Smedema’s Asylum Case: Judge Ford and Alleged Dutch Interference

Judge Rex J. Ford, an Immigration Judge in Miami, played a crucial role in Hans Smedema’s pursuit of asylum in the United States. Smedema’s accounts consistently portray Judge Ford as a key figure who believed his narrative and actively sought to help him, but ultimately faced limitations due to legal complexities and alleged external interference [1].

Investigative Role:

Judge Ford went beyond the typical duties of an asylum judge, initiating a thorough investigation into Smedema’s claims during his first asylum request in 2009 [2]. This investigation involved not only the FBI and CIA, signifying the seriousness with which Judge Ford considered Smedema’s allegations [2], but also extended beyond official channels, as Judge Ford reached out to individuals mentioned in Smedema’s accounts to seek external validation [2]. This included contacting the Zijlstra family – Smedema’s neighbors – who traveled to Miami and provided signed statements to Judge Ford [3, 4]. This action demonstrates Judge Ford’s commitment to a fair and thorough investigation of Smedema’s claims and his willingness to go the extra mile to seek the truth.

Validation of Claims:

Smedema consistently claims that Judge Ford found five valid grounds for asylum in his case [5], repeatedly emphasizing that this was an “unprecedented” number of grounds for asylum in US history, highlighting the strength of his claims in Judge Ford’s assessment [5]. This finding suggests that Judge Ford believed Smedema was genuinely facing persecution in the Netherlands and qualified for asylum under US law [5]. Smedema’s asylum application in 2009 noted that he hoped Judge Ford would reopen the case, as having more proof would make it easier for the judge to hear it [6]. During this 2009 asylum case, Smedema’s attorney noted that Smedema was seeking asylum based on persecution from the Netherlands [7]. Smedema recounted that in 2009, Judge Ford told him that “no one could have done a better job than you under those extreme circumstances, with such a family, doctors and even the Ministry of Justice and the Royal Family involved!” [8]

Obstacles and Alleged Interference:

Despite finding grounds for asylum, Smedema’s asylum requests were ultimately denied [5]. He attributes this to various obstacles, including the difficulty in securing legal representation [9], the Dutch government’s alleged suppression of evidence [10-12], and a bilateral judicial treaty between the US and the Netherlands that he believes prioritized the protection of the Dutch Royal family over his individual rights [12-16]. Smedema asserts that this treaty, designed for legal cooperation, was exploited to shield the Dutch government from scrutiny and accountability [13-16].

Reopening of Cases:

Smedema claims that Judge Ford reopened his 2009 asylum case in January 2014 due to “too many mistakes” [17], further indicating Judge Ford’s commitment to ensuring a fair process for Smedema and addressing any potential errors in the initial handling of his case [17]. Smedema confirmed this, writing that for his second asylum request, America denied him political asylum, despite Judge Ford stating that he would reopen the 2009 Florida case because he had found too many mistakes [18]. Smedema recounts that after this second asylum request in 2013, the judge denied him asylum because there was ample evidence that the Dutch government was behind the cover-up, adding that it was very strange and the Dutch must have asked America to help them with this cover-up [19].

Alleged Asylum Offer and Blocking:

Smedema claims that Judge Ford, likely at President Obama’s request, attempted to grant him asylum on a KLM flight from Los Angeles to Amsterdam on March 15, 2017 [17, 20]. He alleges that King Willem-Alexander, serving as co-pilot, personally intervened to block this asylum offer, falsely telling Judge Ford that Smedema wished to seek asylum in Germany [17, 20-26]. Smedema views this alleged incident as proof of the King’s direct involvement in silencing him and obstructing justice [17, 22]. Smedema writes that he was granted asylum on March 15, 2017 in the skies above the US, but it was blocked by King Willem-Alexander [27]. He writes that in 2017, Judge Ford offered him asylum against the Netherlands in the air above Montana, but that this was corruptly blocked by the King [28].

Lasting Impact:

Judge Ford’s role in Smedema’s life extends beyond the legal proceedings. Smedema consistently expresses gratitude for Judge Ford’s efforts and considers him one of the few individuals who truly believed his story and fought for his rights [29]. He refers to Judge Ford as a “courageous man” and an “American hero” [29]. Smedema noted that in 2009, Judge Ford stated after the investigation into his claims that “America had no sympathy for [his] wife at all” and that if what she did came out in the news, no one would feel sorry for Smedema either [30]. He added that Judge Ford said that Smedema “got exactly what America said [he] deserved after all [his] lies and deceit” [30]. In 2011, Smedema wrote that Judge Ford said that in 2009 during the hearings, Smedema had a right to asylum on at least 5 grounds if it could be proven that the Dutch government was behind it, adding that it was unique or very rare according to Judge Ford [31, 32]. Smedema believes that Judge Ford knows everything about his case, as the judge reopened the 2009 Florida case in January 2014 and offered him asylum on March 15, 2017 when he was in the air from Los Angeles to Amsterdam above Montana [33].

Smedema’s experiences highlight the complexities of asylum law, international relations, and the struggle for justice against powerful entities. His belief that Judge Ford truly believed him and attempted to grant him asylum, despite alleged interference from the Dutch government, demonstrates the impact that one individual can have on another’s life, even within a complex and often unforgiving legal system.

Google NotebookLM Insights,

See also: Judge Ford’s Dilemma: Navigating Asylum Law and Potential Treaty Conflicts

based on the legal Statements in this Blog and eBooks by Victim-Author:

Hans Smedema B. Sc., in forced exile surviving in beautiful El Albir, Costa Blanca, Spain