisdiction. The asylum case was approved within nine months, and the client is now a professor at a public university in the Netherlands. Legal Solutions, Not Smuggling Amicus stresses that its approach is rooted in legality and ethics. It rejects any association with smuggling networks or fraudulent document operations. Instead, it provides clients with diplomatic, legal, and administrative solutions to ensure safety, dignity, and compliance with international law. Policy Recommendations To address this growing global issue, Amicus calls on governments and institutions to: Create expedited humanitarian visa programs at embassies and consulates Ensure immediate access to legal counsel upon declaration of asylum Ban the detention of stateless individuals for more than 90 days Reform inadmissibility policies to include pre-screened protections Enhance accountability for returns that result in torture or death Conclusion: The Airport Is Not a Courtroom As migration pressures increase globally, airports have become unexpected battlegrounds for asylum rights. Between biometric profiling and bureaucratic indifference, genuine refugees risk being turned away—sometimes with fatal consequences. Amicus International Consulting believes that asylum is a right, not a privilege, and that systems must be redesigned to reflect this principle at every stage of the journey. Contact Information Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402Email: info@ Website:
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tax number reveals whistleblower Snowden to be resident near Moscow
Edward Snowden, the whistleblower who leaked classified material from the US National Security Agency (NSA) more than a decade ago, has been located in or near the city of Lyubertsy near Moscow, the Sistema research project announced on Friday. Sistema based its information on Snowden's tax number, which reveals him to be registered in the city. The Lyubertsy tax office is responsible for three other cities in the Moscow area. Snowden's location in Russia has to date been kept secret. In 2013, Snowden funnelled thousands of confidential documents from the NSA and the Five Eyes intelligence agencies of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, along with the US. At the time, he said he aimed to seek asylum in Ecuador, but was stranded in Moscow, after the US authorities revoked his passport. Under pressure from the US, various countries refused to take him in until Russia under President Vladimir Putin offered him asylum. He has since taken Russian citizenship.
The Guardian
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
The Six Billion Dollar Man review – WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's rise, fall and limbo
Julian Assange sits at the centre of this gripping account of the WikiLeaks founder's rise, fall and protracted seven-year limbo inside the Ecuadorian embassy. Eugene Jarecki's documentary takes its title from the price the incoming Ecuadorian government supposedly charged the Trump administration for helping furnish his extradition to the US, thereby reneging on a promise of political asylum. If The Six Billion Dollar Man doesn't rebuild Assange, exactly, that's because it's more interested in comprehensively demolishing his enemies. Compared to the hypocrites, scoundrels and crooks who surround him, the man himself looks almost virtuous. Actually Assange is mostly a background presence here. He's more talked about than talking up; a karmic victim of his own success. While even his supporters admit to his personal failings (arrogance, cruelty, bouts of megalomania), the film asks us to regard him as a messenger shot down by bigger, darker forces; a man whose only real crime was publishing inconvenient truths. The Swedish rape charge, it argues, was largely cooked up as a means of delivering him to the US authorities, so that they in turn could charge him with violating the Espionage Act. 'Julian Assange is not an angel carved in marble,' says the NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden (no angel himself). 'But he's not a vial of poison either.' Poison or not, Assange's release of diplomatic and military secrets leaked into the water table and served to destabilise the US government. Jarecki's film provides a crisp, thorough recap of WikiLeaks' greatest hits, beginning with the publishing of the 'collateral murder video' that showed US forces slaughtering unarmed civilians in Iraq, and reveals the ways in which the internet's unfettered heyday was able to service a new kind of activism. Previously, whistleblowers such as Daniel Ellsberg (who leaked the Pentagon Papers in 1971) released classified information at enormous personal risk. Thanks to Assange's website, they could now do so anonymously, and on an industrial scale. The film makes the case, though, that WikiLeaks was at its most fire-proofed when it stayed small and nimble and operated with a skeleton crew. Its explosive release of diplomatic cables was a high-profile joint venture, published in association with the Guardian, the New York Times and Der Spiegel, and the ensuing fallout placed Assange in the crosshairs. 