We found 1052 results for "Seeking Asylum"
Press
Human Rights First opposes Biden’s proposal to detain asylum seekers
March 7, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following reports in yesterday’s New York Times that the Biden administration is considering detaining immigrant and asylum-seeking families who cross the border,…
Statement
Statement for the Record: “Every State is a Border State: Examining Secretary Mayorkas’ Border Crisis”
March 2, 2023
Statement for the Record of Human Rights First On House Committee on Homeland Security “Every State is a Border State: Examining Secretary Mayorkas’ Border Crisis” Human Rights First is…
Fact Sheet
Biden Administration’s Proposed Asylum Ban: Illegal, Inhumane, and No Solution
February 23, 2023
On February 23, 2023, the Biden administration published a proposed rule that would illegally ban many refugees from seeking asylum in the United States and deprive…
Press
Biden’s Asylum Ban Would Return U.S. to Trump-Style Policy
February 21, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. – After the Biden administration today proposed a rule that would illegally ban many refugees from seeking asylum in the United States due…
Statement
Statement for the Record of Human Rights First On House Committee on Oversight and Accountability “On The Front Lines of the Border Crisis: A Hearing with Chief Patrol Agents”
February 7, 2023
Human Rights First is alarmed at the scale and dangers presented by orchestrated rhetoric that paints migrants and people seeking asylum at the U.S. border…
Statement for the Record of Human Rights First On House Judiciary Committee “Biden’s Border Crisis – Part One”
February 1, 2023
OVERVIEW Human Rights First is alarmed at the scale and dangers presented by orchestrated rhetoric that paints migrants and people seeking asylum at the U.S.…
Fact Sheet
LEADING BY EXAMPLE, HONORING COMMITMENTS:
January 26, 2023
Recommendations for the Biden Administration to Uphold Refugee Law at Home Two years since President Biden took office, his administration has taken some important initial…
Press
Rights Groups Oppose Biden Plan to Resurrect Asylum Bans
January 19, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the Biden administration’s recent announcement of a plan to issue a proposed rule that would resurrect the Trump administration’s approach of…
Fact Sheet
Biden Administration Plan to Resurrect Asylum Ban Advances Trump Agenda
January 17, 2023
Would Condemn Refugees to Return to Harm, Family Separation, and Permanent Limbo On January 5, 2023, the Biden administration announced new policies relating to the…
Press
Biden Administration Use and Expansion of Trump Policy to Ban People Seeking Asylum Endangers Lives, Tramples Human Rights
January 5, 2023
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration’s announcement of plans to expand use of the Trump-initiated Title 42 policy and resurrect other unlawful Trump policies to ban…
Press
Rights of Asylum Seekers Put on Hold Again
December 28, 2022
WASHINGTON DC – Human Rights First is deeply disappointed in yesterday’s Supreme Court decision that allows the failed and inhumane Title 42 expulsion policy to…
Blog
Recording of Human Rights First on the Ground
December 20, 2022
Updates on our Refugee Advocacy & Protection Efforts The first two years of the Trump Administration have seen an onslaught of attacks against asylum seekers.…
Press
Title 42: “Human Rights Stain, Public Health Farce”
December 16, 2022
WASHINGTON D.C. – The end of the Title 42 expulsion policy is scheduled for December 21 but supporters of the policy are still attempting to…
Report
HUMAN RIGHTS STAIN, PUBLIC HEALTH FARCE
December 15, 2022
Evasion of Asylum Law and Title 42 Abuse Must End— and Never Be Revived For nearly two years, the Biden administration has wielded the Trump administration’s Title…
Press
Senate Must Protect Dreamers Without Denying Asylum-Seeking Refugees Protection
December 5, 2022
NEW YORK – With reports today in the Washington Post stating “that Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) have reached an agreement on…
Press
After Documenting Abuses at ICE Berks Detention Center, PHR and Human Rights First Welcome Biden Administration Decision to Close Facility
December 2, 2022
NEW YORK – Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) and Human Rights First welcome reports that the Biden administration will end a contract with the Berks…
Fact Sheet
Biden Administration Detains Women Seeking Safety and Separates Them From Their Families
December 1, 2022
Conversations with Women Incarcerated at ICE Berks Detention Center In September 2021, the Biden administration signed a new contract to reopen the Berks County Residential…
Blog
HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST WELCOMES ITS EMERGING LEADERS ADVISORY BOARD
November 23, 2022
The Next Generation of World Shapers is Already Here By Jayshawn Lee and Isaac Todd Importance & Promise Young people have always been vanguards in…
Letter
Joint Letter to Biden administration to End Title 42
November 22, 2022
November 22, 2022 Hon. Joseph R. Biden, Jr. President of the United States Dear President Biden: With a federal court striking down the…
Press
Human Rights First Celebrates Block of Title 42 Ban
November 15, 2022
WASHINGTON – With a federal district court judge ruling that Title 42 – a Trump-era policy used by the Biden administration to block and expel…
Press
Over 100 groups decry linking Venezuelan parole plan to Title 42
October 14, 2022
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the Biden administration’s announcement expanding the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) use of Title 42 expulsions against Venezuelans to accompany a…
Letter
NGO Letter Responding to Expansion of Title 42 Expulsions for Venezuelans
October 14, 2022
Dear Secretary Mayorkas: We, the undersigned organizations committed to the rights of asylum seekers and refugees, write to express our deep disappointment and shock at…
Press
Human Rights First Welcomes Safe Pathway for Venezuelans, Expresses Grave Concerns about Potential Expanded Use of Title 42
October 12, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC — With news reports that the administration is planning a humanitarian parole program for Venezuelans, Human Rights First looks forward to more information…
Press
Accenture Honored for Exceptional Corporate Partnership by Human Rights First
October 6, 2022
Human Rights First has selected Accenture to receive the inaugural Human Rights First Award for Exceptional Corporate Partnership for the company’s commitment to the life-changing…
Blog
Barriers and Backlog
October 3, 2022
Asylum Office Delays Continue to Cause Harm By Cora Wright, Legal Fellow, Refugee Protection & Refugee Representation Nony (a pseudonym) has been waiting for an…
Action
Contribute to our Client Emergency Fund
September 28, 2022
Refugees and asylum seekers who fled the their countries seeking safety and better futures often have limited support systems in the United States. In response,…
Blog
A Year After Del Rio, Haitian Asylum Seekers Expelled Under Title 42 Are Still Suffering
September 22, 2022
It’s been a year since the U.S. government launched its “comprehensive strategy” that resulted in the mass expulsion of Haitian asylum seekers at the U.S.…
Fact Sheet
Treat People Seeking U.S. Refuge with Dignity, Not as Political Pawns
September 21, 2022
Recommendations to Congress, the Biden Administration, State and Local Governments In recent weeks, some state governors have used the transportation of migrants and asylum seekers…
Fact Sheet
Upholding President Biden’s Asylum Commitments
September 20, 2022
18-Month Progress Checklist Since February 2021 Executive Order It has been more than one-and-a-half years since President Biden issued his February 2, 2021 Executive Order,…
Topics
IMMIGRATION DETENTION
September 19, 2022
We press the U.S. government to end harmful immigration detention policies. The U.S. government’s current policy of choice is to lock up asylum seekers in…
Press
Flawed Expedited Removal Denies Refugees Asylum Hearings
September 19, 2022
NEW YORK – As the Biden administration steps up the use of expedited removal, Human Rights First released a new report, “Pretense of Protection: Biden…
Press
Corte Federal Obliga la Continuación del Título 42
September 19, 2022
WASHINGTON D.C. - Human Rights First desaprueba la decisión del 23 de mayo de un juez federal de impedirle al gobierno federal terminar con la…
Press
Federal Court Forces Continuation of Title 42
September 19, 2022
WASHINGTON – Human Rights First is deeply disheartened by a federal judge’s ruling enjoining the federal government from ending the disastrous Title 42 policy on…
Press
Human Rights First Welcomes Recission of Trump-era Metering Directives, Calls for Asylum to Be Upheld
September 19, 2022
WASHINGTON — As the Biden administration restarts non-essential border travel on Monday, Human Rights First welcomes recission of Trump-era “metering” directives, which illegally turned away people seeking…
Report
Fallas Fatales
September 15, 2022
El programa “Permanece en México” no debería ser reanudado El 8 de agosto de 2022, el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (Department of Homeland Security, DHS)…
Report
Fatally Flawed
September 13, 2022
“Remain in Mexico” Policy Should Never Be Revived On August 8, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the end of the Trump-era “Remain…
Testimony
U.S. policies and practices subjecting LGBTQ asylum seekers to human rights violations, arbitrary detention in often life-threatening conditions, and denials of and delays in refugee protection
August 22, 2022
Submission of Human Rights First to the United Nations Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity This…
Blog
Dobbs Restricts Access to Abortion Services for Asylum Seekers, Represses Reproductive Rights
August 18, 2022
By Ryan Huynh, Intern, Refugee Representation Late last month, the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs that overturned Roe v. Wade and stripped hundreds of…
Blog
PALA Team Launches Adjustment of Status Clinic for Afghan families
August 18, 2022
Staff and volunteers at PALA’s Adjustment of Status Clinic July 30th, 2022. By Fatima Safi, Nayab Khan, and Annie Roebuck Following the Taliban’s return to…
Letter
Asylum Processing Rule Recommendations
August 12, 2022
Dear Secretary Mayorkas, Director Rossi, and Director Jaddou: The undersigned immigrant and refugee advocacy and legal services organizations are dedicated to expanding access to legal…
Blog
LGBTQ Asylum Seekers Still Facing Grave Dangers Due to Title 42
