Human Rights First’s Lifeline for Iraqi Refugees Issued a Progress Report, “Promises to the Persecuted: The Refugee Crisis in Iraq Act of 2008″
On April 28th, Human Rights First issued a new report that examines the progress and problems with the U.S. government’s efforts to help Iraqi refugees. The report found that, despite a Congressional mandate intended to expedite Iraqi refugee processing times, as well as committed work on the part of many U.S. government staff and officials, only a small portion of eligible Iraqis have been granted safe haven in the United States. The report urges the Obama administration to examine this issue and clear remaining bureaucratic obstacles to fulfilling America’s promise to persecuted Iraqis who worked with the United States in Iraq, as well as to their families.
Click here to read the press release
Click here to read the report
Human Rights First Issued a New Report, “U.S. Detention of Asylum Seekers: Seeking Protection, Finding Prison”
On April 30th, Human Rights First issued a new report, “U.S. Detention of Asylum Seekers: Seeking Protection, Finding Prison,” that calls on the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice, and Congress, to put safeguards on use of detention and improve conditions. The report found that since 2003, U.S. immigration authorities have spent more than $300 million to detain over 48,000 asylum seekers in U.S. prisons and prison-like facilities. The report concludes that the system lacks basic due process protections and is inconsistent with America’s longstanding commitment to protect those who flee from persecution.
Click here to read the full report
Click here to read a summary version of the report
Read the DHS’s response to our report
Read the press release
Watch our short video
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) Announces Implementation of TVPRA Sections Related to Unaccompanied Minors Seeking Asylum
The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA 2008) transferred initial jurisdiction over any asylum application filed by an unaccompanied minor from the Immigration Courts to the USCIS Asylum Office for a non-adversarial adjudication. On March 25, 2009, USCIS issued guidance to the field on the implementation of that policy change.
See link to USCIS’s memo, “Implementation of Statutory Change Providing USCIS with Initial Jurisdiction over Asylum Applications Filed by Unaccompanied Alien Children”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Issued a Final Rule Altering the Process By Which It Forwards the Form I-589 to the Department of State (DOS)
Under a new rule issued by DHS, effective April 6, 2009, USCIS will send affirmative I-589 Applications for Asylum and Withholding of Removal to DOS only when USCIS believes DOS may have country conditions information relevant to the case. Prior regulations required USCIS to forward to DOS a copy of all completed asylum applications. This new rule is designed to increase the efficiency of DOS’ review of asylum applications.
See link to the final rule