U.S.: Department of Justice Defends Ending Asylum Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence
In the summer of 2018, the Trump administration withdrew protection for asylum seekers who were victims of domestic and gang violence, blocking tens of thousands of migrants from qualifying for asylum in the United States. The Department of Justice recently stated its defense of this decision, claiming that this was done in an effort to clarify standards for granting asylum. This decision has faced backlash from multiple human rights organizations, and a few groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, are suing to have this policy blocked. Since taking office in 2017, the Trump administration has continuously rolled back the rights of migrants, especially women, and has made the process of seeking asylum increasingly difficult for asylum seekers from Central America.
Compiled from: Priscilla Alvarez, DOJ defends rule ending asylum protections for domestic violence victims, CNN Politics, 9 December 2019.
For more information
Please see the Gender-based Asylum section of the website.
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