The Latest News

Sen. Franken Supports Restoration of Money Transfers To Somalia
February 1, 2012

A small number of Minneapolis-area Somali money transfer shops have reopened amid heightened scrutiny from banks, reports the Minnesota Star Tribune on Jan. 25, 2012. Though the amount transferable is limited to $500, the services are the only means many Somali-Americans have available to send remittances to family living in Somalia, a country lacking a functioning government or banking system, and plagued by drought and civil strife for almost 20 years. The inability of nearly 70,000 Somalis that live in the state to send money home had drawn strong criticism from Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) and other Minnesota legislators. At the end of December, the state's 14 Somali money transfer shops were shut down after the last Minnesota bank to wire money to Somalia closed their accounts.

State Department Announces Reorganization Changes
January 26, 2012

On Jan. 5, 2012 the Department of State held a briefing on the establishment of the Office of the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights.  It was held one day after State announced that the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism is being upgraded to become the Bureau of Counterterrorism. The realignment is designed to increase coordination and cooperation among the different offices at State. The changes were called for by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the 2010 Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR).

Federal Register Notice Seeks Comments about Partner Vetting System to OMB by Feb. 17, 2012
January 19, 2012

On Feb.18, 2012 the Department of State posted a new Federal Register Notice on the Partner Vetting System (PVS).  It seeks the Office of Management and Budget's approval for the State Department to collect personal information about its grantees' "key personnel" to be screened against government intelligence databases. The notice is the next step in State's process for launching a pilot PVS this year. 

Holy Land Foundation and its Leaders Petition for Re-hearing on Dismissal of their Appeal
January 17, 2012

The Holy Land Foundation (HLF) and its leaders have both filed petitions for re-hearing of their appeals from criminal convictions for material support of terrorism and other charges. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed their appeals in December 2011. The petitions argue that the court should grant a re-hearing because the case involves legal questions of exceptional importance. The court generally rules on petitions for re-hearing within 30 days. 

Backlash Over Somali Money Transfer Refusal in Minnesota
January 17, 2012
Nearly 100 Somali-Americans rallied outside a Minneapolis area bank on Jan. 13, 2012, protesting the bank's refusal to deal with Somali wire transfer businesses that send money to Africa. The money wire outfits, also known as hawalas, are the primary, and sometimes only, means of transferring money to people living in the Horn of Africa, where widespread insecurity and famine have left millions of people in need. More than a dozen Somali money transfer businesses were forced to stop doing business in late 2011 after banks began refusing service, fearing they might inadvertently violate anti-terror laws.