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We found 803 results for "U.S. Immigration Detention"

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,…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Fact Sheet

Rushed Timelines, Inadequate Access to Legal Representation Impede Meaningful Opportunity to Seek Asylum Under New Asylum Processing Rule

October 21, 2022

On May 31, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began implementing a new asylum process, pursuant to an Interim Final Rule (referred to as…

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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…

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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…

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Fact Sheet

Inadequate Access to Legal Representation, Rushed Timelines Impede Meaningful Opportunity to Seek Asylum Under New Asylum Processing Rule

September 14, 2022

On May 31, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began implementing an Interim Final Rule (referred to as the “Asylum Processing Rule,” or APR)…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Press

Human Rights First Condemns House Appropriators’ Inclusion of Asylum Ban in FY ‘23 DHS Appropriations Bill

June 24, 2022

Washington, DC – Human Rights First is outraged that the House of Representative Committee on Appropriations voted today to include in the Fiscal Year 2023 Department…

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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…

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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,…

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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…

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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…

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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)…

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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…

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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…

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Fact Sheet

Disinformation and Spin: Trump Administration Deploys Troops to Border, Paints Asylum Seekers and Attorneys as Threat

March 10, 2022

On March 6, 2020, as the Trump administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to freeze a February 28 ruling halting its forced return of asylum…

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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…

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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…

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Press

Human Rights First Statement in Support of Designating Temporary Protected Status for Cameroon

February 17, 2022

Washington D.C. — In light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis and armed conflicts in Cameroon, Human Rights First urges President Biden and Department of Homeland Security…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Blog

“Nothing Humane About This Process”

December 16, 2021

Biden Administration Launches “Remain in Mexico” Revamp at El Paso Port of Entry By Julia Neusner, Ana Ortega Villegas The Biden administration began returning asylum…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Press

Twenty years after 9/11, Human Rights First Urges Policies Reflecting a New Era

September 10, 2021

WASHINGTON – Today, ahead of the 20th anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001, Human Rights First issued 20 Years After 9/11: Rights-Based Policies…

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Testimony

20 Years After 9/11: Rights-Based Policies for a New Era

September 9, 2021

  On September 11th, 2001, nineteen members of Al Qaeda used hijacked airplanes to murder almost three thousand people. Twenty years later, we are still living in the post-9/11 world. Shortly after the attacks, the…

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Letter

The Resurrection of Expedited Removal: Biden Administration Reverting to and Expanding Anti-Immigration Tactics

September 8, 2021

By Chloe Lowell, Human Rights First Intern   President Biden campaigned on a promise to reverse inhumane asylum policies, create fair processes, and welcome refugees…

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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…

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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.…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Letter

“A life in safety would not mean anything if my children were not here with me”: Joys and Trauma Persist for Refugees Separated from Their Families

June 17, 2021

Each weekday Josefina* prepares breakfast for her son, helps him begin his school day of remote learning, and greets her babysitter before heading off for…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Letter

NGO Letter to Biden Administration on Asylum Seeker Expulsions to Haiti

March 3, 2021

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Press

Human Rights First Statement on Human Rights Day 2020

December 10, 2020

NEW YORK – On December 10, 1948, nations from around the world formally adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a document imbued with…

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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…

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Blog

Bringing the Fight for Refugee Rights to SCOTUS

November 19, 2020

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Amicus Brief

Amicus Brief – Pham v. Guzman Chavez

November 12, 2020

INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT This amicus brief addresses the obligation of U.S. courts to construe federal statutes, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”),…

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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.…

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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…

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Letter

The Flores Settlement and Family Incarceration: A Brief History and Next Steps

October 30, 2020

The Flores Settlement Agreement is a court settlement, in place for over two decades, that has set limits on the length of time and conditions…

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Press

Human Rights First Decries Proposed Rules Designed to Put Pressure on Asylum Seekers, Limit Eligibility

September 23, 2020

WASHINGTON  — Human Rights First expressed its strong opposition to another proposed rule for the U.S. processing of asylum claims, slated to be issued on September 23,…

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Press

Human Rights First Calls for Investigation into Whistleblower Complaint of Medical Negligence at Immigration Detention Facility in Georgia

September 15, 2020

HRF renews calls for immigrants to be released from detention during the pandemic  WASHINGTON — Human Rights First today called for investigations into a whistleblower’s…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Press

Canadian Court Rules the “3rd Country Agreement” with United States Violates of Canadian Law

July 22, 2020

WASHINGTON — A Canadian federal court ruled today that Canada’s “safe third-country agreement” between the United States and Canada violates the Canadian Charter of Rights…

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Press

U.S. Executive Order is Unlikely to Help Hong Kong Refugees

July 15, 2020

WASHINGTON — While the president last night called on U.S. agencies to reallocate refugee resettlement slots to residents of Hong Kong in his executive order on Hong Kong…

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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…

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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…

