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Kansas City law firm leads action resulting in U.S. Department of State dropping charges against Joachim Hans Keil
KANSAS CITY, MO & WASHINGTON, DC (December 12, 2008)
Joachim Hans Keil, Associate Minister of Samoa, had his citizenship reinstated today and all charges dropped, ending a three month series of court actions that involved the highest levels of the U.S. State Department.
Overland Park-based Sharma-Crawford Law Firm represented Mr. Keil under the direction of attorney Rekha Sharma-Crawford.
Mr. Keil was arrested and detained in Branson, Mo. on September 9, 2008 by officials of the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Department of State on charges of “False Claim of Citizenship.” The case received the attention of the U.S. Secretary of State, and drew strong criticism from the Samoan government and outrage among Samoan citizens, including large protests throughout Samoa.
Mr. Keil, who has maintained dual citizenship in both Samoa and the United States, was returning from diplomatic business in Brussels and transiting through the U.S. when he was detained by officials. Although released on bond, Mr. Keil faced charges of false claim of citizenship and had not been allowed to travel back to Samoa. The U.S. State Department had revoked his passport in violation of his status as a diplomat and as a US citizen.
Rekha Sharma-Crawford, representing Mr. Keil, expressed her satisfaction with the outcome of the case, but noted the continued frustrations of citizens and non-citizens in working within the current immigration policy structure. “Although we are pleased with the ultimate outcome, it should not have taken three months for Immigration, the State Department and the Department of Justice officials to acknowledge Mr. Keil’s legitimate claim to U. S. citizenship,” said Ms. Sharma-Crawford.
Since Mr. Keil had lived as a U.S. citizen for over 40 years, including four years as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, lawyers of the Sharma-Crawford Law Firm argued that Immigration officials had no legal jurisdiction to arrest or detain Mr. Keil.
Efforts to release Mr. Keil were also initiated by the Office of the Prime Minister of Samoa and eventually made it to the desk of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. After three months of intense negotiations and legal maneuvering, all charges were dropped.
Samoan media had largely criticized the U.S. Government in the handling of the case. Outrage led to public demonstrations in the streets of Samoa.
The Sharma-Crawford Law Firm had provided extensive genealogical research in an effort to show government officials that Mr. Keil’s
citizenship has been in good standing for many years, and that his arrest and detainment was a clear violation of U.S. and international law.