August 12, 2022
By Teodoro Garcia, Intern, Refugee Protection This week, the Biden administration announced the end of “Remain in Mexico,” a policy that forced migrants and asylum…
Press
Human Rights First Welcomes DHS Moves to Again Wind Down Remain in Mexico Policy
August 9, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC – Human Rights First applauds last night’s announcement by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that it will take quick and orderly steps to end the…
Fact Sheet
CERD: Anti-Black Discrimination within US Immigration, Detention, and Enforcement Systems
August 8, 2022
Anti-Black Discrimination within US Immigration, Detention, and Enforcement Systems As detailed in a Shadow Report submitted to the CERD Committee, Black non-citizens in the US…
Fact Sheet
CERD: US Discrimination Against Black Migrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers at the Border and Beyond
August 8, 2022
US Discrimination Against Black Migrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers at the Border and Beyond Since the CERD Committee last reviewed the US in 2014, the…
Report
Pretense of Protection
August 3, 2022
Biden Administration and Congress Should Avoid Exacerbating Expedited Removal Deficiencies The expedited removal process Congress created permits border officers to order the deportation of certain…
Press
Human Rights First Urges Senators to Reject Anti-Refugee and Immigrant Poison Pills
August 2, 2022
WASHINGTON DC – In anticipation of the Senate considering the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, Human Rights First calls on Senators to vote no on any…
Blog
Taking on Policies that Harm Human Rights Defenders at the Border
August 2, 2022
By Cora Wright, Legal Fellow, Refugee Protection and Refugee Representation A few weeks ago, a Mexican cartel in Nuevo Laredo kidnapped Baptist Pastor Lorenzo Ortiz,…
Report
NGO Shadow Report on anti-Black US Immigration Practices Submitted to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
July 22, 2022
This Shadow Report is submitted for the combined tenth, eleventh, and twelfth periodic review of the United States (“US”) by the Committee on the Elimination…
Letter
Immediate Actions that the Biden Administration Should Take to Prevent Further Harm under Remain in Mexico Following the Supreme Court Decision
July 20, 2022
Dear President Biden and Vice President Harris: In light of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Biden v. Texas, which concluded that the Biden administration acted…
Letter
Letter on Amendments that Would Codify Title 42
July 15, 2022
Dear Speaker Pelosi, Minority Leader McCarthy, Chairwoman DeLauro, and Ranking Member Granger, The undersigned civil society organizations write to express our grave concern regarding the…
Fact Sheet
Rhetoric vs Reality: End Dangerous Narratives and Failed Policies, Restore Asylum at Ports of Entry
July 14, 2022
During the summer of 2022, in the wake of a court order continuing the Title 42 policy, asylum seekers remain blocked from seeking asylum at…
Press
Human Rights First Condemns Governor Abbott’s Dangerous & Illegal Ploy to “Return” Asylum Seekers and Other Migrants to Ports of Entry
July 7, 2022
Calls on U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Justice to take action to protect our immigration system. WASHINGTON, DC — Human Rights First expresses its outrage…
Press
Human Rights First Aprueba la Decisión de la Corte Suprema de Permitir Poner Fin al Programa Permanece en Mexico y Pide su Suspensión Inmediata
June 30, 2022
Washington – En respuesta a la decisión de la Corte Suprema sobre Biden v. Texas, Human Rights First expresa júbilo después de que la corte de manera correcta…
Press
Human Rights First Welcomes Supreme Court Ruling Permitting the End of Remain in Mexico, Calls for Immediate Suspension of Policy
June 30, 2022
WASHINGTON – In response to the Supreme Court’s ruling in Biden v. Texas, Human Rights First expresses its joy that the court rightfully found the Biden administration…
Testimony
Ensuring Safety and Support for Human Rights Defenders of Asylum Seekers, Refugees, and Other Migrants Targeted by Illegal Pushback Policies, Extremist Attacks, and Harassment by Government Officials
June 27, 2022
Submission to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders…
Testimony
Meeting International Obligations to Welcome and Protect Refugees
June 24, 2022
Testimony of Kennji Kizuka Associate Director of Research and Analysis for Refugee Protection, Human Rights First Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, U.S. Congress “South Korea’s…
Testimony
Restoring and Extending Protections in the United States for Displaced Persons Impacted by Climate Change
June 23, 2022
Submission by Human Rights First to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human…
Fact Sheet
Human Rights First Celebrates our 2022 Pro Bono Star Award Winners
June 21, 2022
Human Rights First is proud to announce our 2022 Pro Bono Star Award winners. Following is a little background about these excellent pro bono attorneys…
Report
The Nightmare Continues: Title 42 Court Order Prolongs Human Rights Abuses, Extends Disorder at U.S. Borders
June 16, 2022
Title 42 Court Order Prolongs Human Rights Abuses, Extends Disorder at U.S. Borders On May 23, 2022, the Title 42 policy was set to end.…
Letter
Civil Society Letter on Immediate Actions to Mitigate the Harms of Title 42
June 8, 2022
Dear President Biden, Secretary Mayorkas, and Director Walensky: The right to seek asylum in the United States is in peril. In spite of conflicting court…
Press
Corte Federal Obliga la Continuación del Título 42
May 26, 2022
WASHINGTON D.C. - Human Rights First desaprueba la decisión del 23 de mayo de un juez federal de impedirle al gobierno federal terminar con la…
Fact Sheet
USCIS Records Reveal Systemic Disparities in Asylum Decisions
May 18, 2022
Government records received by Human Rights First from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) asylum office through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request…
Blog
Biden Administration Addresses Delays in Work Permit Renewals for Asylum Seekers
May 4, 2022
By Cora Wright, Legal Fellow, Refugee Protection and Refugee Representation In the United States, people who have fled persecution in their home countries and requested…
Report
Extending Title 42 Would Escalate Dangers, Exacerbate Disorder, and Magnify Discrimination
April 27, 2022
In April 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) determined that as of May 23, 2022, it would terminate the Title 42 order,…
Letter
Urging the Administration to Oppose Legislation to Delay Ending Title 42
April 22, 2022
Dear President Biden: As leaders of immigrant, civil rights, humanitarian, human rights, and labor organizations, our missions include the goal of safeguarding asylum access in…
Press
Jailing of Asylum-Seekers Under Biden Administration Inflicting Trauma
April 21, 2022
NEW YORK – In a report released today, titled “I’m a Prisoner Here”: Biden Administration Policies Lock Up Asylum-Seekers, Human Rights First documents that the Department of Homeland…
Report
“I’m a Prisoner Here”
April 21, 2022
Biden Administration Policies Lock Up Asylum Seekers Today, the United States operates the world’s largest immigration detention system—a system the Biden administration uses to jail…
Blog
Erroneous Asylum Office Referrals Delay Refugee Protection, Add to Backlogs
April 19, 2022
By Cora Wright, Legal Fellow, Refugee Protection and Refugee Representation People seeking protection in the United States often wait years for a decision on their…
Press
Human Rights First Welcomes Steps to Protect Ukrainians and Urges the Biden Administration to Honor its Promise to At-Risk Afghans
April 12, 2022
WASHINGTON, D.C. – While Human Rights First welcomes reports of the establishment of a special parole program for Ukrainians fleeing Russian aggression, the organization calls on the Biden…
Press
Human Rights First Opposes Attempts to Codify Inhumane Title 42 Expulsion Policy
April 7, 2022
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Human Rights First opposes the Lankford-Sinema bill that would codify the misuse of Title 42 to illegally block and expel people seeking…
Testimony
Examining Title 42 and the Need to Restore Asylum at the Border
April 6, 2022
Testimony of Kennji Kizuka Associate Director of Research and Analysis for Refugee Protection, Human Rights First U.S. House, Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border…
Blog
From our FOIA of HRIFA Reports: Over 140,000 Asylum Seekers Detained Between 2015 and 2017
April 4, 2022
By Rebecca Gendelman, Senior Research and Policy Counsel, Refugee Protection The Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (HRIFA) of 1998 requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)…
Press
Human Rights First Welcomes Decision to End Title 42 Policy, Calls for Halt to Expulsions to Danger
April 1, 2022
WASHINGTON D.C. – After two years of steadfast advocacy, Human Rights First welcomes today’s decision by the Biden administration and the Centers for Disease Control…
Blog
Faith and Bar Leaders Call for End to Detention and Deterrence Policies For Families Seeking Asylum
April 1, 2022
By Eleanor Acer U.S. faith leaders and the American Bar Association are calling on the Obama administration to end its detention of families and other…
Press
New Asylum Rule Imposes Counterproductive Rocket Docket Adjudications that Threaten Accurate Asylum Decisions
March 24, 2022
WASHINGTON D.C. – In response to the new interim final rule issued today by the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice, Human Rights First welcomes…
Press
In Poland, Biden Must Meet NGOs and Refugees
March 23, 2022
WASHINGTON D.C. – President Biden, scheduled to hold talks Friday with Polish government representatives in Warsaw, should meet with refugees and leaders of non-governmental organizations working…
Press
Marking Two Years of Illegal, Inhumane Title 42 Expulsions: Nearly 10,000 Violent Attacks on Asylum Seekers and Migrants
March 17, 2022
WASHINGTON D.C. – Human Rights First today released new findings on the grave and rising human rights abuses inflicted by the Title 42 policy under the…
Fact Sheet
Two Years of Suffering: Biden Administration Continues Use of Discredited Title 42 Order to Flout Refugee Law
March 17, 2022
For two years, the U.S. government has illegally blocked and expelled people seeking refuge at the southern U.S. border despite U.S. laws and treaties created…
Fact Sheet
Ten Reasons to End the Title 42 Policy
March 11, 2022