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Fact Sheet

Comment on Procedures for Asylum and Withholding of Removal; Credible Fear and Reasonable Fear Review

July 15, 2020

Human Rights First submits these comments in response to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) and Executive Office for Immigration Review’s (EOIR) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published in…

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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…

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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…

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Press

Human Rights First Urges U.S. to Reassert Global Leadership in Protecting the Rights of Refugees

June 20, 2020

WASHINGTON – On World Refugee Day, Human Rights First calls on U.S. leaders and policymakers to restore U.S. leadership in protecting the human rights of refugees:…

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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…

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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,…

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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,…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Fact Sheet

Public Health Experts, Medical Doctors, Prison Experts, and Former ICE Officials Urge Releases from Immigration Detention Facilities to Control the Spread of COVID-19

April 17, 2020

Leading public health experts, medical doctors, prison experts, and former government officials agree that urgent action is needed to avoid an unmitigated public health disaster…

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Press

Immigrants Released from ICE Detention in Federal COVID-19 Lawsuit Brought by Human Rights First in California

April 10, 2020

Los Angeles, CA – A federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California granted release to four immigrants who were detained…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Press

Human Rights Advocates with Medical and Legal Expertise Call on Governors, State Health Officials to Direct Reduction, Release of Immigration Detainees to Prevent Coronavirus Spread

March 17, 2020

New York City – Calling on governors and state health officials to use their authority to act in the interest of public health and protect immigration…

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Fact Sheet

Disinformation and Spin: Trump Administration Deploys Troops to Border, Paints Asylum Seekers and Attorneys as Threat

March 10, 2020

On March 6, 2020, as the Trump administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to freeze a February 28 ruling halting its forced return of asylum…

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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”),…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Press

Transfer of FEMA Funds for Remain in Mexico Legally Dubious, Fundamentally Disastrous

August 27, 2019

Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today condemned the Trump Administration’s transfer of funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for support of its disastrous and unnecessary Migrant…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Press

House Defense Bill Would Improve National Security through Human Rights

July 12, 2019

New York City—In response to the House of Representatives passing the defense bill (National Defense Authorization Act for the 2020 Fiscal Year, or “NDAA”), Human…

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Press

Congress Fails to Protect Refugee Children in Detention

June 27, 2019

Washington, D.C.—In response to reports that the House of Representatives will vote on the Senate’s version of a supplemental funding bill that includes money for…

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Blog

Want to help refugees and migrants the administration is treating cruelly? Here’s what you can ask Congress to do immediately.

June 25, 2019

By Jennifer Quigley There are excellent lists published over the past few days detailing what people can do to help end the horrific treatment of refugee…

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Fact Sheet

Protecting Refugees and Restoring Order: Real Solutions to the Humanitarian Crisis

June 17, 2019

This bluprint was developed and/or endorsed by: Human Rights First, America’s Voice, Center for Gender and Refugee Studies, Center for Victims of Torture, Coalition for Humane Immigrant…

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Blueprint

Protecting Refugees and Restoring Order: Real Solutions to the Humanitarian Crisis

June 17, 2019

This blueprint was developed and/or endorsed by: Human Rights First, America’s Voice, Center for Gender and Refugee Studies, Center for Victims of Torture, Coalition for Humane…

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Press

Refugee, Human Rights Groups Issue Policy Solutions to Central American Humanitarian Crisis

June 17, 2019

New York City—Human Rights First today, in partnership with more than a dozen refugee and regional human rights organizations, released a new blueprint offering concrete steps to manage…

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Press

Holding of Migrant Children at Army Base, Site of Former Internment Camp, Degrading and Abusive

June 12, 2019

Washington, D.C. — Human Rights First today condemned a decision by the Trump Administration to hold 1,400 migrant children at Fort Sill, an Army base once used…

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Fact Sheet

Callous and Calculated: Longer Work Authorization Bar Endangers Lives of Asylum Seekers and Their Families

April 29, 2019

U.S. immigration law and regulations provide asylum seekers with work authorization documents, which allow them to accept employment after their asylum applications have been pending for at least 180…

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Press

Attorney General Decision Seeks to Jail Refugees Indefinitely

April 17, 2019

New York City—In response to Attorney General Barr’s decision attempting to strip refugees of bond hearings, thereby holding them in detention indefinitely, Human Rights First’s…

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Blog

Real Solutions to the Disorder at the Border

April 10, 2019

By Eleanor Acer Anti-refugee rhetoric and policies have characterized the Trump presidency. Now, as he transitions to campaign mode ahead of the 2020 election, he’s doubling-down.…

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Fact Sheet

The Real Solution: Regional Response Rather than Border Closures, Mass Incarceration, and Refugee Returns

April 5, 2019

The Trump Administration has purposefully mismanaged the refugee and humanitarian challenges pushing people to flee political repression, human rights abuses, economic deprivation, and climate displacement…

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Blueprint

The Real Solution: Regional Response Rather than Border Closures, Mass Incarceration, and Refugee Returns

