Human Rights First | Asylum Protection News 11

Urge the U.S. Government to End Discriminatory Treatment of Haitian Asylum Seekers

Take Action on other Asylum-related issues

Women at Risk: Unfair U.S. Laws Hurt Asylum Seekers

To request hard copies of the report, please call 212 845-5259

Abstract from "The Welcome Mat Frays," a December 28th, 2002 NY Times editorial on the state of the U.S. asylum system

Sign Up for Asylum News & Alerts Enter your email address

This newsletter is for people
interested in protecting asylum
-seekers and refugees in the United
States. HRF has been advocating
for refugees for two decades, and
helping thousands to obtain asylum
in the United States.

Latest Issues

#64 April, 2008
Book Details Struggles in U.S. Asylum System

#63 March, 2008
Wave of Denials to Stop

#62 February, 2008
Refugee Crisis In Iraq Act Signed By President Bush

#61 January, 2008
Material Support Waiver Legislation

#60 December, 2007
Amicus Briefs Submitted to Supreme Court on Serious Crimes Bar

#59 November, 2007
Update: Detention - ICE Issues new Guidance on Parole of Asylum Seekers

#58 October, 2007
Material Support: Hmong and Montagnard Waivers

#57 September, 2007
Update: Material Support

#56 August, 2007
Settlement Announced in Hutto Litigation

#55 July, 2007
GAO Finds Lack of Phone Access for Detainees

#54 June, 2007
Iraqi Refugee Crisis

#53 May, 2007
New Study Reveals Disparities in Asylum Decisions

#52 April, 2007
Child Soldiers and Material Support

#51 March, 2007
Iraqi Refugees Face Hurdles in Search for Refuge

#50 February, 2007
Commission Issues "Report Card" on Asylum Reforms

#49 January, 2007
Material Support Update: Progress for Some Asylum Seekers; Process Still Unknown

Past Issues»

Asylum

International Refugees

Asylum Protection News 11

Refugee Women at Risk:
Proposed Justice Department Regulations would Eliminate Gender-Based Violence as a Basis for Obtaining Asylum in the U.S.

Click here to take action now

Attorney General John Ashcroft is reportedly planning to issue new asylum regulations which will severely limit the ability of women fleeing trafficking, sexual slavery, honor killing, domestic violence, and other gender-related human rights abuses from seeking asylum in the United States. It appears that there is an intention to issue the final regulations before March 1, when the INS transitions into the new Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice loses jurisdiction over this particular issue.

The regulations originated with the case of Ms. Rodi Alvarado, a Guatemalan survivor of severe domestic violence who obtained asylum only to face a reversal of that decision by the Board of Immigration Appeals. Then Attorney General Janet Reno intervened and proposed regulations securing Ms. Alvardo’s asylum status and more broadly recognizing gender-related asylum claims. Reno’s proposed regulations never became final, however, and there are reports that Attorney General Ashcroft is planning to re-instate the initial BIA decision which denied Ms. Alvarado asylum because her abuse was not perpetrated by a government, and because she was an individual and not a member of a “social group.”

Although Human Rights First has not seen a draft of the new regulations, we believe that they will likely result not only in Ms. Alvarado’s return to danger in Guatemala, but in a nation-wide change in policy and law that will negatively impact all women and girls seeking asylum on gender-related claims.

Human Rights First is also concerned that language included in the regulations may deny refugee protection to members of particular social groups fleeing violence perpetrated by non-state actors.

Please write to Attorney General Ashcroft and urge him not to issue final regulations that reject gender-related violence as a basis for asylum.

Take immediate action by clicking here

Privacy Policy