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After hearing two hours of testimony Friday, an Omaha-based immigration judge said he likely will decide in January whether local Sudanese leader Malakal Goak will be able to stay in the United States.
Goak, whose story was featured in The World-Herald earlier this week, applied six years ago for political asylum.
Goak has become well known as an advocate of the local southern Sudanese community. The metropolitan Omaha area has one of, if not the largest, Sudanese refugee populations in the U.S.
Goak said he was tortured in his homeland by government officials who remain in positions of power, and he fears he will be harmed if forced to return.
Federal officials have noted that Goak traveled with an Ethiopian passport and questioned why he could not return to that country.
Goak said he is not an Ethiopian citizen and obtained that passport fraudulently so he could travel without fear of being returned to Sudan.
Goak answered questions during most of the hearing. Kitcki Carroll of Lutheran Family Services also testified in his support.
Judge Jack Anderson said he will accept final arguments, in written form, from both sides and likely will have a decision on Goak's asylum request in late January.
Contact the writer:
444-1224, cindy.gonzalez@owh.com
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