US suspends refugee program after DNA fraud

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States on Wednesday suspended a program aimed at reuniting refugees from mainly East Africa with relatives in the United States after DNA testing revealed rampant fraud.

Only about one of five tested "could show that family relationship," State Department spokesman Robert Wood said when announcing the indefinite suspension of the refugee family reunification program also known as "Priority Three" or "P3."

Most of the nearly 5,000 refugees tested were from Somalia, Ethiopia and Liberia, he said.

"We initially tested a sample of approximately 500 refugees, primarily Somalians, Ethiopians in Kenya under consideration for US resettlement through the P3 program," Wood said.

Family links were established only in about 20...