[2282] in peace2
Refugee Women at Risk
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Paulo Madrigal)
Tue Feb 25 10:56:28 2003
From: "Paulo Madrigal" <indio1959@hotmail.com>
To: ebecc.immigration@verizon.net, peace-announce@MIT.EDU,
peace-discuss@MIT.EDU
Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2003 10:55:08 -0500
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<html><div style='background-color:'><DIV></DIV>> > Lawyers Committee for Human Rights
<DIV></DIV>> > Asylum Protection News 11
<DIV></DIV>> > February 20, 2003
<DIV></DIV>> >
<DIV></DIV>> > **URGENT: TAKE ACTION**
<DIV></DIV>> >
<DIV></DIV>> > Refugee Women at Risk:
<DIV></DIV>> > Proposed Justice Department Regulations would Eliminate Gender-Based
<DIV></DIV>> > Violence as a Basis for Obtaining Asylum in the U.S.
<DIV></DIV>> >
<DIV></DIV>> > Click here to take action now:
<DIV></DIV>> > http://capwiz.com/lchr/issues/alert/?alertid=1477111&type=AN
<DIV></DIV>> >
<DIV></DIV>> > Attorney General John Ashcroft is reportedly planning to issue new asylum
<DIV></DIV>> > regulations which will severely limit the ability of women fleeing
<DIV></DIV>> > trafficking, sexual slavery, honor killing, domestic violence, and other
<DIV></DIV>> > gender-related human rights abuses from seeking asylum in the United
<DIV></DIV>> > States.
<DIV></DIV>> > It appears that there is an intention to issue the final regulations
<DIV></DIV>> > before
<DIV></DIV>> > March 1, when the INS transitions into the new Department of Homeland
<DIV></DIV>> > Security and the Department of Justice loses jurisdiction over this
<DIV></DIV>> > particular issue.
<DIV></DIV>> >
<DIV></DIV>> > The regulations originated with the case of Ms. Rodi Alvarado, a
<DIV></DIV>> > Guatemalan
<DIV></DIV>> > survivor of severe domestic violence who obtained asylum only to face a
<DIV></DIV>> > reversal of that decision by the Board of Immigration Appeals. Then
<DIV></DIV>> > Attorney General Janet Reno intervened and proposed regulations securing
<DIV></DIV>> > Ms.
<DIV></DIV>> > Alvardo's asylum status and more broadly recognizing gender-related
<DIV></DIV>> > asylum
<DIV></DIV>> > claims. Reno's proposed regulations never became final, however, and
<DIV></DIV>> > there
<DIV></DIV>> > are reports that Attorney General Ashcroft is planning to re-instate the
<DIV></DIV>> > initial BIA decision which denied Ms. Alvarado asylum because her abuse
<DIV></DIV>> > was
<DIV></DIV>> > not perpetrated by a government, and because she was an individual and
<DIV></DIV>> > not a
<DIV></DIV>> > member of a "social group."
<DIV></DIV>> >
<DIV></DIV>> > Although the Lawyers Committee has not seen a draft of the new
<DIV></DIV>> > regulations,
<DIV></DIV>> > we believe that they will likely result not only in Ms. Alvarado's
<DIV></DIV>> > return
<DIV></DIV>> > to danger in Guatemala, but in a nation-wide change in policy and law
<DIV></DIV>> > that
<DIV></DIV>> > will negatively impact all women and girls seeking asylum on
<DIV></DIV>> > gender-related
<DIV></DIV>> > claims.
<DIV></DIV>> >
<DIV></DIV>> > The Lawyers Committee is also concerned that language included in the
<DIV></DIV>> > regulations may deny refugee protection to members of particular social
<DIV></DIV>> > groups fleeing violence perpetrated by non-state actors.
<DIV></DIV>> >
<DIV></DIV>> > Please write to Attorney General Ashcroft and urge him not to issue final
<DIV></DIV>> > regulations that reject gender-related violence as a basis for asylum.
<DIV></DIV>> >
<DIV></DIV>> > Take immediate action by clicking here:
<DIV></DIV>> > http://capwiz.com/lchr/issues/alert/?alertid=1477111&type=AN
<DIV></DIV>> >
<DIV></DIV>> >
<DIV></DIV>> > --------------------------------------------
<DIV></DIV>> > Eva A. Millona
<DIV></DIV>> > Immigration/Naturalization Policy Director
<DIV></DIV>> > MIRA Coalition
<DIV></DIV>> > 105 Chauncy St. 9th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
<DIV></DIV>> > Phone 617.350.5480 x. 211
<DIV></DIV>> > Fax 617.350.5499
<DIV></DIV>> > emillona@miracoalition.org
<DIV></DIV>> >
<DIV></DIV>> > ________________________________________________________________
<DIV></DIV>> >
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