Tahirih Justice Center reacts to U.S. government’s latest attack on asylum

Falls Church, VA – Reacting to additional asylum restrictions from DHS and DOJ, Casey Carter Swegman, Director of Policy at the Tahirih Justice Center said, “It takes profound courage and strength to leave everything you know to seek safety in another country. The survivors we work with at the Tahirih Justice Center are heroes, fighting to save their own lives and break cycles of violence. We are completely opposed to this latest move that would cement and expand border policies that unlawfully restrict access to asylum. The current border policies and asylum restrictions have already been ‘death by a thousand cuts’ — and can mean literal death for already traumatized survivors with nowhere else to turn for safety.”

Tahirih Justice Center represents and advocates for survivors of gender-based violence in immigration court and before Congress and the Executive Branch. The new policy flies in the face of every one of Tahirih’s “Five Principles for a Trauma-Informed and Survivor-Centered Immigration Framework,” which calls for policies that:

• Prioritize inclusivity and reject deterrence-based policies in order to protect survivors’ safety and well-being.
• Recognize the profound impact of trauma on individuals fleeing violence and persecution.
• Ensure that survivors are supported in their healing journey and shielded from re-traumatization or further harm and violence.
• Guarantee human dignity for all survivors by ensuring fair and equitable treatment under the law.
• Are rooted in welcoming policies that protect the rights of all human beings and embrace the valuable contributions of immigrants, fostering positive narratives and cultivating an environment of acceptance and understanding.

Despite comments from advocates, DHS and DOJ have moved forward with plans to further restrict asylum eligibility. “Instead of a humane policy to more effectively manage the opportunity of immigration and protect the rights of survivors of gender-based violence along our border, the federal government is relying on a cruel deterrence-based approach,” said Swegman. “The policy fails to recognize the human need for migration, the right to seek asylum under current U.S. law and well established international law, the strength of people’s will to survive, and the fact that immigrants enrich our communities through their contributions, energy, and commitment every day.”

To learn more about Tahirih’s interdisciplinary approach to securing dignity, justice, and transformation for survivors, visit our website: www.tahirih.org.

Contact: Lynn Tramonte ([email protected] / 202-255-0551