April 5, 2019

The Trump Administration has purposefully mismanaged the refugee and humanitarian challenges pushing people to flee political repression, human rights abuses, economic deprivation, and climate displacement…

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Blog

The Uncertainty and Trauma of Family Detention

March 22, 2019

By Jane Randel  Co-President, Karp Randel In late February 2019, I toured two family immigration detention centers in South Texas—one for women and their children…

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Press

President’s Budget Would Damage Asylum System, Undermine State Department

March 11, 2019

Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today called on Congress to reject President Trump’s budget proposals, which target refugees and asylum seekers, and would drastically reduce funding to promote human rights and prevent…

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Report

Prisons and Punishment: Immigration Detention in California

January 15, 2019

In the name of national security, the Trump Administration has taken numerous steps that threaten the human rights of asylum seekers and other immigrants. Several…

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Press

New Report Documents Mental, Physical, Legal Impact of Increased Detention in California

January 15, 2019

Los Angeles—Human Rights First today released a new report analyzing the mental, physical, and legal impacts of massive overuse of immigration detention in California. Prisons and Punishment: Immigration…

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Blog

Invest in Human Rights

December 31, 2018

We’re deeply grateful for your support in our mission to foster American leadership on human rights. This mission is grounded in the simple fact that…

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Blog

Secretary Nielsen Testifies Before the House Judiciary Committee: A Resource Guide

December 20, 2018

This morning’s House Judiciary Committee hearing will be a tough morning for current Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristjen Nielsen. Following increasing reports of forced bottlenecks…

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Report

Refugee Blockade: The Trump Administration’s Obstruction of Asylum Claims at the Border

December 11, 2018

In the run-up to the mid-term elections, President Trump focused much of his rhetoric on “the caravan” of migrants heading north through Mexico. The caravan,…

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Blog

Compact on Migration Adopted, But Without America

December 11, 2018

In Marrakesh, Morocco yesterday, 164 of the world’s nations adopted the Global Compact on Migration, a non-binding framework aimed at encouraging multilateral cooperation on international migration. The…

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Blog

Trump Administration Policies are Devastatingly Cruel to Children

November 29, 2018

President Trump’s immigration policies are far-reaching, sometimes difficult to understand, and rooted in hate. But one thing seems to unite them all: a blatant, absolute…

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Fact Sheet

President Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” Plan

November 28, 2018

The Trump Administration is reportedly in talks with representatives of the incoming Mexican government to implement a so-called “Remain in Mexico” plan that would return asylum seekers…

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Blueprint

How the United States Should Address Refugee Protection at its Border

November 9, 2018

As men, women and children flee violence in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, the Trump Administration has launched a barrage of punitive and threatening actions aimed at…

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Press

Statement in Response to President Trump’s Attacks on Refugees

November 1, 2018

New York City—Today in response to the Trump Administration’s announcement on access to protection at the southern border and increased detention for refugees, Human Rights…

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Fact Sheet

The Flores Settlement and Family Incarceration: A Brief History and Next Steps

October 30, 2018

The Flores Settlement Agreement is a court settlement, in place for over two decades, that has set limits on the length of time and conditions…

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New Efforts to Separate and Detain Families Would Double Down on Cruelty

October 12, 2018

Washington, D.C.—In response to reports that the Trump Administration is considering new efforts to separate and detain families at the U.S. southern border, Human Rights…

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What’s In the Close Guantanamo Plan

October 9, 2018

In February 2016, the Department of Defense released its plan for closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. Currently, 40 detainees remain at the prison,…

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Blueprint

How to Address the Global Refugee Crisis and Safeguard U.S. National Security

September 10, 2018

Historically, the United States has been a global leader in protecting vulnerable refugees fleeing persecution. Both Republican and Democratic administrations have recognized the moral and…

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Press

Administration Moves to Indefinitely Detain Immigrant Children

September 6, 2018

Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today condemned the Trump Administration’s attempt to terminate the Flores Settlement Agreement, which limits the government’s ability to indefinitely incarcerate immigrant children and requires licensing by state child protection authorities…

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Fact Sheet

Parole vs. Bond in the Asylum System

September 5, 2018

When a person seeking protection enters the United States, they are often placed in immigration detention—a costly, largely unnecessary move that negatively impacts an individual’s physical and…

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Blog

Family Incarceration: An Outline

August 21, 2018

In response to the increasing numbers of women and children requesting asylum at the southern border in the summer of 2014, the U.S. government massively increased family…

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Fact Sheet

Family Incarceration: Explained

August 20, 2018

What are “Family Residential Centers?” In response to the increasing numbers of women and children requesting asylum at the southern border in the summer of…

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Press

Human Rights First Partners with Dechert LLP, Aldea PJC to Provide Representation to Refugee Families Detained in Pennsylvania

July 24, 2018

Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today announced that it will partner with Dechert LLP and Aldea – The People’s Justice Center to provide free legal representation…

