Adelaide Abankwah
Adelaide Abankwah | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth year and age Biriwa, Central Region, Ghana |
| Other names | Regina Norman Danson |
| Occupation | Asylum seeker |
| Known for | Attempt to obtain asylum in the United States under false identity; fraud case |
Adelaide Abankwah (approximately born in 1971) was an alias adopted by Ghanaian national Regina Norman Danson during her attempt to obtain asylum in the United States. She claimed to be escaping female genital cutting and sought political asylum under this pretext.
Birth
Regina Norman Danson is thought to have been born around 1971 in Biriwa, located in the Central Region of Ghana.
1999
Following the rejection of her asylum request twice—initially by an immigration judge and subsequently in 1999 by the Board of Immigration Appeals—Abankwah was held for more than two years at the privately managed Queens Detention Facility in Jamaica, Queens, New York.
An investigation conducted by the INS uncovered that "Abankwah" was not her true identity; she was actually Regina Norman Danson. She had assumed the identity of another Ghanaian woman residing in Maryland, whose passport had been stolen. Although Danson acknowledged using a false name, she insisted her account was accurate, asserting that her mother had passed away. Further investigations revealed her mother was alive and had never held any tribal leadership role.
The case garnered backing from feminist and human rights advocates, including actresses Julia Roberts, Vanessa Redgrave, former First lady Hillary Clinton, and Gloria Steinem alongside Equality Now. In July 1999, the denial was overturned by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, which granted Danson asylum; however, the INS continued to assert there was "overwhelming evidence" indicating fraud.
2001
Despite potential public criticism, the U.S. Department of Justice charged Danson with fraud in 2001, just before the statute of limitations expired. The genuine Abankwah collaborated with INS authorities to clarify the situation.
2002
The trial concerning the fraud charges commenced on 14 January 2002. Prosecutor Ronnie Abrams contended that the fraudulent asylum application compromised both the immigration system and legitimate victims of female genital mutilation. Tribal Chief Nana Kwa Bonko V testified that Danson did not belong to the tribe's royal lineage and that female circumcision was not practiced within their community.
2003
Although sentencing was set for 23 March 2003, federal Judge Charles Sifton sentenced Danson to time served, acknowledging her 29 months spent in immigration detention.
2014
A 2014 amici curiae brief filed by the Immigrant Defense Project indicated that Regina Danson Norman [sic] apparently remained in the United States without deportation or removal.