SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Honorable Judge Danna Marks Keener granted political asylum to Jaswinder Singh, who claimed Persecution on account of his political opinions and work for the creation of Khalistan, “Land of the Pure”,

Jaswinder Singh came to Los Angeles airport on December 25,1991 and was arrested by the Immigration Service because he did not have valid travel documents. He was removed to the San Pedro facility and remained there until February 1992,

He contacted attorney Mohinder Singh of Lafayette Calif to represent him, A request for change of venue was made and Jaswinder Singh was brought to Santa Rita Jail and his case to be heard by a Judge in San Francisco.

His claim for asylum was heard by Honorable Judge Bette Stockton on May 8,1992 and after a two hour oral testimony, the Judge denied his request for asylum and ordered him to be deported to India. Jaswinder Singh reserved the right to appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals,

Three hours later, attorney Mohinder Singh while representing Jasveer Singh, another claimant for political asylum, made on oral motion before the court that the Judge should recuse or disqualify herself from hearing Jasveer Singh’s case. The motion was based upon the feeling that the Judge routinely denies political asylum to Sikhs and has prejudged the cases,

The court put over the hearing for Jasveer Singh to May 21,1992, On May 29,1992 the case was heard by the same Judge and she ranted the political asylum to Jasveer Singh,

On May 8,1992, Honorable Judge Bette Stockton on her own motion vacated her order of deportation rendered that very morning for Jaswinder Singh. This act on the part of the Judge is unprecedented and shows great courage and humanitarianism,

Jaswinder Singh case was ordered for a new trial before Honorable D.M .Keener. It was then stipulated between the Immigration Service and attorney Mohinder Singh that instead of a new trial, the Judge may hear the audio tapes of the May 8,92 hearing and render a decision on what it finds to be the case.

On July 2.1992, Judge Keener rendered a 16 page decision and granted political asylum to Jaswinder Singh who was by that time removed from Santa Rita Jail to detention facility at Bakersfield.

Attorney Mohinder Singh and well wishers of Jaswinder Singh express their grant gratitude to Judge Stockton and Judge Keener for dispensing a great American tradition -Justice and Equality. This case was 24th out of 25 political asylum cases tried and won by attorney Mohinder Singh . He can be reached at 3051 Mount Diablo Blvd# 8, Lafayette CA, 94549, telephone # 510-283-7382.

Article extracted from this publication >> July 17, 1992