March 20, 2022 will mark two years since the Trump administration began to use the Title 42 policy to block and expel to danger people…
Letter
Letter to President Biden and Vice President Harris on Two Years of Title 42
March 10, 2022
Dear President Biden and Vice President Harris: For nearly two years the U.S. government has ruthlessly blocked and expelled people seeking protection at the southern…
Fact Sheet
Evacuate Our Allies Calls Out Biased Media Coverage of Forced Displacement
March 9, 2022
Against the backdrop of displacement crises in Afghanistan, the U.S.-Mexico border, and other areas, the differences in reporting are stark Following media coverage of the…
Press
Court of Appeals blocks use of public health to expel families to danger
March 4, 2022
WASHINGTON D.C. -- In the wake of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in Hisha Huisha v. Mayorkas, Human Rights First calls on the…
Testimony
U.S. Asylum and Border Policies Resulting in Human Rights Violations
March 1, 2022
Human Rights First’s Submission for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants pursuant to…
Testimony
Examining the Court-Ordered Reimplementation of the Remain in Mexico Policy
March 1, 2022
March 2, 2022 Human Rights First thanks the House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations for holding a hearing on…
Letter
Joint NGO Letter re: Further Delay in Rescinding Public Health Asylum Ban Rule
February 28, 2022
RE: Security Bars and Processing, DHS Docket No. USCIS 2020-0013 The 135 undersigned faith-based groups, national and local legal services providers, medical and public health…
Blog
U.S. Should Spell Out How It Will Help Activists Needing to Flee Ukraine
February 27, 2022
By Brian Dooley The U.S. State Department assures us that “The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to putting human rights and democratic principles at the center…
Press
Human Rights First Calls on CDC to Rescind Title 42 Order After Easing COVID-19 Mask Mandates
February 25, 2022
WASHINGTON D.C. – With reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will soon ease its guidelines for COVID-19 mask mandates, Human Rights First reiterates its…
Fact Sheet
The Opposite of Orderly and Humane: Use of Title 42 Spurs Disorder and Undermines Security
February 22, 2022
The Biden administration’s use of Trump administration policies to turn away people seeking protection along the southern border with Mexico is spurring disorder and escalating…
Press
Human Rights First Welcomes Opportunity for Supreme Court to Uphold the Biden Administration’s Authority to End Illegal “Remain in Mexico” Policy
February 18, 2022
WASHINGTON — Today, the Supreme Court granted the Biden administration’s request for expedited review of a lower court decision forcing it to reimplement the deadly Remain in Mexico policy…
Blog
Black immigrants face unique challenges
February 17, 2022
By Reema Ghabra Black Immigrant and Refugee Equity (BIRE) Project Fellow Over the past twenty years, the Black immigrant population in the United States has…
Press
Immigrant Rights Organizations Call on Biden to Stop Expansion of Surveillance and End the Immigration Detention System as a Whole
February 9, 2022
WASHINGTON D.C. – Yesterday, Axios reported that the Biden administration is planning an expanded home confinement and curfew pilot program for immigrants seeking asylum or other…
Fact Sheet
Restarting Orderly Process Critical to Managing Arrival of Asylum Seekers at Arizona Border
February 8, 2022
U.S. ports of entry have remained closed to requests for asylum throughout the pandemic, forcing some families and adults to cross the border between ports…
Press
Human Rights First Opposes CDC’s Extension of Title 42
February 4, 2022
WASHINGTON D.C.– More than a year after President Biden’s Executive Order directing steps to restore asylum at the United States border, CBS News reports that the Centers for Disease…
Letter
Letter to Biden/Harris on Expulsions of Venezuelan Asylum Seekers to Colombia
February 2, 2022
Dear President Biden and Vice President Harris: We, the undersigned organizations committed to the rights of asylum seekers and refugees, write to express our serious…
Fact Sheet
Upholding President Biden’s Asylum Commitments Progress Checklist: One Year After February 2021 Executive Order
February 1, 2022
One year ago, on February 2, 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order directing steps to manage migration in North and Central America and to…
Fact Sheet
Fair, Timely, and Less-Traumatizing Asylum Process
January 25, 2022
The backlogs and delays at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Asylum Office and the immigration courts have reached new record highs, as long-standing…
Fact Sheet
Recommendations to End Separation of Asylum-Seeking and Migrant Families
January 21, 2022
President Biden’s February 2, 2021 Executive Order 14011 (“Establishment of Interagency Task Force on the Reunification of Families”) created an Interagency Task Force on the…
Report
A Shameful Record: Biden Administration’s Use of Trump Policies Endangers People Seeking Asylum
January 13, 2022
Biden Administration’s Use of Trump Policies Endangers People Seeking Asylum Now nearly one year into President Biden’s term, his administration continues to implement and expand…
Fact Sheet
The Biden Administration at One Year: Urgent Recommendations for Upholding U.S. Refugee Law, Restoring Asylum, and Saving Lives
January 13, 2022
One year after President Biden took office, his administration has taken steps to end some Trump administration policies that blocked refugees from asylum but has…
Blog
Supporting Afghans even as they fade from the news
January 3, 2022
By Sophie Salmore Out of a combined 14,000-plus minutes of the national evening news broadcast on CBS, ABC, and NBC in 2020, just five minutes…
Blog
The CDC’S Extension of the Title 42 Order: Misusing Public Health Authority
December 20, 2021
By: Diandra Coonghe, HRF Intern Human Rights First Fall 2021 Communications Intern Diandra Coonghe is studying biological science at Fairleigh Dickinson University. She prepared…
Letter
Joint Letter in Response to RMX 2.0 and Title 42 Continuation
December 17, 2021
We, the undersigned 242 organizations, write in dismay at the administration’s decision to expand the Remain in Mexico policy and deploy it in tandem with…
Press
Human Rights First Leads Over 240 Organizations Calling on the Biden Administration to End Trump-Era Policies and Restart Asylum
December 17, 2021
WASHINGTON D.C. – In light of the Biden administration’s recent decision to expand the Remain in Mexico policy and deploy it in tandem with Title…
Fact Sheet
Inhumane Again: Remain in Mexico Rollout Confirms Endemic Flaws of Unfixable Policy
December 16, 2021
As the Biden administration began its rollout of Remain in Mexico (RMX) 2.0 in early December 2021, Human Rights First researchers observed the initial returns…
Press
Human Rights First: Extended Title 42 Order Continues Trump’s Cruel, Baseless Policy, Endangers People Seeking Asylum
December 7, 2021
WASHINGTON – Coming at the same time that the Biden administration restarted Remain in Mexico, reports on Friday indicated that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had…
Press
Human Rights First Urges Biden Administration to Honor Promise to Permanently End Trump’s “Remain in Mexico”
December 2, 2021
WASHINGTON — In response to the Biden administration’s announcement today that it will restart the Trump-era Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), also known as “Remain in Mexico,” in the…
Letter
Joint NGO Letter on U.S. Compliance with Convention Against Torture Obligations
December 1, 2021
Dear Secretary Blinken, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield, Chargé d’Affaires Moeling, and Ambassador Rice: We write to express deep concerns about reports that the Biden administration has submitted…
Letter
NGO Letter to DHS and USCIS on Employment Authorization for Asylum Seekers
November 17, 2021
Dear Secretary Mayorkas and Director Jaddou, We, the 75 undersigned organizations, write to urge the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to eliminate – rather than…
Lawsuit
Human Rights First Declaration in Tony N. et. al., v. USCIS
November 15, 2021
Human Rights First submitted a fact declaration filed in the federal lawsuit, Tony N. et. al., v. USCIS, by the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP)…
Fact Sheet
Belarus-Poland Border: U.S. Should Stand for Human Rights and Human Lives
November 10, 2021
Over the last week, human rights challenges at the Belarus-Poland border have escalated, as Belarus pushes migrants and refugees toward the border and Poland sends…
Fact Sheet
Border Restrictions Lift, But Biden Administration Blocks Protection for Asylum Seekers and Children
November 8, 2021
On November 8, 2021, the Biden administration lifted restrictions on non-essential travel at the U.S.-Mexico border, allowing vaccinated individuals with “appropriate documentation” to enter the…
Press
With Re-Termination of “Remain in Mexico,” Human Rights First Urges Permanent End to Inhumane Border Policies
October 29, 2021
WASHINGTON D.C. — The Biden administration today released companion memos to re-terminate the ill-named Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), or “Remain in Mexico,” a Trump-era policy…
Fact Sheet
Recommendations for the Biden Administration: Upholding U.S. Refugee Law and Restoring Asylum
October 27, 2021
The Trump administration trampled on U.S. refugee laws and treaties, illegally turning away people seeking humanitarian protection and spurring disorder and chaos along the U.S.-Mexico…
Press
Next Steps After Evacuation of 70,000 Afghans Must Include Access to Counsel, Pathway to Legal Permanent Residency
October 22, 2021
WASHINGTON — Since the fall of Kabul in mid-August, more than 70,000 Afghans have been evacuated to the United States, with thousands more expected to arrive…
Press
New Report of Increasing Dangers Asylum Seekers Face as Biden Defends Use of Title 42 and Restarts MPP
October 21, 2021
WASHINGTON — A new report finds that dangers faced by asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border are mounting, documenting more than 7,000 kidnappings and other violent attacks against…
Report
“Illegal and Inhumane”: Biden Administration Continues Embrace of Trump Title 42 Policy as Attacks on People Seeking Refuge Mount
October 21, 2021
Nine months after taking office, President Biden’s administration continues to embrace and defend, rather than end, the Trump administration’s “Title 42” policy, which misuses public…
Letter
Title 42 is Not About Public Health. It’s About Exclusion.
