The Tahirih Justice Center filed an amicus brief on Thursday supporting plaintiffs who have challenged USCIS’s recently issued “Lesson Plan” which is used to train Asylum Officers about how to conduct a credible fear interview. Our brief explains the history of how the intentionally low threshold standard of credible fear was developed and details how the new Plan impermissibly raises that standard. We also highlight how the new Plan deleted guidance relating to the effects of trauma, contrary to long-accepted research about how trauma may affect a victim’s demeanor, memory, and ability to explain her situation.
See AllAmicus Brief Filed with the Federal Court in DC in the Case Kiakombua v. McAleenan
Latest News
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Survivors Deserve Better: Proposed Rule, Application of Certain Mandatory Bars in Fear Screenings, Threatens Asylum System
It is abundantly clear that authorizing asylum officers to consider certain mandatory bars during the CF/RF stage will have a significant impact on the ability of survivors fleeing gender-based persecution to obtain asylum. To propose this change under the guise of purported “operational flexibility” so that the government can remove asylum seekers swiftly without regard to the meritoriousness of their claims for asylum is unconscionable.
June 25, 2024 -
2024 Policy Platform
Tahirih’s policy work is rooted in our core values and in our specific theory of change. We work to advance policies and laws that enable immigrant survivors of gender-based violence to pursue […]
June 20, 2024
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Survivor Voices
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Anastasia
I came to the U.S. in the winter of 2006. Life back home in Mexico was tough for me and my family. I dreamt of going to college and graduating but with my family’s economic status, that dream was too costly and impossible.
At least I was able to graduate high school and that is something I am proud of since I was also working at the time to help my family. I was always looking for an opportunity to have a better life as a young woman.June 23, 2023 -
Camila
“I hope my story is helpful to someone else…and can inspire many women to be stronger. We need to help young women identify toxic relationships, so that there are fewer Camilas that go through such difficult things, let alone have our children suffer.”
November 21, 2022
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