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Report

Zero-Tolerance Criminal Prosecutions: Punishing Asylum Seekers and Separating Families

July 18, 2018

For the last year, the Trump Administration has launched a barrage of policies to deter and punish those who come to our borders seeking protection.…

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Blog

Zero-Tolerance Criminal Prosecutions: Punishing Asylum Seekers and Separating Families

July 18, 2018

By Eleni Bakst and Jake Benhabib Between April and June 2018, Human Rights First researchers conducted three monitoring missions to McAllen, Brownsville, Laredo, and El Paso,…

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Press

DHS Secretary Nielsen Meets with Immigration and Human Rights Groups for First Time, Reiterates Trump Administration’s Misinformation and Sidesteps Family Immigration Crisis

July 9, 2018

Washington D.C.—Today, leaders of several immigrant and human rights organizations were invited for the first time under the Trump administration to meet with Secretary of…

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Press

Federal Court Blocks Trump Administration’s Arbitrary Detention of Asylum Seekers

July 2, 2018

Washington, D.C. — A federal court has blocked the arbitrary detention of asylum seekers fleeing persecution, torture, or death in their countries of origin. It…

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Press

Family Separation Ruling Leaves Zero-Tolerance Policy in Place

June 27, 2018

New York City—In response to last night’s preliminary injunction that all children separated from their parents by the Trump Administration must be reunited within 30…

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Fact Sheet

Top 10 Reasons Family Incarceration is Not a Solution

June 27, 2018

The Trump Administration is attempting to replace its failed policy of family separation with the failed policy of family incarceration. ICE already detains families at…

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Blog

Top 10 Reasons Family Incarceration is Not a Solution

June 27, 2018

The Trump Administration is attempting to replace its failed policy of family separation with the failed policy of family incarceration. ICE already detains families at…

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Blog

Alternatives to Detention are a No-Brainer

June 22, 2018

On World Refugee Day, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that “halted” family separation but doubled down on the administration’s obsession with detaining families with children…

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Blog

What’s Happening to Families at the Border 101

June 19, 2018

So you want to know what’s happening to children at the border and aren’t sure where to start? No problem! It’s complicated. Here we’ve answered…

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Press

New Report Documents Mental, Physical, Legal Impact of Increased Detention in Texas

June 14, 2018

Houston, Texas—As the Trump Administration ramps up detention of refugees and migrants as part of its zero-tolerance policy, Human Rights First today released a new report analyzing…

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Report

Ailing Justice: Texas. Soaring Immigration Detention, Shrinking Due Process

June 14, 2018

Key Findings: Many immigrants in Texas, including asylum seekers, remain in unnecessary, lengthy, and prolonged detention—sometimes for well over one year. Among those in prolonged detention:…

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Press

Sessions Decision Blocks Domestic Violence Survivors from Asylum

June 11, 2018

Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First condemned the decision issued today by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, which aims to block many domestic violence survivors from asylum in…

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Fact Sheet

“Zero Tolerance Cruelty”: Separating Families at our Southern Border

June 1, 2018

Family Separation Has Significant Legal and Health Implications When parents crossing the border are referred for criminal prosecution, they are forcibly separated from their children.…

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Issue Brief

The Refugee Caravan: Human Rights First’s Observations from the Border

May 25, 2018

In April 2018 approximately 240 Central Americans who had traveled together in a month-long caravan through Mexico sought asylum at the U.S. port of entry…

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Press

On World Press Freedom Day, Human Rights First Urges DHS to Release Detained Award-Winning Mexican Journalist Asylum Seeker

May 2, 2018

Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today urged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to release on parole persecuted Mexican journalist Emilio Gutiérrez Soto and to stipulate that…

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Press

Human Rights First Witnesses Administration’s Attempts to Stall Refugee Caravan

April 30, 2018

San Ysidro, California—Human Rights First today called on the Trump Administration to end its attempts to hinder members of the refugee caravan from seeking protection…

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Press

Human Rights First to Assist Asylum Seekers in “Caravan” Arriving at Border

April 26, 2018

Los Angeles, California—As a caravan of Central American refugees and migrants makes its way to the U.S. southern border, Human Rights First today announced that…

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Blog

Trump’s Fabricated Border Crisis

April 12, 2018

By Eleanor Acer Over the last week, we once again witnessed President Trump’s harmful attempts to manufacture a crisis at the southern border when he directed the Department…

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Press

Halt of Critical Program is Another Attack on Due Process, Access to Counsel in Immigration Courts

April 11, 2018

Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today condemned a decision by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to temporarily halt a critical program that provides legal information to detained immigrants and asylum seekers. The suspension of the Legal…

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Press

New Virtual Reality Video Highlights Challenges Refugee Families Face at Southern Border

April 11, 2018

Crossing The Line: Untold Stories Of Refugees Stuck At The Border New York City—Human Rights First today released the second part of a two-part 360 degree…