October 21, 2021
by Paloma Delgado, former Human Rights First Intern Using Title 42 to expel migrants and asylum seekers from the United States has never been…
Letter
Legal Service Providers Joint Letter on MPP
October 19, 2021
Dear President Biden, Vice President Harris, Secretary Mayorkas, and Attorney General Garland: The undersigned 73 legal services providers, law school clinics, and law firms, write…
Letter
Human Rights First Comment on Asylum Process Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
October 18, 2021
Human Rights First submits these comments in response to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) Executive Office for Immigration…
Press
Human Rights First Urges Biden Administration to Re-terminate, Not Restart, Trump-Era “Remain in Mexico” Policy
October 15, 2021
NEW YORK — In response to reports that the Biden administration will relaunch the Remain in Mexico policy by mid-November if Mexico agrees, Human Rights First urges the…
Press
Groups File Emergency Request to Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for Asylum Seekers Expelled to Danger
October 7, 2021
WASHINGTON — The Lowenstein Project at Yale Law School submitted today an emergency request for precautionary measures against the United States on behalf of asylum…
Press
After Appeals Court Stay, Human Rights First Renews Call for Biden Administration to End Trump Expulsion Policy
October 1, 2021
NEW YORK – In the wake of an appeals court order yesterday, Human Rights First reiterated its calls for the Biden administration to stop defending the…
Press
Human Rights First Welcomes Support for Afghans in Continuing Resolution
September 30, 2021
WASHINGTON – Human Rights First welcomed Congress’ inclusion of several provisions that will better support Afghans seeking safety in the United States in today’s passage of a…
Press
New Report Documents Decades of Harm to Refugees on the Basis of a Technical Filing Requirement, Urgently Calls For Its Repeal
September 30, 2021
NEW YORK – Human Rights First today released a new report documenting the harms that the one-year filing deadline ban has inflicted on tens of thousands of refugees…
Letter
Civil and Human Rights Leaders Letter to President Biden on Haitian Expulsions
September 22, 2021
Dear President Biden, As leaders of civil rights and human rights organizations, we write at an inflection point for your Administration’s commitment to a humane…
Press
Human Rights First and 38 Human and Civil Rights Leaders Tell President Biden: “Your Administration Stands at a Precipice”
September 22, 2021
WASHINGTON — Human Rights First President and CEO Michael Breen joined leaders of 38 human and civil rights organizations in delivering a letter to the…
Fact Sheet
Biden Administration’s Dangerous Haitian Expulsion Strategy Escalates the U.S. History of Illegal and Discriminatory Mistreatment of Haitians Seeking Safety in the United States
September 21, 2021
On September 18, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a “comprehensive strategy” to expel thousands of Haitian and other asylum-seeking families and adults…
Press
Randy Bregman to be Awarded First Global Accountability Guardian Award
September 20, 2021
WASHINGTON – Today, Randy Bregman was announced as the first recipient of Human Rights First’s new Global Accountability Guardian award. The organization honors Bregman’s career-long…
Press
Human Rights First Calls on Biden Administration to Uphold the Law & End Title 42 Expulsions
September 20, 2021
WASHINGTON — As the Biden administration ramps up its expulsion of Haitians and making arbitrary distinctions between groups fleeing persecution and danger, Human Rights First…
Letter
Joint Letter to President Biden, Secretary Mayorkas & AG Garland on Title 42
September 17, 2021
Dear President Biden, Secretary Mayorkas, and Attorney General Garland: In the wake of multiple federal court decisions holding that your administration’s policies are likely unlawful,…
Press
Human Rights First Welcomes Court Order Blocking Illegal Expulsions of Asylum-Seeking Families
September 16, 2021
NEW YORK – Human Rights First today welcomed a federal court order blocking the Biden administration from expelling families to danger under the Title 42 policy, which uses…
Fact Sheet
Any Version of “Remain in Mexico” Policy Would Be Unlawful, Inhumane, and Deadly
September 9, 2021
On August 24, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a request to stay a federal court ruling that orders the U.S government to re-implement the…
Press
Evacuate Our Allies Coalition Members Call for More Support for Afghanistan Evacuation
August 31, 2021
“The Biden administration’s August 31 deadline is not our deadline,” said veterans and advocates WASHINGTON — Today marks President Biden’s deadline for the end of operations…
Press
Human Rights First Decries Supreme Court Decision on Cruel, Illegal “Remain in Mexico” Policy
August 25, 2021
WASHINGTON — Last night the Supreme Court denied the government’s request for an emergency stay in Biden v. Texas, failing to block the Texas district court injunction forcing the…
Report
Human Rights Travesty: Biden Administration Embrace of Trump Asylum Expulsion Policy Endangers Lives, Wreaks Havoc
August 24, 2021
More than seven months since President Biden took office, the U.S. government continues to turn away and block people seeking protection at U.S. ports of…
Press
New Report Finds Biden Administration’s Embrace of Title 42 Expulsions Leading to Human Rights Travesty
August 24, 2021
Research from Human Rights First Shows Kidnappings and Attacks Against Asylum Seekers Continue to Mount NEW YORK – Asylum seekers face horrific danger at the U.S.…
Press
Human Rights First Expresses Concern on Some Proposed Asylum Changes
August 18, 2021
WASHINGTON – Human Rights First welcomed some changes included in a proposed asylum rule posted today by the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Justice, but expressed concerns…
Press
Proposing Alternate ‘Remain in Mexico’ Raises Profound Human Rights Concerns
August 18, 2021
WASHINGTON — Human Rights First expressed its alarm and profound concern that the Biden administration is reportedly considering creating its own version of the notorious…
Letter
Letter to President Biden on Expulsion Flights to Southern Mexico & Changes to Asylum Processing
August 13, 2021
Dear President Biden, Secretary Mayorkas, Ambassador Rice, and Advisor Sullivan: We, the 95 undersigned organizations, write to express our profound disappointment at Secretary Mayorkas’s remarksyesterday…
Press
Human Rights First Honors Three Law Firms with the 2021 Marvin E. Frankel Award for Pro Bono Service
August 12, 2021
WASHINGTON – Human Rights First today announced the three law firms honored this year with the annual Marvin E. Frankel Award: Crowell & Moring LLP, Davis…
Press
Human Rights First Decries Biden’s New Expulsion Policy to Southern Mexico
August 12, 2021
Policy Adds New Layer to Biden Administration Use of Title 42 WASHINGTON — Human Rights First condemns the Biden administration’s new expulsions of asylum seekers…
Letter
NGO Letter to Biden Administration Expressing Profound Disappointment in Continued Violations of Refugee Law
August 6, 2021
Dear President Biden: As the world marks the 70th anniversary of the Refugee Convention, our 178 faith-based, humanitarian, legal services, immigration, and human rights organizations…
Blog
Great.com Talks with Human Rights First’s Jenna Gilbert
August 5, 2021
By Paloma Delgado, Human Rights First Intern In an interview that streams this week on Great.com’s podcast, “Great Talks With…” Human Rights First’s Director…
Press
Human Rights First: New Title 42 Order Continues Harmful Policy, Puts Asylum Seekers at Risk in Mexico
August 2, 2021
WASHINGTON — Human Rights First expressed grave concern about a new Centers for Disease Control (CDC) order issued today, based on Title 42 of U.S.…
Press
Human Rights First Condemns Biden’s Administration Move to Expedite Family Removal
July 27, 2021
WASHINGTON – Last night, the Biden administration announced plans to subject certain families who enter the United States between ports of entry to the fundamentally flawed expedited…
Fact Sheet
Assessment: U.S. Compliance with the Refugee Convention at its 70th Anniversary
July 27, 2021
As the world marks the 70th Anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention on July 28, 2021, the United States continues to flout its legal obligations…
Blog
To Protect the Lives of LGBTQ Asylum Seekers, the Biden Administration Must Fully End Title 42
July 21, 2021
By Julia Neusner, Human Rights First Emem Maurus, Transgender Law Center The Biden administration continues to misuse the Trump administration’s Title 42 policy to…
Letter
Letter to DHS on Prolonged Detention of Asylum Seekers Following Guzman Chavez Ruling
July 21, 2021
Dear Secretary Mayorkas: We, the undersigned organizations and legal clinics, write to urge the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) to ensure that people seeking protection…
Fact Sheet
Detaining People Seeking Protection: Inhumane, Unnecessary, and Wasteful
July 14, 2021
Jailing people seeking asylum protection in U.S. immigration detention centers is a cruel and costly mistake. Detention inflicts enormous physical and psychological harm, exacerbates trauma…
Letter
Letter to DHS on Enforcement Priorities and Asylum Seekers
July 13, 2021
Dear Secretary Mayorkas, We, the undersigned organizations, write to urge the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to stop targeting…
Letter
Letter re: Immediate Procedural Steps for Fair Treatment of Asylum Seekers Wrongfully Deported to Danger in Guatemala Under the “Asylum Cooperative Agreement” Program
July 9, 2021
Dear Secretary Mayorkas, Secretary Blinken, and Attorney General Garland: The undersigned organizations urge this administration to take prompt and concrete action to address the harm…
Press
New Report Shows Grave Dangers Asylum Seekers Face in Ciudad Juárez
July 8, 2021
