In yet another attack on asylum, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) proposed new rules yesterday that would further increase barriers to asylum—dealing yet another blow to survivors of gender-based violence who are trying to access safety and justice. Among the proposed changes include shortened and stricter deadlines for asylum seekers to submit applications, requiring individuals in deportation proceedings to file within 15 days of their first hearing. Survivors would also face a narrow 180-day adjudication deadline for asylum applications and not be allowed continuances past that deadline, with limited exceptions.
“The cumulative impact of the barrage of recent rules attacking the asylum process is to slam the door on people who need protection from persecution,” said Archi Pyati, Tahirih Chief of Policy and Communications. “EOIR continues to add unjust roadblocks to the process, cornering asylum seekers and dooming them to fail before they have even had a chance to present their cases. The damage to our already broken system done by this administration is astounding, and refugees are paying the price.”
Archi Pyati is available for comment on this topic. Please contact [email protected] to arrange an interview.