'Politically we're untouchable now,' he brags as he arrives for a meeting at the Guardian and it is possibly this kind of hubris that made him blind to the danger. In September 2011 an indiscriminate dump of unredacted US embassy cables put scores of innocent lives at risk and tarnished his credentials as a crusading campaigner. It is the dark irony of the WikiLeaks story that the site should itself be undone by a series of leaks and betrayals. Assange's former colleagues blame David Leigh, the Guardian's former investigations editor, for publishing a top-secret password in the WikiLeaks book he co-wrote with Luke Harding. But the real Judas of Jarecki's film is Sigurdur 'Siggi' Thordarson, a creepy teenage hacker inexplicably beloved by Assange. It was Siggi, we learn, who embezzled $50,000 (£37,000) from the company's online store and who later agreed to wear an FBI wiretap. Initially a safe house, the Ecuadorian embassy in central London is revealed to turn by degrees into a false sanctuary. The film claims that Assange was effectively sold out by the building's private security staff, who bugged CCTV cameras and passed the footage to a band of small-time crooks. His friends worried that Assange's life in limbo was making him increasingly paranoid. While Assange has already been the subject of numerous documentaries, plus The Fifth Estate, a Hollywood drama starring Benedict Cumberbatch, The Six Billion Dollar Man feels close to definitive. It's rigorous and forensic and covers the ground with aplomb. Jarecki's army of eye-witnesses run the gamut from Naomi Klein to Pamela Anderson (a fan and frequent visitor) to the former president of Ecuador, while the film's sprawling crime scene eventually straddles half the globe. For all that, its most indelible, disquieting images are provided by the CCTV footage of Assange marooned in the embassy. He knows he's being bugged and understands that he's trapped and he paces his quarters like a hapless Gene Hackman at the end of Francis Ford Copppola's The Conversation. Whatever he set out to be it almost certainly wasn't this: the anguished poster boy for a world in which every hacker gets hacked, every person is spied on and no secret is safe. The Six Billion Dollar Man screened at the Cannes film festival.
Time Business News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Time Business News
Countries Without U.S. Extradition Treaties and Why Fugitives Flee There
Amicus International Consulting Examines the Safe Havens Used by Fugitives—and Why Legal Identity Planning Is the Smarter, Lawful Alternative VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA — While the reach of U.S. law enforcement has extended across borders thanks to biometric databases, INTERPOL Red Notices, and international cooperation, some fugitives still find refuge in places where American justice cannot follow. These escapees aren't always hiding in the shadows—many live openly in jurisdictions that lack extradition treaties with the United States. Amicus International Consulting, a global leader in second citizenship and legal identity solutions, has spent over 15 years analyzing international mobility trends, fugitives' escape strategies, and the geopolitical landscape that enables these 'final escapes.' While Amicus does not work with fugitives or individuals attempting to evade legal accountability, the company helps at-risk individuals seeking legal protection, including those persecuted for political, journalistic, or humanitarian reasons. 'There's a fine line between escaping justice and injustice,' said an Amicus employee. 'Most people don't understand that some countries have zero obligation to return you—legally or diplomatically.' Countries Without U.S. Extradition Treaties in 2025 The United States has active extradition treaties with over 100 countries, but dozens more refuse or resist returning fugitives, creating effective safe zones. These nations fall into three categories: 1. No Treaty Exists These countries have never signed a formal extradition treaty with the United States: Russia China United Arab Emirates (UAE) Saudi Arabia Vietnam Mongolia Belarus Indonesia Qatar Kazakhstan Nepal Cameroon Mozambique Ethiopia Tunisia 2. Treaty Exists, But Enforcement Is Inconsistent or Politically Manipulated Even with formal treaties, countries may not honour U.S. requests due to politics, corruption, or weak legal frameworks: Brazil Ecuador Mexico Dominican Republic Panama Ukraine Pakistan Turkey Thailand 3. Refuge for Political or Financial Fugitives Some nations offer de facto immunity for fugitives if they offer political value, intelligence, or economic assets, such as: Venezuela Iran North Korea Cuba Seychelles Real Case Studies: Fugitives Living Free Case 1: Edward Snowden – Russia Wanted for espionage under the U.S. Espionage Act, Snowden fled to Russia in 2013. Despite diplomatic pressure, Moscow granted him permanent residency and later full citizenship. Russia has no extradition treaty with the U.S. Case 2: Jho Low – China and UAE Accused of masterminding Malaysia's 1mdb scandal, Low has allegedly rotated between China, Macau, and the UAE. The U.S. and Malaysia have failed to secure his return. Case 3: Assata Shakur – Cuba Convicted in 1977 for the murder of a New Jersey State Trooper, Shakur escaped prison and was granted asylum in Cuba, where she lives to this day under government protection. Case 4: Turkish Banker – Indonesia A banker facing U.S. wire fraud and sanctions charges fled to Indonesia in 2022. Despite an existing INTERPOL notice, Indonesia has