Attorney General Garland Restores Protections for Refugee Survivors
(June 16, 2021) – On June 16 Attorney General Garland vacated Matter of A-B- and other Trump-era Justice Department rulings that attempted to shut the door on people escaping domestic violence, gang brutality, and other human rights violations. This life-saving move by Garland was the culmination of years of hard-fought litigation and advocacy. It took every tool we had in our toolbox, and it took all of us. Read more
Federal Court Upholds Asylum for Domestic Violence Survivors
(April 30, 2020) – On April 24, the First Circuit overturned a lower court decision denying asylum to a domestic violence survivor, reaffirming that refugee women are deserving of protection under U.S. law. The court’s decision in De Pena-Paniagua v. Barr marks an important victory in our campaign to reverse Matter of A-B- and reopen pathways to protection for domestic violence survivors and others fleeing persecution in their home countries. Read more
Groups Urge Trump Administration to Halt Border Expulsions, Protect Domestic Violence Survivors
(April 16, 2020) – In a letter sent to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, over 180 immigrant rights and domestic violence advocacy organizations called on the Trump Administration to immediately rescind its policy of turning back asylum seekers at the border. To date, this policy has resulted in the expulsions of nearly 10,000 asylum seekers, with no legal process whatsoever. The groups’ letter points out that this practice places survivors of domestic and sexual violence at particularly high risk of harm. Read more
NYC Rallies in Support of Immigrant Women Seeking Refuge
(February 19, 2020) – Last week immigrant rights advocates and allies rallied on the steps of New York City Hall in support of immigrant women seeking refuge. The rally was followed by a hearing before the City Council Immigration Committee to consider a bold resolution introduced by Council Member and Committee Chair Carlos Menchaca. Read more
San Francisco, Los Angeles Leaders Call on Federal Government to Restore Asylum for Domestic Violence Survivors
(November 22, 2019) – This week the Boards of Supervisors in San Francisco and Los Angeles Counties took a bold stand in support of immigrant women, unanimously condemning the Trump Administration’s cruel denial of asylum protection for domestic violence survivors and calling on the federal government and the courts to take decisive action and reverse the devastating impacts of former Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ 2018 Matter of A-B- decision. Read more
Advocates Urge Congress to Stand with Immigrant Women Too and Support the Refugee Protection Act
(November 21, 2019) On November 21, 2019, Senator Patrick Leahy and Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren introduced the Refugee Protection Act (RPA) of 2019. Among other critical provisions, the RPA would reverse former Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ devastating Matter of A-B- decision, which has severely undermined the ability of domestic violence survivors and others to seek asylum protection. Read more