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| 'Fraud' halts US refugee scheme | 'Fraud' halts US refugee scheme |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The United States has suspended a programme aimed at reuniting refugees in Africa with relatives in the US because of widespread fraud. | The United States has suspended a programme aimed at reuniting refugees in Africa with relatives in the US because of widespread fraud. |
| The US state department said DNA tests showed the majority of those applying had no family relationships in the US. | |
| Thousands of Africans have been allowed to settle in the US under its P3 family reunification programme. | |
| The scheme offers close family members the chance to join loved ones who have already made America their home. | The scheme offers close family members the chance to join loved ones who have already made America their home. |
| But DNA tests on applicants in seven African countries showed that only around 20% of those trying to enter the US actually had a family relationship. | But DNA tests on applicants in seven African countries showed that only around 20% of those trying to enter the US actually had a family relationship. |
| The DNA tests were first mostly carried out on refugees from Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya. | The DNA tests were first mostly carried out on refugees from Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya. |
| After the evidence of rampant fraud was uncovered the tests were widened, and then, after proof of more fraud, the decision was made to suspend the scheme. | After the evidence of rampant fraud was uncovered the tests were widened, and then, after proof of more fraud, the decision was made to suspend the scheme. |
| The applicants were not tested with the DNA of a relative in the US, but with each other - for example a woman with children who claimed to be joining a husband in the US. | The applicants were not tested with the DNA of a relative in the US, but with each other - for example a woman with children who claimed to be joining a husband in the US. |
| It was found that people claiming to be related often had no link. | It was found that people claiming to be related often had no link. |
| The Priority Three (P3) programme to reunite families had been running since 1990. | The Priority Three (P3) programme to reunite families had been running since 1990. |
| A US state department spokesman said that it would now be examining the future of the scheme. | A US state department spokesman said that it would now be examining the future of the scheme. |