Amhara Association of America

Notice regarding U.S. immigration enforcement practices and the need to curb the spread of misinformation following concerns raised over labelling of Fano as a “Tier III terrorist group” in a recent deportation case.

AAA has verified there has been no official FTO designation by the U.S. Department of State regarding Fano. Recent “Tier III labelling” is a non-public, case-by-case administrative finding used by ICE/USCIS for immigration enforcement. This labelling is a “catch-all” category that has been widely criticized by legal experts and challenged in courts for its broad and inconsistent application to deport individuals.

AAA condemns any and all abuses targeting civilian populations in Ethiopia and continues to call for independent investigations into the Amhara Genocide. In the absence of credible investigations, perpetrator groups implicated in the genocide and their agents have increasingly engaged in coordinated disinformation campaigns to gaslight victims and hinder peace and justice.

As stated by experts, academic research and journalistic reports, the Amhara Fano are a grassroots self-defense force in Ethiopia which operate to safeguard urban and rural communities against the genocide. In recent years, the Fano fought in self-defense against attacks by violent state and non-state armed groups in Ethiopia. Importantly, countless reports have documented gross patterns of human rights violations including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity against ethnic Amhara and Orthodox Christian communities in Ethiopia.

Community members are urged to seek legal counsel in individual immigration cases. Furthermore, community members are urged to file reports against individuals involved in illegal or criminal activity especially in perpetrating or inciting violence against Amhara communities in Ethiopia. AAA is prepared to cooperate with U.S. law enforcement agencies in sharing documentation of such illegal or criminal acts where available.