Jeanne Smoot, Director of Public Policy, received the 2008 Agent of Change Award from the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance.

The congressional funding reflects a valuable commitment to immigrant women and girls fleeing violence and exhibits confidence in Tahirih as a distinguished advocate for the courageous women and girls.

The BIA’s decision in the Matter of A-T reveals a poor understanding of FGM and its consequences, as well as a flawed interpretation of refugee law, and poses a direct threat to the ability of Tahirih’s clients and others who have suffered FGM to receive protection in the United States.

Federal protections are intended to encourage non-citizen survivors of violent crimes to come forward and get help, but a push for local police to enforce immigration law could unravel the intent of the protections, which have been painstakingly elaborated over 15 years.

The U visa was created to aid law enforcement and protect victims of serious crimes under the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Prevention Act of 2000.

Tahirih’s 10th Anniversary Fundraising Benefit was a moving celebration of 10 years of service dedicated to courageous women and girls seeking justice from gender-based violence.

The highest immigration appellate court, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), issued two precedent-setting decisions that advocates fear will limit the ability of a woman to receive refugee status because of female genital cutting.