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Press

ICE Announces New Policy to Detain Pregnant Women

March 29, 2018

New York City—Human Rights First today condemned a policy shift by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that it will no longer generally release from detention…

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Fact Sheet

Mexico: Still Not Safe for Refugees and Migrants

March 23, 2018

The Trump Administration seeks to prevent refugees who pass through Mexico from receiving asylum in the United States. In addition to pushing for legislative change…

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Issue Brief

Fear Mongering and Alternative Facts: The Trump Administration’s Attacks on Asylum

March 19, 2018

America as a safe haven: this vision is central to the country’s ideals and identity. And it’s rooted in reality. The United States has a…

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Fact Sheet

Taking The Fight for Asylum Seekers to Court

March 16, 2018

This year the Trump Administration is engaging in an unprecedented assault on asylum seekers and refugees. From the refugee ban to fear-mongering over MS-13, turning…

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Blog

Taking The Fight for Asylum Seekers to Court

March 15, 2018

This year the Trump Administration has engaged in an unprecedented assault on asylum seekers and refugees. From the refugee ban to fear-mongering over MS-13, turning…

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Press

Groups Challenge Trump Administration’s Arbitrary Detention of Asylum Seekers

March 15, 2018

Washington D.C. — The American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Gender and Refugee Studies, Human Rights First, and Covington & Burling LLP filed a federal…

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Report

Ailing Justice—New Jersey: Inadequate Healthcare, Indifference, and Indefinite Confinement in Immigration Detention

February 27, 2018

  Every year, the U.S. government locks up hundreds of thousands of immigrants despite the existence of effective—and cost-effective—alternative-to-detention programs. Detention itself can be traumatizing,…

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Press

New Report Documents Physical, Mental Health Care Deficiencies in New Jersey Detention Facilities

February 27, 2018

New York City—Human Rights First today released a new report on immigration detention in New Jersey that analyzes the mental, physical, and legal impacts of detention on…

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Press

Supreme Court Sends Indefinite Detention of Immigrants, Asylum Seekers back to Ninth Circuit

February 27, 2018

Washington, D.C.—Following the Supreme Court’s ruling in Jennings v. Rodriguez, in which the Court sent the case back to the Ninth Circuit to evaluate the constitutionality of…

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Fact Sheet

Myth v. Fact: Trying Terror Suspects in Federal Courts

February 14, 2018

Myth: Terrorists have traditionally been tried in military commissions. Fact: Federal civilian criminal courts have convicted more than 660 individuals on terrorism-related charges since 9/11. Military…

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Press

Secure and Succeed Act Holds Dreamers Hostage, Punishes Asylum Seekers

February 13, 2018

Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today condemned introduction of the Secure and Succeed Act, calling the legislation a cruel attempt to punish asylum seekers and migrants…

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Issue Brief

Credible Fear: A Screening Mechanism in Expedited Removal

February 9, 2018

In 1996, Congress passed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, creating an expedited removal process in which immigration officers are able to order…

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Fact Sheet

Myth v. Fact: Asylum Seekers in the United States

February 9, 2018

Myth: It’s easy to get asylum in the United States. Fact: Asylum is an extremely complex and difficult process to navigate. The asylum process is…

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Press

Human Rights First Tours New Jersey Immigration Detention Facilities

February 9, 2018

New York City—Following tours this week of three immigration detention facilities in New Jersey, Human Rights First calls on the Trump Administration, Immigration and Customs…

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Blog

DHS Secretary Nielsen Uses “Alternative Facts” to Attack Children, Asylum Seekers

January 23, 2018

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 16, 2018 was an attack on asylum seekers and the truth about our immigration…

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Press

Goodlatte Bill Aims to Divide Families and Harm Refugees in Need of Protection

January 10, 2018

New York City—Human Rights First today urged Congress to reject the “Securing America’s Future Act” introduced today by Representatives Goodlatte, Labrador, McCaul, and McSally, which…

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Press

Administration Attempts to Undermine Asylum System, Citing False “Loopholes”

January 9, 2018

New York City—In response to comments made today by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on the “loopholes” that are allegedly being “taking advantage of”…

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Blog

Trump and the Criminalization of Asylum

January 5, 2018

Originally published on Huffington Post In early September of 2017, U.S. Marshals ushered twenty-four defendants into an El Paso, Texas courtroom. Shackled around the wrists,…

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Press

On International Migrant Day, Trump Admin Should Abandon Policies Violating Rights of Migrants

December 18, 2017

New York City—To mark International Migrant Day, Human Rights First’s Eleanor Acer released the following statement: “The Trump Administration—since day one—has pushed policies that trample…

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Blog

Immigration Detention is Making Kids Sick

November 22, 2017

Last week, I volunteered with the CARA Family Detention Pro Bono Project in Dilley, Texas—the home of the largest family immigration detention center in the…

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Blog

Asylum Seekers Wrongfully Prosecuted at the Border

November 17, 2017

By Olga Byrne Last week, I was in federal court for the Western District of Texas to observe criminal proceedings against individuals charged with violating section 1325…

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Blog

Will Trump DHS Nominee Adhere to International Law?

