REFUGEE REFERRAL FOR SUSIE WEAH

C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 000708 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2017 TAGS: PREF PHUM GH LI SUBJECT: REFUGEE REFERRAL FOR SUSIE WEAH REF: 03 STATE 326486 Classified By: REF COORD NATE BLUHM FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) Embassy Accra hereby refers Susie Weah (DPOB: 15 JUL 1985, Harper, Liberia) to the U.S. resettlement program. In Liberia, Weah's father worked as a chauffeur for the school superintendent for Maryland County. After rebels threatened to kill Weah's entire family, Weah fled from Liberia to Tabou, Cote d'Ivoire in 1990 with her parents when she was 5 years old. When fighting broke out in Cote d'Ivoire in 2004, Weah moved to a village, then to Budumburam Camp in Ghana. She has two daughters, ages 3 and 5, who have been approved for resettlement in the U.S. under our P-3 program. Weah is currently dependent on remittances from her common-law husband, Daniel Hne, who is already in the U.S. Weah's referral has been requested specifically by PRM/A and is in the interest of maintaining family unity. End Summary. ¶2. (C) This referral is for Susie Weah and no additional family members. Susie grew up in Harper, Liberia, where her father worked as a chauffeur for the superintendent of public schools in Maryland County. At one point, rebel forces approached her home and demanded to know the location of the superintendent. When her father refused to divulge his whereabouts, rebels threatened to kill the entire family. ¶3. (C) Weah, only 5 years old at the time, fled Liberia in 1990 with her parents for Tabou, Cote d'Ivoire. Many years passed, after which she met Daniel Hne and entered into a common-law marriage with him. During the 5 years they lived together, they had two children, Helen and Hannah. When fighting broke out in Cote d'Ivoire in 2004, Daniel sent Weah and their two daughters to live in a small village for their own safety. The two lost contact, and Daniel was eventually resettled in the U.S. without Weah or his daughters. Later in 2004, Weah moved to Budumburam Camp in Ghana. ¶4. (C) Hne eventually filed an affidavit of relationship for Weah and their two daughers; however, DHS/CIS only approved Helen and Hannah, because the common-law marriage between Hne and Weah was not legally recognized in Cote d'Ivoire. Hne is reportedly having difficulties holding down a full-time job in the U.S., making it less likely that he would be able to care for their two daughters alone. Weah, for her part, has not integrated locally in Ghana and remains dependent on the remittances that Daniel can send. This referral is submitted in the interest of maintaining family unity. BRIDGEWATER