declined to arrest or extradite him. Why Fugitives Flee to Non-Extradition Countries These countries offer advantages to fugitives, including: No legal obligation to return the accused Political hostility toward the U.S. Corruption or weak judiciary systems Availability of alternative passports or fake identities Lenient banking secrecy laws Fugitives often exploit these jurisdictions by buying real estate, investing in local businesses, or marrying into citizenship. Some even obtain legitimate legal residency. The Dangers of Illegal Disappearance Amicus warns that while these havens may seem like safe options, fugitives face constant threats: Risk of Interpol red notices triggering cross-border arrests Surveillance from intelligence services Targeting by bounty hunters or rival criminals Inability to access legitimate banking and healthcare Lifetime fear of deportation or political trade-offs 'Living on the run is not freedom,' said the Amicus employee. 'You're constantly looking over your shoulder, exposed to exploitation, and at the mercy of a government's mood.' Amicus International Offers Legal Identity and Protection—Without Crime Rather than breaking laws, Amicus works exclusively with law-abiding clients seeking legal pathways to safety, privacy, and freedom. Many Amicus' clients are whistleblowers, persecuted activists, or businesspeople unfairly flagged in sanctions or compliance systems. Legal Services Include: Second citizenship through recognized CBI (Citizenship by Investment) programs Residency-by-investment planning for neutral countries Legal name change and identity correction filings Digital footprint reduction and biometric unlinking Tax Identification Numbers (TINS) and banking setups in offshore jurisdictions Legal Safe Havens for Non-Fugitives Some countries do not extradite, yet also offer legal second citizenships, making them a viable option for non-criminal clients needing safety or privacy: 1. Vanuatu No extradition to the U.S. Offers citizenship in 60 days via a $130,000 donation Remote processing accepted 2. Turkey A treaty exists, but compliance is selective Citizenship by real estate purchase of $400,000 U.S. E-2 visa treaty allows U.S. businesses access 3. Dominica Weak enforcement history Offers legal second citizenship for a $100,000 donation No global income tax 4. St. Kitts & Nevis Historical reluctance to extradite without airtight evidence Dual citizenship is legally recognized Strong passport with 150+ visa-free destinations Conclusion While fugitives continue to exploit international loopholes, most face a life of anxiety, isolation, and eventual capture. For individuals with legitimate reasons to seek a new identity—be it political, journalistic, financial, or humanitarian reasons—the better path is a legal one. Amicus International Consulting guards that path, providing expert guidance, legal compliance, and identity solutions that empower individuals to live securely, travel freely, and protect themselves without crossing the line into illegality. 📞 Contact InformationPhone: +1 (604) 200-5402Email: info@ Website:
Time Business News
13-05-2025
- Time Business News
Beyond the Border: Where U.S. Fugitives Flee to Evade Justice
Amicus International Consulting Reveals How Criminals Escape the Long Arm of U.S. Law—and How Legal Identity Strategies Provide Safer, Ethical Alternatives VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA — As biometric border controls, facial recognition, and international law enforcement networks become more sophisticated, many U.S. fugitives are learning there are fewer places to hide. Yet some still manage to disappear—crossing oceans, forging identities, and vanishing into legal gray zones. Amicus International Consulting, a global leader in second citizenship and legal identity services, has been tracking fugitive behaviour and mobility patterns for over a decade. Their analysis provides deep insights into which countries fugitives choose to disappear, and why legal identity transformation is a safer and more sustainable solution. How Fugitives Evade Capture in 2025 Despite tighter controls at airports and international borders, criminals continue to find ways to leave the U.S. and avoid prosecution. Some rely on brute force—fake passports, smugglers, or bribery. Others use more sophisticated methods such as: Real second passports obtained under pretenses Citizenship-by-Investment (CBI) fraud Asylum applications based on fabricated persecution Forged documents purchased via the dark web Anonymous travel via private charters and shell companies Amicus warns that while these routes may delay capture, they often expose fugitives to additional criminal liability, blackmail, and deportation risks. 'The public imagines fugitives slipping through jungles or crossing borders at night,' said an Amicus employee. 'But many just board planes using legitimate-looking documents that don't tell the full story. Eventually, biometrics and databases catch up.' The World's Top Fugitive Havens in 2025 Certain countries offer more protection because they lack extradition treaties with the U.S., resist cooperation, or do not enforce international warrants. 1. Russia With no active extradition treaty with the U.S., Russia has long served as a haven for high-profile defectors, whistleblowers, and political outcasts. It offers asylum and citizenship, often in exchange for political leverage or intelligence cooperation. Example: Edward Snowden, now a Russian citizen, remains outside U.S. jurisdiction. 