- After the U.S. National Security Agency’s (NSA) spy program emerged, Edward Snowden sought refuge in some Hong Kong families. These families are now in danger of being deported by the government.
Snowden was assisted by three Sri Lankan and Filipino families seeking asylum in Hong Kong; the families’ lawyer, Robert Tibbo, contacted Snowden. Snowden was supported for two weeks in 2013, when he was in a state of secrecy after the publication of thousands of secret U.S. documents. Today, however, they are threatened with expulsion, as their families’ asylum application has been denied by the Hong Kong authorities.
Lawyers for the families say that because of the support they gave to Snowden, the Hong Kong authorities have taken a stand against them.
In June 2013, the former CIA employee revealed the practices of major Internet companies and the U.S. spy agency. He took refuge in Hong Kong to avoid a U.S. response, where he was assisted by three families. It did not last long there, the United States made a request for extradition, and Snowden fled to Russia. It’s still there today.