November 8, 2017

This content originally appeared in the Huffington Post On Wednesday, the Senate Homeland Security Committee will have the opportunity to question Kirstjen Nielson, President Trump’s…

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Blog

The Jane Doe Case and the Denial of Health Care to Detained Immigrants

November 6, 2017

On October 24, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ordered the federal government to refrain from blocking Jane Doe, a pregnant 17-year-old…

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Blog

Next Steps After Regional Refugee Conference in Honduras

October 31, 2017

By Eleanor Acer On Thursday evening in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, I watched as a number of Central American states adopted a declaration agreeing to…

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Blog

Trump’s DREAMer Negotiations Threaten Other Child Migrants

October 24, 2017

A little more than one month after President Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, his administration issued a list…

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Press

New Report on Immigration Court Backlog Reveals Administration’s Efforts to Undermine Asylum System

October 17, 2017

New York City—As the Trump Administration continues its attack on the U.S. refugee protection system, Human Rights First today released a new report that analyzes…

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Report

Titled Justice: Backlogs Grow While Fairness Shrinks in U.S. Immigration Courts

October 17, 2017

The backlog in the U.S. immigration courts has reached an all-time high, with 632,261 cases pending as of August 2017. In some of the nation’s…

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Blog

Sessions Presses Bogus Asylum Narrative at the Immigration Courts

October 12, 2017

By Eleanor Acer This morning, Attorney General Jeff Sessions traveled to the headquarters of the U.S. immigration courts in Falls Church, Virginia to attack asylum…

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Press

Administration Immigration “Principles” Extreme Attempt to Shut Out Refugees

October 9, 2017

New York City—Last night the Trump Administration set forth a list of “Immigration Policy Priorities,” which come as lawmakers debate a deal to allow Deferred…

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Blog

A Second Chance for Detained Asylum Seekers in Jennings v. Rodriguez

October 5, 2017

As I waited outside of the Supreme Court Tuesday morning to observe the case Jennings v. Rodriguez, the line wrapped around the block. To my…

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Press

New Report Analyzes Increased Parole Denial of Asylum Seekers Under Trump Admin

September 29, 2017

Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today released a report that finds that in the eight months since President Trump signed his January 25 executive order calling for increased…

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Report

Judge and Jailer: Asylum Seekers Denied Parole in Wake of Trump Executive Order

September 29, 2017

On January 25, 2017, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to allocate “all legally available resources” to…

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Blog

Remembering Juan Osuna

August 22, 2017

Juan Osuna, the former director of the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), passed away suddenly last week. He will be sorely missed. Juan served…

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Blog

Stephen Miller and Emma’s Torch

August 10, 2017

By Rosalind Faulkner Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates…

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Blog

The House of Representatives Should Defeat the Anti-Asylum Bill

August 4, 2017

By Olga Byrne Last week, the House Judiciary Committee marked up the Asylum Reform and Border Protection Act of 2017 (H.R. 391), a severely anti-asylum law that…

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Press

House Bill Would Return Persecuted Refugees to Danger

July 26, 2017

Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today urged members of the House Judiciary Committee to reject the Asylum Reform and Border Protection Act when it marks up…

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Press

Administration to Release Regulations that May Force Immigrants to Stay in Mexico Pending Hearings

July 20, 2017

New York City—Human Rights First today said that any action taken by the Trump Administration to force asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while awaiting removal hearings…

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Press

New Report Demonstrates that Mexico is not a Safe Third Country for Refugees

July 18, 2017

New York City—Human Rights First today released a new report assessing the dangers facing refugees in Mexico in the wake of proposals from the Trump Administration and…

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Press

Court Rules that Family Detention Violates Flores Agreement

June 28, 2017

New York City—Human Rights First today praised a California district court ruling finding that the federal government’s use of family detention facilities  continues to violate…

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Press

Supreme Court Rulings Leave Refugees Stranded

June 26, 2017

Washington, D.C.—In response to today’s Supreme Court ruling on two crucial cases that test the United States’ commitment to refugees, Human Rights First released the…

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Press

Supreme Court Reschedules Jennings Immigration Detention Case

June 26, 2017

New York City—Human Rights First today expressed its concern over the Supreme Court’s decision to schedule the Jennings v. Rodriguez case for reargument in its next session, a…

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Blog

Immigration Detention: Worse than Death?