NEW YORK — With reports that the Biden administration may extend the use of the Title 42 policy to illegally block and expel single adult asylum seekers from…
Report
Disorderly and Inhumane: Biden Administration Continues to Expel Asylum Seekers to Danger While U.S. Border Communities Stand Ready to Welcome
July 8, 2021
In late June 2021, during a visit to El Paso, Vice President Kamala Harris affirmed that the Biden administration is “committed to ensuring that our…
Press
Human Rights First: Evacuation to Central Asia Wrong Move for Afghan Allies
July 2, 2021
WASHINGTON — Human Rights First and Veterans for American Ideals strongly condemn the Biden administration’s decision to ask the Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan…
Letter
Letter to President Biden on reported Title 42 expulsion policy extension
June 30, 2021
Dear President Biden: We, the 109 undersigned organizations, write to express our alarm and disappointment that your administration is reportedly considering plans to continue to…
Report
Update: Grave Dangers Continue for Asylum Seekers Blocked In, Expelled to Mexico by Biden Administration
June 22, 2021
The Biden administration continues to expel and turn away asylum seekers to life-threatening dangers in Mexico without access to U.S. asylum protections guaranteed by domestic…
Press
On World Refugee Day, Human Rights First Urges the Biden Administration to Restore U.S. Leadership in Refugee Protection
June 19, 2021
NEW YORK — On World Refugee Day, Human Rights First urges U.S. leaders and lawmakers to restart asylum, uphold refugee law, and restore U.S. leadership…
Letter
The Impact of COVID-19 on the Human Rights of Migrants in the United States
June 15, 2021
Human Rights First’s Submission to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants This submission…
Press
Human Rights First Calls on Biden Administration to Prioritize Asylum Seekers and Human Rights in Harris Trip
June 8, 2021
WASHINGTON — As Vice President Kamala Harris meets with Mexican government leaders today, Human Rights First calls on the Biden administration to prioritize the restoration…
Letter
NGO Letter to DOJ and DHS on Reported New Asylum Process
June 8, 2021
Dear Attorney General Garland and Secretary Mayorkas: As organizations that provide pro bono legal representation, assistance, and advocacy for individuals seeking asylum in the United…
Press
Human Rights First Calls for Action to Fully End ‘Remain in Mexico’
June 2, 2021
WASHINGTON — Following the Department of Homeland Security’s issuance of a memorandum yesterday formally ending the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), Human Rights First called on the Biden administration…
Press
Human Rights First Concerned Biden Plan Risks New “Rocket Dockets” When It Should End Trump Asylum Policies
May 28, 2021
NEW YORK – Human Rights First expressed concerns that new Biden administration policies announced today risk undermining due process in asylum adjudications while the administration continues to…
Press
Human Rights First Applauds Launch of Welcome With Dignity Campaign
May 26, 2021
NEW YORK — Today, Human Rights First joined the Welcome with Dignity Campaign, a coalition of dozens of organizations, activists, asylum seekers, and advocates that aims to ensure that…
Letter
Politics, Not Public Health, is Responsible for Refugees’ Suffering
May 26, 2021
Last week, Human Rights First received a response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)…
Letter
Kidnapped, Raped, and Robbed: Dangerous Title 42 Expulsions to Mexico Continue
May 24, 2021
By Julia Neusner Karina* and her three-year-old daughter fled Honduras after the gang member who had raped her threatened to traffic her daughter. As they…
Letter
NGO Letter and Recommendations on MPP Wind Down
May 18, 2021
Dear Secretary Blinken, Attorney General Garland, and Secretary Mayorkas: Our faith-based, humanitarian, legal services, immigration, and human rights organizations and law school clinics welcome the…
Blog
“They Lied to Us”: Biden Administration Continues to Expel, Mistreat Families Seeking Asylum
May 16, 2021
By Julia Neusner When Fernando* and his family arrived in Texas after a harrowing journey from El Salvador, they cried with relief. They’d left home…
Fact Sheet
Biden Administration Title 42 Expulsions of Families and Adults to Nuevo Laredo Fuel Kidnappings and Endanger Lives
May 13, 2021
The Biden administration’s use of Title 42 to expel families and adults to extremely dangerous Nuevo Laredo in Tamaulipas, Mexico is contributing to already epidemic…
Fact Sheet
Do Expedited Asylum Screenings and Adjudications at the Border Work?
May 6, 2021
Expedited processing of asylum requests at the border hinges on unfair and unrealistic expectations that people seeking asylum, who on arrival at the border are…
Fact Sheet
Fully End the Migrant Protection Protocols: Ensure Safety for All Subjected to Horrific Policy
April 29, 2021
As the Biden administration winds down the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), it has not yet included in this process asylum-seeking families and adults whose cases…
Press
Human Rights First and the Western Union Foundation Create Social Impact Programming for Asylum-Seeking Children
April 27, 2021
WASHINGTON – Human Rights First and the Western Union Foundation are partnering to create an innovative social programming project, Vida sin Fronteras (“Life without Borders”), for asylum-seeking…
Press
Human Rights First Raises Concerns Over Bipartisan Border Solutions Act
April 23, 2021
WASHINGTON — The Bipartisan Border Solutions Act, introduced yesterday by Senators John Cornyn (R- TX) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Representatives Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and Tony…
Press
New Report Finds Continued Use of Illegal Trump Border Policy Endangers Asylum Seekers
April 20, 2021
WASHINGTON — Asylum seekers continue to face grave danger at the southern border as the Biden administration extends the Trump administration’s misuse of Title 42 public…
Report
Failure to Protect: Biden Administration Continues Illegal Trump Policy to Block and Expel Asylum Seekers to Danger
April 20, 2021
For more than a year, the U.S. government has misused public health authority to expel and block families, adults, and children seeking refuge at the…
Report
Fracaso de Protección: La Administración Biden Continúa con la Política Ilegal de Trump de Bloquear y Expulsar a los Solicitantes de Asilo al Peligro
April 20, 2021
Durante más de un año, el gobierno de Estados Unidos ha abusado de la autoridad de salud pública para expulsar y bloquear a familias, adultos…
Press
Human Rights First Disappointed by President Biden Using Trump’s Limit on Refugee Admissions
April 16, 2021
WASHINGTON — Today, the Biden administration announced it would keep the refugee admissions number at 15,000, a level set by the previous administration, walking back…
Letter
Letter to Attorney General and DHS Secretary on Asylum System Reforms
April 15, 2021
Dear Attorney General Garland and Secretary Mayorkas: In the wake of recent reports that the Biden administration is considering systemic asylum reforms, we write to…
Report
“I am in limbo:” Our New Report on the Asylum Backlog and how the Biden Administration Should Resolve it
April 12, 2021
Family separation takes many forms in the U.S. immigration system. By the time public outcry forced the Trump Administration to halt its explicit family separation…
Report
Protection Postponed: Asylum Office Backlogs Cause Suffering, Separate Families, and Undermine Integration
April 8, 2021
The Biden Administration has inherited a large and growing backlog of asylum claims. As of September 2020, more than 386,000 applications were awaiting adjudication by the Asylum…
Fact Sheet
Swift Action to Improve Fairness and Enable Timely Asylum Hearings in Immigration Courts
April 6, 2021
The United States is capable of welcoming with dignity children, families, and adults seeking protection at the U.S.-Mexico border. The challenges at the border today…
Blog
Title 42: The Cruel Trump Policy Continuing Under Biden
March 31, 2021
Joe Biden’s election brought cheers from refugee and immigration advocates everywhere. It meant an end to Trump’s cruel, far-ranging effort to prevent refugees from seeking…
Letter
NGO Letter to Biden Administration on Recent Asylum Statements and Actions
March 30, 2021
Dear President Biden, The United States led efforts to draft the Refugee Convention in the wake of World War II and, in the Refugee Act…
Press
Human Rights First Welcomes Reintroduction of Dignity for Detained Immigrants Ac
March 26, 2021
NEW YORK -- Human Rights First welcomed today’s reintroduction of the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act by Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Adam Smith (D-WA),…
Blog
That Crisis at the Border? Unethical Reporting
March 22, 2021
This weekend, it was unsurprising to find yet another story from a mainstream media outlet – this time, the Washington Post – declaring a “crisis”…
Letter
Letter to DHS and the State Department on the MPP Wind Down Process
March 12, 2021
Dear Secretaries Mayorkas and Blinken: Our faith-based, humanitarian, legal services, immigration, and human rights organizations and law school clinics welcome the administration’s initial steps to…
Letter
NGO Letter to HHS and CDC on Orders Authorizing Border Expulsions
February 22, 2021
Dear Acting Secretary Cochran and Director Walensky: As organizations that represent and advocate for migrants, refugees, and immigrant children as well as organizations committed to…
Press
Human Rights First Welcomes Admission of First Asylum Seekers Forced to “Remain in Mexico” After Two Years of Danger and Delay
February 19, 2021
WASHINGTON — Today, Human Rights First welcomed the news that the first asylum seekers stranded in Mexico under former President Trump’s cruel and illegal Migrant…
Letter
NGO Letter Urging DHS to Reject Use of Expedited Removal
February 16, 2021
Dear Secretary Mayorkas, Our undersigned faith-based, immigration, civil rights, and human rights organizations urge the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to reject the use of…
