Responses to Information Requests

​​​​​​​Responses to Information Requests (RIRs) are research reports on country conditions. They are requested by IRB decision-makers.

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Responses to Information Requests (RIRs) cite publicly accessible information available at the time of publication and within time constraints. A list of references and additional sources consulted are included in each RIR. Sources cited are considered the most current information available as of the date of the RIR.            

RIRs are not, and do not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Rather, they are intended to support the refugee determination process. More information on the methodology used by the Research Directorate can be found here.          

The assessment and weight to be given to the information in the RIRs are the responsibility of independent IRB members (decision-makers) after considering the evidence and arguments presented by the parties.           

The information presented in RIRs solely reflects the views and perspectives of the sources cited and does not necessarily reflect the position of the IRB or the Government of Canada.          

15 April 2009

ERI103143.E

Eritrea: Whether the Eritrean government has a surveillance system or agents of surveillance in the United States (US) to monitor Eritrean citizens who live in the United States and who are involved in activities, including demonstrations and meetings, against the Eritrean government
Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

In 7 April 2009 correspondence, the Assistant Editor of the World Refugee Survey, the annual report published by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), an organization that assists in the resettlement of refugees and the provision of services to immigrants in the United States (US), stated that the USCRI believes, based on "credible reports" from Eritreans residing in the United States, that the Eritrean government monitors Eritreans abroad.

An undated Amnesty International (AI) USA report states that the Eritrean government has maintained an "official presence" in Eritrean diaspora communities for many years, and has "sought to control diaspora communities' activities, and has threatened people who oppose it" (AI n.d.).

No additional information on whether the Eritrean government has a surveillance system or agents of surveillance in the United States to monitor Eritrean citizens who live in the United States (US) and who are involved in activities, including demonstrations and meetings, against the Eritrean government, could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Amnesty International (AI). N.d. "Government Reformers, Journalists and Political Prisoners." <www.amnestyusa.org/all-countries/eritrea/more-on-eritrea/page.do?id=1551001> [Accessed 8 Apr. 2009]

U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI). 7 April 2009. Correspondence from the Assistant Editor.

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: The American Civil Liberties Association in Arlington and a professor at the University of California in Los Angeles did not respond to requests for information within the time constraints of this Response.

Internet sources, including: Africa Research Bulletin, Afrol.com, American Civil Liberties Association, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Center for Gender and Refugee Studies, European Country of Origin Information Network (ecoi.net), Freedom House, Forced Migration Online, Human Rights Watch (HRW), International Crisis Group, Jesuit Refugee Service, Migration News, Refugee Council USA, Relief Web, United Kingdom Border Agency, United Nations (UN) Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), United States Conference of Catholic Bishops – Migration and Refugee Services.

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