The NHRC Recommends Urgent Relief Measures to the Head of the Seoul Immigration Office (09-12-2002)
"Order for forced deportation against a Russian migrant worker Rosan Alexander (age 32) must be suspended until the objection and administrative litigation from the parties concerned has been concluded"
On 12 September, the NHRC recommended to the Head of the Seoul Immigration Office, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice, to suspend the order for Russian migrant worker, Rosan Alexander to be forcibly deported until "objection and administrative litigation from the parties concerned has been concluded."
The case involved Mr. Alexander and three Russian women, including Mrs. Alexander, who were having drinks in front of Y supermarket with their 2 Korean colleagues at midnight on 7 June. One of the Koreans had become intoxicated and grabbed Ms. Alexander"s hand. Mr. Alexander tried to keep him away from his wife and during the subsequent dispute both the Korean and Mr. Alexander injured each other. After investigating the incident, the Pocheon Police Force arrested Mr. Alexander under the "Law on Violent Acts." The Seoul District Public Prosecutor"s Office, Branch Office of Uujeong-boo, then transferred Mr. Alexander to the Seoul Department of Entry and Departure (SDED), which ordered that Mr. Alexander be deported against his will. In response to this incident, Father Hong-il Kim, from the Pocheon House of Sharing, filed a complaint with the NHRC.
The NHRC has concluded that the order be suspended until the objection and administrative litigation from the parties concerned has reached a definite conclusion, due to the following reasons: 1) Mr. Rosa voluntarily reported his status as an illegal alien to the authorities, 2) Mr. Rosa"s place of residence, work place is fixed and his wife lives in Korea, 3) the incident occurred when a Korean man tried to grab the his wife"s hand. 4) His wage for working at a furniture factory-500 million won-has been delayed for several months at the time the incident occurred.
According to the Immigration Law, forced deportation may be ordered if there is a reason to believe that an individual "threatens the security and order of our nation," or if there is a reason to believe that an individual my "engage in an activity which may threaten the nation"s economy, social order, or ethics." The NHRC maintains that the act as committed by Alexander does not correspond to any of the categories.
The NHRC had also recommended the immigration Office in Korea to suspend the a deportation of a Korean-Chinese [who had been living in Korea]