Letter
NGO Letter to Biden Administration Welcoming Asylum Executive Order, Urging Swift Rescission of Harmful Policies
February 9, 2021
Dear President Biden: The executive orders your administration issued last week are welcome initial steps toward ending the illegal and inhumane asylum and border policies…
Press
Human Rights First Welcomes Executive Order to Restore Refugee Admissions
February 4, 2021
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced today an executive order that demonstrates that the United States is serious about addressing the global refugee crisis, climate-induced…
Press
Human Rights First Welcomes First Steps to Repair Damage to Asylum System
February 2, 2021
Urgent Action Still Needed to Transit Vulnerable People to Safety in the U.S. WASHINGTON – Human Rights First welcomed President Biden’s executive orders and announcement of…
Press
NGO Letter to Biden Administration Urging End to Misuse of Title 42 Public Health Authority
February 2, 2021
Dear President Biden: We write to urge your administration to immediately end the misuse of Title 42 public health authority to illegally and inhumanely expel…
Letter
Illegal Pushbacks by the United States of People Seeking Refugee Protection
February 1, 2021
Human Rights First’s Submission to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants pursuant to…
Press
After Two Years, Biden Must End Migrant Protection Protocols and Bring Asylum Seekers Swiftly to Safety
January 29, 2021
WASHINGTON – Today marks the second anniversary of the Trump administration’s so-called “Migrant Protection Protocols” (MPP), also known as “Remain in Mexico,” which forced thousands of…
Fact Sheet
Recommendations for Biden Administration: Welcoming the Persecuted, Restoring Order, and Upholding Asylum Law, Refugee Treaties and Values
January 25, 2021
The Trump administration destroyed the U.S. asylum system, trampled on refugee laws and treaties, and spurred chaos and disorder at the border. Through that administration’s…
Fact Sheet
Recommendations to End “Remain in Mexico” and Bring People Seeking Protection Safely into the United States
January 25, 2021
On January 20, 2021, the Biden Administration announced the “suspension of new enrollments ” in the so-called Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) also known as “Remain…
Press
Human Rights First and Scores of NGOs and Legal Clinics File Amicus Brief In Support of Overturning “Remain in Mexico” Policy
January 22, 2021
WASHINGTON – Human Rights First, the National Immigration Law Center (“NILC”), and Sidley Austin LLP today filed an amicus curiae—friend of the court—brief at the U.S. Supreme Court…
Press
Human Rights First Welcomes the End of the Xenophobic Muslim, African Bans
January 20, 2021
WASHINGTON –– Today, President Joe Biden, in one of his first acts as president reversed the Trump administration’s ban on immigrants and refugees from Muslim-majority…
Press
Human Rights First: Congress Should Act Quickly to Legislate Protections for Refugees and Asylum Seekers
January 20, 2021
WASHINGTON — Human Rights First welcomed a legislative proposal from President Biden that would begin to repair the damage done to the U.S. immigration and…
Press
Biden Administration’s One Year Anniversary: Suffering Inflicted by Border Policy Hits New Record
January 13, 2021
WASHINGTON – Nearly one year into President Biden’s term, a new report released by Human Rights First finds that his administration’s use of the Trump Title 42 policy…
Letter
“We Need Someone to See Us”: To Save Lives, the Biden Administration Should Quickly Restore Refugee Protection
January 13, 2021
Ana and Jorge, an Afro-Cuban couple, were kidnapped soon after U.S. border officers expelled them to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico in 2020. They’d crossed the border…
Fact Sheet
Chaos, Cruelty, & Illegality: The Trump Administration’s Record on Asylum
January 12, 2021
The Trump administration’s record on asylum is one of destruction, disorder, and blatant violations of refugee laws enacted by Congress. Its policies punish people seeking…
Press
Human Rights First Calls for Revocation of New Rule That Uses COVID-19 as Pretext to Deny Asylum and Other Protection
December 22, 2020
WASHINGTON – Human Rights First urges immediate rescission of a new regulation to be published tomorrow by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice that…
Lawsuit
Human Rights First v. Wolf
December 22, 2020
Suing to Protect the Rights of Asylum Seekers In its final days, the Trump administration published a sweeping regulation that will makes it nearly impossible…
Press
Human Rights First Files to Fight Rule that Guts Asylum Protection
December 21, 2020
WASHINGTON — Today, Human Rights First, alongside counsel at Williams & Connolly, filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s sweeping new anti-refugee regulation, which will gut…
Report
Humanitarian Disgrace: U.S. Continues to Illegally Block, Expel Refugees to Danger
December 16, 2020
The Trump Administration continues to break U.S. laws and treaty obligations that protect refugees from persecution, returning to danger people seeking protection at the southern…
Press
Humanitarian Disgrace: Human Rights First Blasts Ongoing Human Rights Abuses in U.S. Policies Targeting Asylum Seekers
December 16, 2020
WASHINGTON – In a new report, Human Rights First details the disgraceful abuse of the human rights of refugees at the U.S. southern border. The Trump…
Press
Trump Administration Enacts Rule Gutting Protection for Refugees and Asylum Seekers
December 10, 2020
WASHINGTON – In the waning days of the current administration, the Trump U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Justice have rammed through a sweeping final…
Fact Sheet
Cameroonian Asylum Seekers Increasingly Detained, Denied Asylum Under Trump Administration
November 6, 2020
Between fiscal years (FY) 2010 and 2019, more than three-quarters of Cameroonian asylum seekers (76 percent on average) were granted asylum in U.S. immigration courts.…
Story, Updates
Government Records Shed Light on Illegal Expulsions of Asylum Seekers and Children
October 30, 2020
Human Rights First has received previously undisclosed records that reveal how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been carrying out illegal expulsions of asylum…
Press
Customs and Border Protection Report Reveals Systemic Lies to Asylum Seekers and American Public
October 30, 2020
WASHINGTON — A new investigation from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Ofhttps://www.humanrightsfirst.org/sites/default/files/OIG-21-02-Oct20.pdffice of the Inspector General (OIG) today revealed systemic disinformation given to asylum seekers seeking…
Letter
Public Comment Opposing Proposed Rules on Procedures for Asylum and Withholding of Removal
October 23, 2020
Press
Human Rights First Decries New Rules to Limit Asylum Eligibility
October 21, 2020
Rules would create sweeping new categorical bars to asylum and eliminate rules intended to ensure refugee families are not separated WASHINGTON — Human Rights First…
Press
Human Rights First Statement on Historically Low Refugee Admittance
October 1, 2020
Delivering report at the 11th hour, Trump sets the lowest number ever for refugee resettlement WASHINGTON — Late last night the Trump administration announced in a…
Letter
Comment on Proposed Immigration Court Appellate Rules
September 25, 2020
September 25, 2020 Human Rights First submits these comments in response to the Department of Justice (DOJ) Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) Notice of…
Press
Human Rights First Announces Recipients of the 2020 Marvin E. Frankel Award for Pro Bono Service
September 15, 2020
WASHINGTON – Human Rights First today announced the three law firms honored this year with the annual Marvin E. Frankel Award: Covington & Burling LLP; Williams…
Letter
Comment on Proposed Security Bars and Processing
August 10, 2020
August 10, 2020 Human Rights First submits these comments in response to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) Executive Office…
Press
Leading Public Health Experts Gravely Concerned About New Proposal to Deny Asylum
August 6, 2020
Experts including epidemiologists and infectious disease specialists find that Trump administration’s rationale for proposed rule denying refugees protection is a misuse of science and public…
Press
Human Rights First Denounces New Fees for Asylum in the United States
July 31, 2020
WASHINGTON — While the Trump administration continues to block many refugees from asylum in this country, Human Rights First condemns the new final rule requiring asylum seekers to…
Fact Sheet
New Asylum Ban, Recycled Pretext: Proposed Rule Would Illegally, Unjustly Bar Many Asylum Seekers on Public Health Grounds
July 29, 2020
Asserting specious public health justifications, a sweeping new rule proposed by the Trump administration on July 9, 2020 would expand and make permanent the administration’s…
Fact Sheet
Some Considerations and Resources for People Considering Leaving Hong Kong to Seek Asylum
July 23, 2020
Caution: Before departing to seek asylum abroad, you should try to speak with an attorney that specializes in refugee and immigration law in the country…
Press
Human Rights First Praises Passage of the NO BAN Act
July 22, 2020
WASHINGTON — Today the House of Representatives took the historic and courageous step to pass the NO BAN Act, which rescinds religiously and racially motivated…
Press
New Report Details Transit Ban Asylum Denials and Family Separations, Proposed Rule Would Revive Illegal Ban Despite Court Rulings
July 15, 2020
WASHINGTON – A year since the Trump administration’s third-country transit asylum ban was issued, this ban has caused the United States to deny asylum to…
Report
Asylum Denied, Families Divided: Trump Administration’s Illegal Third-Country Transit Ban
July 15, 2020
One year ago, on July 16, 2019, the Trump administration issued a rule barring asylum for virtually all refugees who travel through another country on…