2. China Although China cooperates on some criminal investigations, it refuses to extradite its citizens and shields those with state value. Fugitives who provide capital, technology, or sensitive information may also be informally protected. 3. Venezuela A politically strained relationship with the U.S. makes Venezuela resistant to extradition. Several white-collar criminals and political activists have relocated to Caracas or coastal areas, often under assumed identities. 4. United Arab Emirates While the UAE has a treaty with the U.S., its implementation is selective. Dubai has become a magnet for financial criminals, offering luxury, legal protections, and slow extradition processes. Example: Several cryptocurrency fraud suspects and international bankers remain in the UAE despite active warrants. 5. Cuba Decades of tension with the U.S. have made Cuba a haven for political fugitives and anti-government extremists. Despite warming relations during the Obama era, extradition remains a nonstarter. Example: Assata Shakur, on the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list, lives openly in Havana. 6. Dominican Republic and Caribbean Nations Though treaties exist, weak enforcement, under-resourced law enforcement, and corruption make the Caribbean a popular hiding place for lower-profile fugitives. 7. West African Nations Countries like Liberia, Equatorial Guinea, and Sierra Leone are increasingly used by fugitives who pay for protection or citizenship. Dark Web and Fake Identity Tactics Many fugitives rely on the dark web for identity creation services. Amicus' research team has documented marketplaces offering: Full passport clones of low-scrutiny nations (e.g., Malawi, Guinea-Bissau) Biometric data manipulation services (using tools like Fawkes and LowKey) Forged birth certificates, academic degrees, and residence permits Digital footprint erasure for $5,000–USD 25,000 One fugitive was found using a synthetic identity assembled from pieces of deceased persons' data and stolen medical records. Case Studies: The Real Escapes Case 1: Crypto King Vanishes into the Pacific In 2023, a San Francisco-based cryptocurrency CEO accused of a $100 million rug-pull scheme disappeared en route to a supposed retreat in the Philippines. Investigators later traced his presence to Vanuatu, where he allegedly obtained citizenship using a fake name and a large cash donation. Despite an INTERPOL Red Notice, no arrest has been made. Case 2: Surgeon Accused of Medicare Fraud Resurfaces in Dubai A Florida plastic surgeon facing 42 counts of Medicare fraud fled the U.S. using his wife's Canadian passport. He now operates under a different name in Dubai, running a boutique aesthetic clinic catering to wealthy expats. Though the UAE was notified, no extradition proceedings have been filed. Case 3: Ponzi Scheme Operator Finds Shelter in Eastern Europe After defrauding investors of $45 million, a New York hedge fund manager fled to Montenegro, which at the time lacked firm extradition procedures with the U.S. Using a passport from a CBI program obtained through an intermediary, he has lived under a new identity since 2022. The Legal Path: Amicus Offers a Lawful Alternative Rather than running, many individuals, especially whistleblowers, politically targeted persons, or entrepreneurs flagged unfairly, turn to Amicus International Consulting for legal second citizenship and identity correction. Amicus does not work with fugitives or wanted criminals, but does serve: Individuals persecuted for political, journalistic, or religious reasons Exonerated professionals with outdated legal records Dual citizens seeking to distance themselves from hostile regimes People legally changing names due to safety, stalking, or defamation Services Include: Legal second citizenship via Caribbean, Pacific, and European CBI programs TIN acquisition for legal offshore banking Strategic residency relocation to extradition-safe nations Name changes and biometric dissociation filings Identity record correction and document authentication When Running Isn't an Option—Build a Legal Identity Instead 'No one outruns modern surveillance forever,' said the Amicus employee. 'You don't need to fake your death, forge a passport, or live in the shadows. There are legal, secure ways to start over if your situation is valid and your record is clean.' Amicus works closely with international attorneys, compliance officers, and former intelligence advisors to ensure all procedures are lawful, recognized, and secure. Conclusion While a handful of fugitives continue to exploit legal loopholes and geopolitical tensions to evade capture, most are eventually discovered—often years later, in a hotel lobby, at a banking counter, or during routine biometric screening. Amicus International Consulting urges individuals facing political targeting or privacy risk to pursue legal solutions, not criminal ones. With the proper counsel, second citizenship and a new identity can offer freedom, protection, and global access, without breaking the law. 📞 Contact Information Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402 Email: info@ Website: Follow Us: 🔗 LinkedIn 🔗 Twitter/X 🔗 Facebook 🔗 Instagram TIME BUSINESS NEWS
