Document
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AL 1240. 1 FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
ORDER
ALASKAN REGION January 25, 1991 SUBJ: REQUEST FOR ASYLUM *• PURPOSE. With the ever-increasing technical and cultural interchanges world-wide, to include new air routes and the exchange of air traffic control personnel, it is incumbent upon Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel to be aware of the requirements to be adhered to in the event an employee is approached with a request for asylum.
2- DISTRIBUTION. This order is distributed to section level in the regional office and to all field offices and facilities.
3. BACKGROUND. All U.S. government personnel who may receive a request from a foreign national for asylum within territory under the jurisdiction of the U.S., aboard a vessel or aircraft in or over U.S. territorial waters, or on or over the high seas should be thoroughly familiar with the procedures listed below. The basic principle guiding this policy is that once an individual asks for asylum, this individual is entitled to due process under these procedures.
Except for emergencies, all cases are referred to the Inmigration and Naturalization Service (INS).
4> PROCEDURES. Upon receipt of a request for asylum from a foreign national, or an indication that a request from a foreign national is imminent, there are several actions which MUST be taken: a. Notify the Regional Operations Center (ROC), AAL-6, at (907) 271-5936.
The ROC, in turn, shall notify the Civil Aviation Security Division, AAL-700, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). During nonduty hours, the ROC shall notify the Security Duty Agent.
b. AAL-700, or the Security Duty Agent, shall notify the INS at (907) 243-1400. This number is attended 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
After normal duty hours, Immigration will not respond to the location of the foreign national until the following day (Monday through Friday). In most cases, Immigration will require that the foreign national be brought to their offices for interview and the completion of forms.
c. The ROC shall also notify the Washington Operations Center and provide the information requested in Order 1240.9 (DOT 1240.1), Appendix 1, page 3.
d. The following jjiformation shall be included and forwarded to Department of State and the ROC, if available: (1) Name and nationality of the individual seeking asylum.
Distribution: A-X-4; FOF-0 (Ltd) Initiated By: AAL-700 AL 1240.1 1/25/91 (2) Date and place of birth and occupation.
(3) Description of any documentation in his/her possession.
(4) What foreign authorities are aware of the asylum seeking.
(5) Circumstances surrounding the request.
(6) Exact location (home, office, airport, etc.) at time of notification/call.
(7) Reason provided for seeking asylum.
(8) Description of any criminal charges known or alleged to be pending against the asylum seeker. Indicate also if air piracy or hijacking is involved.
(9) Any Communist Party affiliation; any government office held or previously occupied.
e. For asylum request cases involving diplomatic consequences or criminal activities, the person receiving the request should call the Department of State 24 hour operations center at (202)647-1512. In all other cases, the information, if available, should be included/forwarded to the following address: EUR/SOV Room 427 Department of State Washington, D.C. 20520-6511 5. Release of information to the media concerning asylum being sought is prohibited. All requests for information are to be referred to the Public Affairs Office, AAL-5 at (907)271-5296.
6- Due to recent changes in Eastern Europe, the relaxation of tensions and new agreements with the USSR, political asylum may be more difficult to obtain than in the past.
FAA personnel shall not be involved in that determination, but should notify the authorities listed above as quickly as possible.
Page 2 1/25/91 AL 1240.1 7» Following notification of the authorities listed above.
FAA personnel shall notify the local police who have the responsibility of providing any protection required. Should local police not be available at the time of an asylum request, reasonable care and maintenance of the individual(s), (shelter from the elements) can be expected, until the authorities arrive.
d R. Beckloff, Jr.
i Regional Administrator Page 3 (and 4)