Press
Trump Administration Expands Public Health Pretext to Block Asylum-Seekers
July 8, 2020
New proposed rules paradoxically ban people from places with high incidence of COVID-19, even as the United States leads the world in number of cases…
Press
The Second Trump Asylum Ban Has Been Defeated in Court
July 1, 2020
Washington, D.C. – On June 30, Judge Timothy Kelly of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia struck down President Trump’s second asylum…
Press
Human Rights First Decries Erosion of Protections for Asylum-Seekers in Supreme Court Ruling
June 25, 2020
WASHINGTON – In its decision today in Department of Homeland Security v. Thuraissigiam, a majority of the Supreme Court ruled that asylum seekers placed in expedited removal…
Testimony
Statement for the Record of Human Rights First on Customs and Border Protection Oversight
June 24, 2020
U.S. Senate, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Hearing on Customs and Border Protection Oversight June 25, 2020 Thank you for the opportunity to…
Opinion
America Can Handle It
June 23, 2020
How many crises must the U.S. deal with at once? As a nation, we have been forced to simultaneously protect our citizens from disease, economic…
Press
Human Rights First Condemns Rule Keeping Asylum-Seekers from Work Authorization
June 22, 2020
WASHINGTON – Human Rights First condemns the Trump administration’s new rule, slated to be issued on June 26, banning and delaying legal work authorizations for most asylum…
Fact Sheet
CDC Relied on False Assertions in Issuing COVID-19 Order Being Used to Illegally Override U.S. Asylum Laws
June 17, 2020
On March 20, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a much-criticized COVID-19 order that has effectively eliminated asylum at the southern…
Press
Human Rights First Condemns Rule that Seeks to Re-Write Refugee Laws, Eliminate Asylum
June 11, 2020
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Justice have proposed a new rule, slated to be issued on Monday, June 15, which would…
Fact Sheet
Grant Rates Plummet as Trump Administration Dismantles U.S. Asylum System, Blocks and Deports Refugees
June 11, 2020
On June 10, 2020, the Trump Administration proposed an expansive, new regulation that, if implemented, would eviscerate asylum protections for the vast majority of people…
Press
Human Rights Groups Urge Administration to Restore Legally-Required Humanitarian Protections at U.S. Border
May 27, 2020
WASHINGTON – In a letter sent today to the heads of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…
Letter
Indefinite Suspension of Protections for Asylum Seekers and Unaccompanied Children Under May 19, 2020 Order by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
May 27, 2020
May 27, 2020 Dear Acting Secretary Wolf and Director Redfield: Our 262 legal, faith-based, humanitarian, human rights, and community organizations, many of which advocate on…
Press
Human Rights First Condemns Extension of CDC Order that Effectively Ends Asylum
May 19, 2020
WASHINGTON – Human Rights First denounced the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) indefinite extension today of its much-criticized order that has used the…
Letter
Public Health Measures to Safely Manage Asylum Seekers and Children at the Border
May 15, 2020
The United States has the ability to both safeguard public health in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis and safeguard the lives of families, adults,…
Fact Sheet
Public Health Measures to Safely Manage Asylum Seekers and Children at the Border
May 15, 2020
The United States has the ability to both safeguard public health in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis and safeguard the lives of families, adults,…
Press
With Asylum Effectively Blocked at Southern Border, Those Seeking Safety Face Escalating Violence, Punishing Conditions
May 13, 2020
WASHINGTON – As the Acting Secretary for the Department Homeland Security (DHS) travels to points along the U.S. border with Mexico this week, the Trump…
Report
Pandemic as Pretext: Trump Administration Exploits COVID-19, Expels Asylum Seekers and Children to Escalating Danger
May 13, 2020
The Trump Administration is exploiting the coronavirus crisis to pursue its long-held goal of preventing refugees from seeking and receiving humanitarian protection in the United…
Fact Sheet
Is Honduras Safe for Refugees and Asylum Seekers?
May 1, 2020
On May 1, 2020, the Trump administration published an agreement signed with Honduras in September 2019, that purports to allow the United States to transfer…
Press
Human Rights First Warns Against Implementation of Honduras Asylum Agreement During Pandemic
April 30, 2020
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Department of Homeland Security published the United States’ “asylum cooperative agreement,” agreement with Honduras – a move that may signal plans to move…
Letter
Comment on Interim Final Rule: Suspension of Introduction of Persons Into United States
April 23, 2020
April 23, 2020 On March 20, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued…
Press
Human Rights First Denounces CDC Directive to Continue Illegal Expulsion of Asylum-Seekers
April 20, 2020
Washington, D.C. – In response to the Trump administration’s announcement that it will extend its illegal practice of immediately expelling asylum seekers and unaccompanied children at the…
Letter
Illegal Expulsions by the Department of Homeland Security under the March 20, 2020 Order by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
April 16, 2020
April 16, 2020 Dear Acting Secretary Wolf and Director Redfield: Our 125 legal, faith-based, humanitarian, human rights and community organizations write to vehemently object to the…
Letter
COVID-19 and the Remain in Mexico / “Migrant Protection Protocols” Policy
April 14, 2020
April 14, 2020 Dear Acting Secretary Wolf, Acting Commissioner Morgan, Acting Director Albence and Director McHenry: In light of the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic, our 27 legal,…
Press
HRF Concern Regarding Commission on Unalienable Rights
April 14, 2020
Department of State Commission on Unalienable Rights C/O Mr. F. Cartwright Weiland, Office of Policy Planning Prof. Mary Ann Glendon, Chair U.S. Department of State…
Press
Human Rights First Sues for Release for Immigrants in CA, Asks Federal Court to Protect Clients from Coronavirus Outbreak
April 4, 2020
Los Angeles, CA – As the Department of Homeland Security continues to ignore calls to release immigrants from detention, Human Rights First today filed a federal…
Press
Responding to the COVID-19 Crisis While Protecting Asylum Seekers – Update
March 25, 2020
(Updated March 25, 2020) Amnesty International USA, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières USA, Human Rights First, Physicians for Human Rights, Refugees International, and Women’s Refugee…
Press
Responding to the COVID-19 Crisis While Protecting Asylum Seekers
March 19, 2020
Amnesty International USA, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières USA, Human Rights First, Physicians for Human Rights, Refugees International, and Women’s Refugee Commission call on the Trump…
Press
Human Rights First Condemns Trump Administration Plans to Shut Southern Border to People Seeking Refuge, Disregard U.S. Law in Face of Coronavirus
March 17, 2020
Washington D.C. – In response to reports that the Trump Administration plans to shut the border to asylum-seekers, citing risks from coronavirus, Human Rights First’s Director of…
Press
Supreme Court Issues Order in Favor of Administration, Consigning Asylum-Seekers to Violence and Suffering in Mexico
March 11, 2020
The order today stays a prior appellate court ruling that would have prevented the administration from continuing to return asylum-seekers to Mexico while they await…
Letter
Asylum Seekers in Remain in Mexico / “Migrant Protection Protocols” Policy
March 6, 2020
Dear Acting Secretary Wolf: Our 153 legal representation, refugee assistance, faith-based, human rights, and community groups write to urge your agency to end the “Migrant Protection Protocols” (“MPP”),…
Press
Ninth Circuit Court Issues Ruling Against “Remain in Mexico” Policy; Recorded Abuses of Asylum-Seekers in Mexico Top 1,000 Cases
February 28, 2020
A year after “remain in Mexico” policy began, HRF finds more than 1,000 reports of kidnappings, assaults and rape of asylum-seekers Washington, D.C. – Today,…
Press
Human Rights Advocates Respond to Trump Budget Proposal
February 10, 2020
Proposed budget undermines human rights abroad, expands detention of asylum seekers Human Rights Advocates Respond to Trump Budget Proposal Washington, D.C. – The Trump Administration…
Press
Before State of the Union Address, Human Rights First Calls for Respect for Rule of Law
February 4, 2020
Human rights advocates present evidence of erosion of respect for human rights laws and protections for refugees and asylum-seekers Washington, D.C. – In anticipation of…
Report
A Year of Horrors: The Trump Administration’s Illegal Returns of Asylum Seekers to Danger in Mexico
January 22, 2020
Since January 2019, the Trump Administration has forcibly returned thousands of asylum seekers to Mexico under a policy it absurdly dubbed as the “Migrant Protection…
Press
Marking One Year of the Horrific “Remain in Mexico” Policy – Over 800 Violent Attacks on Asylum-Seekers
January 22, 2020
WASHINGTON – Next week marks one year since the Trump administration began forcibly returning asylum-seekers to wait for their court dates in Mexico, where they…
Report
A Year of Horrors: The Trump Administration’s Illegal Returns of Asylum Seekers to Danger in Mexico
January 22, 2020
Since January 2019, the Trump Administration has forcibly returned thousands of asylum seekers to Mexico under a policy it absurdly dubbed as the “Migrant Protection…
Letter
Comments in Opposition to Proposed Rulemaking: Procedures for Asylum and Bars to Asylum Eligibility
January 21, 2020
