U.S. immigration panel rejects appeal by Albanian man

DALLAS, Nov. 12 – The lawyer for an Albanian asking for asylum in the United States said that a member of a U.S. immigration panel has refused to reopen his case.
Rrustem Neza fears deportation will put his life in jeopardy.
Neza claims he will be killed if he is returned to Albania because of what he knows about the 1998 assassination of Azem Hajdari.
Board of Immigration Appeals panel member Edward Grant ruled “there is no indication that witnesses to that event are in danger or subject to persecution.”
Attorney John Wheat Gibson contended media coverage in Albania publicizing the potential deportation made Neza more vulnerable. An affidavit also said Neza’s parents went into hiding following articles about him in Albanian newspapers.
U.S. Representative Louie Gohmert has introduced a private bill that would halt Neza’s deportation until 2009 and allow him to reapply for asylum.
Neza fled Albania after telling a crowd the names of the men who allegedly were seen killing Azem Hajdari, who organized a student movement against the Communist Party.