May 24, 2017

Martin Méndez Pineda was held in U.S. immigration detention for over 100 days. As a journalist, Martin reported on federal police violence in one of Mexico’s most violent states.…

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Press

President’s Budget Request Would Harm Refugees and Asylum Seekers

May 23, 2017

Washington, D.C.— Human Rights First today called on Congress to reject President Trump’s budget proposals that target refugees and asylum seekers. The president’s proposed budget…

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Fact Sheet

Credible Fear Screening and Fraud Safeguards

May 23, 2017

The United States has, over decades, established rigorous, interagency procedures to vet and screen asylum seekers. Human Rights First has detailed the asylum system’s fraud…

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Blog

Washington Week on Human Rights: May 22, 2017

May 22, 2017

By Mary Elizabeth Margolis Top Items Ambassador Haley Travels to Jordan and Turkey U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley is currently on a…

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Press

House Judiciary Committee Urged to Reject Bill Targeting Refugees and Asylum Seekers During Today’s Hearing

May 18, 2017

Washington, D.C. – Human Rights first today, along with 25 leading human rights, refugee resettlement, and faith organizations, called on the House Judiciary Committee to reject…

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Blog

Washington Week on Human Rights: May 15, 2017

May 15, 2017

By Mary Elizabeth Margolis Top Items Turkish President to Visit the White House President Trump is scheduled to welcome Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the White House…

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Press

Secretary Kelly Wrongly Implies Majority of Asylum Seekers Present False Claims

May 4, 2017

New York City—Human Rights First today expressed alarm over statements made this morning by Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly in which he implied that the vast…

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Press

Funding Bill Maintains U.S. Support for Refugees, Wartime Allies

May 1, 2017

Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today said that the compromise fiscal year 2017 funding bill put forth by Congress yesterday contains several provisions that would maintain American support for refugees. The…

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Press

Supreme Court Upholds Flawed Ruling Against Asylum Seekers

April 17, 2017

New York City — Human Rights First today expressed serious concern that the Supreme Court declined to hear the case of Castro v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leaving in place…

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Press

Sessions Proposal to Prosecute “Illegal” Entry at Southern Border Violates U.S. Treaty Commitments

April 11, 2017

Washington, D.C.—In response to comments made today by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Human Rights First cautioned that efforts to criminally prosecute those who cross the U.S.…

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Blog

Parole Denials Lead to Increased Detention Under Trump’s Executive Order

April 10, 2017

President Trump’s so-called Muslim ban, in both iterations, has received widespread attention. Meanwhile, aside from its call for a border wall, his January 25 executive…

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Press

Kelly Signals DHS Will Not Separate Parents and Children

April 5, 2017

Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today cautiously welcomed statements made by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kelly during Senate hearing confirming that the agency will not generally…

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Press

Senators Should Question Kelly on Upholding Commitments to Refugees, Asylum Seekers

April 5, 2017

Washington, D.C.—In a statement submitted to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Human Rights First today urged senators to question Department of Homeland Security…

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Testimony

Statement to Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Hearing on “Improving Border Security and Public Safety”

April 5, 2017

The United States has laws and policies designed to protect refugees from return to persecution. In the wake of World War II, the United States…

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Blog

Separating Children from their Parents to Deter Other Asylum Seekers is Unlawful and Cruel

March 13, 2017

By Robyn Barnard and Natasha Arnpriester Last week Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary John Kelly said he “would do almost anything to deter the…

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Blog

Rumored Revisions to Executive Order Not Enough to Protect Iraqi Allies

March 2, 2017

The White House is expected to soon release its revised executive order on refugees and immigrants. The administration’s first order, signed January 27, placed a…

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Report

Violations at the Border: The El Paso Sector

February 28, 2017

  On January 25, 2017, President Trump signed the “Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements” executive order. On February 20, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly…

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Press

New Report Examines Asylum Violations in El Paso as Trump Implements Executive Orders

February 28, 2017

New York City—As the Trump Administration begins to implement the president’s executive order on immigration enforcement along the southern border, Human Rights First today released…

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Fact Sheet

Asylum Under Threat: Impact of President Trump’s Immigration Executive Orders and the Department of Homeland Security’s Memoranda on Asylum Seekers

February 22, 2017

On January 25, 2017, President Trump issued two executive orders addressing U.S. immigration policies, entitled “Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements” and “Enhancing Public Safety…

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Letter

Letter to Kelly and Tillerson on Executive Order Enforcement

February 21, 2017

The Honorable John F. Kelly Secretary of Homeland Security The Honorable Rex Tillerson Secretary of State Re: U.S. Global Leadership on Human Rights and Refugee…

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Press

Kelly, Tillerson Urged to Uphold U.S. Obligations to Protect Refugees

February 21, 2017

Washington, D.C.— Human Rights First today urged Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to ensure that any new executive…

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Press

DHS Enforcement Memo Would Limit Access to Protection for Refugees and Asylum Seekers

February 21, 2017

Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First expressed its opposition to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) memorandum implementing President Trump’s January 25 executive order on immigration enforcement…

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Press

DHS Memorandum Would Undermine Access to Asylum, Impose Arbitrary Detention

February 17, 2017

New York City—Human Rights First expressed its opposition to proposals included in a draft Department of Homeland Security (DHS) memorandum outlining potential steps to implement…