January 21, 2020 Human Rights First submits these comments in response to the proposed regulations to amend regulations relating to eligibility for asylum published in…
Letter
Response to Proposed Rulemaking: Asylum Application, Interview, and Employment Authorization for Applicants
January 10, 2020
January 9, 2020 Dear Ms. Deshommes: Human Rights First submits these comments in response to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking…
Press
Human Rights First Condemns Trump Administration Finalizing Plan to Send Asylum-Seekers to Honduras
January 10, 2020
WASHINGTON – The Trump Administration Thursday reported that it is finalizing a plan to send people seeking asylum in the United States to Honduras as part…
Press
HRF CEO Michael Breen Statement on Human Rights Day
December 10, 2019
Washington, D.C. – Michael Breen, the president and CEO of Human Rights First made the following statement in recognition of Human Rights Day and the anniversary…
Report
Human Rights Fiasco: The Trump Administration’s Dangerous Asylum Returns Continue
December 5, 2019
In January 2019, the Trump Administration started forcibly returning asylum seekers to Mexico under a new policy farcically dubbed the “Migrant Protection Protocols” (MPP). Waiting…
Press
HRF Reports Escalating Human Rights Abuses Against Asylum Seekers Returned to Mexico
December 5, 2019
Human Rights First Releases New Report on Escalating Human Rights Abuses Against Asylum Seekers Returned to Mexico by the Trump Administration Forced returns continue under…
Human Rights Fiasco: The Trump Administration’s Dangerous Asylum Returns Continue
December 5, 2019
In January 2019, the Trump Administration started forcibly returning asylum seekers to Mexico under a new policy farcically dubbed the “Migrant Protection Protocols” (MPP). Waiting…
Press
Human Rights First Heralds Legislation to Restore American Leadership to Refugee Protection
November 21, 2019
Legislation will overhaul the American refugee system to reassert humane U.S. leadership on refugee protection and resettlement WASHINGTON – Today, Human Rights First lauds Senator…
Press
Human Rights First Statement on New Trump Administration “Rule” to Send Asylum Seekers to Guatemala, Other Countries
November 18, 2019
WASHINGTON — Human Rights First (HRF) Refugee Protection Director Eleanor Acer released the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s new interim final rule aimed at sending refugees seeking asylum at…
Press
Human Rights First Statement on New Proposed Rule to Stop Refugees from Working
November 13, 2019
WASHINGTON – Human Rights First’s senior director for refugee protection, Eleanor Acer, made the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s new proposed rule, out today, which would…
Press
Human Rights First Publishes Running Database of Attacks on Asylum Seekers Under MPP
November 13, 2019
Human rights organizations partner to track kidnappings, assaults on asylum seekers forced to return to danger in Mexico under the Trump Administration “Remain in Mexico”…
Report
Orders from Above: Massive Human Rights Abuses Under Trump Administration Return to Mexico Policy
October 1, 2019
In September 2019, the Trump Administration’s policy of returning asylum seekers to Mexico, which it farcically refers to as the “Migrant Protection Protocols” (MPP), entered…
Report
Orders from Above: Massive Human Rights Abuses Under Trump Administration Return to Mexico Policy
October 1, 2019
In September 2019, the Trump Administration’s policy of returning asylum seekers to Mexico, which it farcically refers to as the “Migrant Protection Protocols” (MPP), entered…
Press
El Salvador Agreement a Fatal Deal for Asylum Seekers
September 20, 2019
New York City—In response to reports that the United States and El Salvador entering into a “safe third country” or similar “asylum cooperation” agreement in the…
Fact Sheet
Trump Administration Delivers Asylum Seekers to Grave Danger in Mexico: 200+ Publicly Reported Cases of Rape, Kidnapping, and Assault Just the Tip of the Iceberg
September 17, 2019
Since January 2019, the Trump Administration has expelled 45,000 asylum seekers and migrants, including Cubans, Venezuelans, Nicaraguans and Central Americans, to Mexico under the so-called “Migrant Protection…
Fact Sheet
Trump Administration’s Third-Country Transit Bar is An Asylum Ban that Will Return Refugees to Danger
September 13, 2019
The Trump Administration’s third-country transit asylum bar, issued as an interim final rule on July 16, 2019, effectively bans asylum for the vast majority of…
Press
New Work Authorization Rule for Asylum Seekers Could Have Devastating Consequences
September 6, 2019
Washington, D.C.—In response to a proposed new regulation that would eliminate requirements that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) decide on first-time applications for employment…
Press
Government to Appeal Asylum of First Remain in Mexico Refugee
September 6, 2019
San Diego, CA—Human Rights First today decried the U.S. government for its decision to appeal a court ruling granting asylum to the first individual returned…
Fact Sheet
CAIR Coalition v. Trump: A Case Summary
August 28, 2019
The Trump administration has launched an unprecedented assault against asylum seekers. In its latest move, it issued a sweeping asylum ban, barring from asylum eligibility…
Press
Recipients of 2019 Marvin E. Frankel Award for Pro Bono Service Announced
August 13, 2019
New York City—Human Rights First today announced that it will present its annual Marvin E. Frankel Award to the law firms of Akin Gump Strauss…
Press
New Report Documents Lives in Danger, Denial of Due Process under Remain in Mexico
August 8, 2019
Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today issued a new report documenting the impact of the Trump Administration’s Migrant Protection Protocols—commonly known as “Remain in Mexico”—on asylum seekers at…
Report
Delivered to Danger: Illegal Remain in Mexico Policy Imperils Asylum Seekers’ Lives and Denies Due Process
August 8, 2019
In July 2019, the Trump Administration vastly expanded its “Remain in Mexico” policy – farcically named the “Migrant Protection Protocols.” Since January 2019, it has…
Press
Court Strikes Down Trump Administration Policy Barring Refugees from Asylum
August 2, 2019
Washington, D.C.— The federal District Court for the District of Columbia today ruled in O.A. v. Trump that the Trump Administration cannot bar refugees from asylum for…
Blog
Sweeping Guatemala Agreement Illegal and Inhumane
August 1, 2019
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan is in Guatemala this week to work out key terms that are pivotal to implementing the agreement the…
Press
Graham Secure and Protect Act Would Neither Provide Security nor Protect the Vulnerable
August 1, 2019
Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today condemned the Senate Judiciary Committee’s move to vote out of committee the Secure and Protect Act of 2019, a bill that seeks to codify…
Blog
Want to help refugees and migrants the administration is treating cruelly? Here’s what you can ask Congress to do immediately.
July 25, 2019
There are excellent lists published over the past few days detailing what people can do to help end the horrific treatment of refugee and migrant…
Press
Court Fails to Temporarily Block Administration’s Asylum Ban
July 24, 2019
Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today expressed disappointment with the the United States District Court for the District of Columbia’s decision not to temporarily block the Trump…
Press
Expanding Deportation Powers for ICE and CBP Officers will Lead to Chaos, Dysfunction
July 22, 2019
Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today condemned the Trump Administration’s plan to immediately expand the use of expedited removal to allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection…
Press
New Trump Administration Rule an Attempt to End Asylum
July 15, 2019
Washington, D.C.—In response to the anticipated release of a new interim final rule from the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security attempting to ban those…
Blog
The Trump Administration’s Migrant Persecution Protocols
July 12, 2019
By Kennji Kizuka Coauthored with Victoria Rossi On Thursday, we met Blanca*, who fled homophobic violence in Guatemala with her partner Laura*, and Laura’s son…
Press
ICE Raids an Effort to Terrorize Communities and Separate Families
July 12, 2019
New York City—Human Rights First today condemned the Trump Administration’s planned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids as efforts to terrorize communities and separate families.…
Press
Guatemala Not Safe for Refugees
July 12, 2019
New York City—In response to reports that the United States and Guatemala may enter into a “safe third country” agreement in the coming days, a…
Press
ICE Raids an Effort to Terrorize Communities and Separate Families
July 12, 2019
New York City—Human Rights First today condemned the Trump Administration’s planned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids as efforts to terrorize communities and separate families.…
Testimony
Michael Breen Testimony at Congressional Hearing “Kids in Cages: Inhumane Treatment at the Border”
July 10, 2019
Testimony of Michael Breen President and CEO, Human Rights First Hearing entitled: “Kids in Cages: Inhumane Treatment at the Border” Before The House of Representatives…
Press
New Directive On Credible Fear Interviews Subverts Due Process
July 8, 2019
Washington, D.C.—In response to reports of a new directive from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli that would allow asylum officers to…
Press
DHS Inspector General Issues Report on Overcrowded Detention Facilities
July 2, 2019
New York City—In response to the release of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report on dangerous overcrowding and…
Fact Sheet
Is Guatemala Safe for Refugees and Asylum Seekers?
July 1, 2019
The Trump Administration is pursuing an agreement with Guatemala under which the United States would turn away asylum seekers from Honduras, El Salvador and other…