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Press

Amicus Brief Urges Supreme Court to Uphold Safeguards to Limit Arbitrary, Prolonged Detention for Asylum Seekers

February 10, 2017

New York City—Human Rights First today, along with the pro bono assistance of Patterson, Belknap, Webb, and Tyler LLP, filed a supplemental amicus brief urging the…

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Blog

Asylum Seekers Already Face Prolonged Detention

February 9, 2017

By Gemma Hallett President Trump’s January 27 executive order, which banned immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days and suspended the U.S. refugee program for longer, has captured much of…

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Press

Secretary Kelly Urged to Uphold U.S. Obligations to Protect Refugees

February 7, 2017

New York City—Following testimony today by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary John Kelly before the House Homeland Security Committee, Human Rights First urged DHS to…

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Press

Human Rights First and Coalition Partners Launch Campaign to Fight the Assault on Refugee Rights

February 6, 2017

Washington, D.C.– In response to President Trump’s recent executive orders on immigration and refugees, Human Rights First along with a coalition of leading human rights,…

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Blog

Washington Week on Human Rights: February 6, 2017

February 6, 2017

By Mary Elizabeth Margolis TOP ITEMS Muslim Ban Temporarily Halted A decision Sunday by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit preserved a lower…

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Blog

Questions for Secretary Kelly

February 6, 2017

By Eleanor Acer Tomorrow morning the new Secretary for Homeland Security, General John F. Kelly, will testify before the House Homeland Security Committee. The hearing, “Ending the…

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Blog

Executive Orders Could Block Access to Asylum for Vulnerable Individuals

January 27, 2017

With Wednesday’s executive order, “Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements,” President Trump seems poised to block access to asylum at the U.S. border, subjecting asylum seekers…

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AAP: Trump’s Immigration Executive Orders Are Harmful to Children

January 26, 2017

Yesterday, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a strong rebuke in the wake of the President’s Executive Orders on immigration and asylum seekers. “Immigrant families are our…

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Executive Orders Undermine Access to Protection for U.S. Asylum Seekers

January 25, 2017

Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today condemned an executive order signed by President Trump that appears aimed at blocking access to asylum for refugees at the…

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President Obama’s Record and Legacy on Human Rights: On the Radio with WBEZ Chicago

January 23, 2017

Last Thursday on WBEZ Chicago’s Worldview, Human Rights First President and CEO Elisa Massimino joined the program to discuss President Obama’s legacy on human rights. Broaching topics such…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: January 23, 2017

January 23, 2017

By Mary Elizabeth Margolis Top Items New Administration Today is the first full business day of the Trump Administration. The new president has promised to…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: January 17, 2017

January 17, 2017

By Mary Elizabeth Margolis TOP ITEMS Inauguration On Friday President-elect Donald Trump will officially take the oath of office to become the 45th president of…

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Questions Remain Following Sessions Confirmation Hearing

January 11, 2017

Washington, D.C.—Following yesterday’s Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing for Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), nominee for Attorney General, Human Rights First said that it will hold him…

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House Should Reject Bills that Undermine U.S. Protection of Refugees

January 11, 2017

Washington, D.C.— Human Rights First today urged members of the House Judiciary Committee to reject the Asylum Reform and Border Protection Act (H.R. 391) introduced yesterday…

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Health Care Professionals Urge Pennsylvania Court to Reject License for Family Detention Facility

January 9, 2017

New York City—A group of twenty-two doctors, psychologists, nurses, and social workers last week urged the Pennsylvania Bureau of Hearings and Appeals to reject the Berks County’s appeal…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: December 19, 2016

December 19, 2016

Statement of Principles As 2016 draws to a close and the next administration readies to take office, Human Rights First and a coalition of 20…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: December 12, 2016

December 12, 2016

Top Items Human Rights Summit Tomorrow Human Rights First will host its fifth annual Human Rights Summit at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. The afternoon…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: December 5, 2016

December 6, 2016

Top Items National Security Today the Obama Administration released a presidential report and memorandum, as well as supporting documents, detailing the administration’s policy and legal…

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Correcting the Record: Recently Arrived Immigrants Show Up for Their Hearings

November 30, 2016

As media outlets continue to cover the increase in Central Americans seeking protection at the U.S. southern border, some are citing statistics that do not…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: November 28, 2016

November 28, 2016

Top Items Veterans Storming Capitol Hill  This week members of Veterans for American Ideals will convene in Washington, D.C. to call on members of Congress to save…

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New Analysis Finds Hurdles to Release, Asylum in New Jersey Immigration Detention Facilities

November 17, 2016

New York City—Human Rights First today released a report detailing high rates of immigration detention of asylum seekers in New Jersey, which finds that asylum seekers are often detained…

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Issue Brief

Detention of Asylum Seekers in New Jersey

November 17, 2016

In October 2016 Human Rights First visited the Essex County Correctional Facility, Hudson County Correctional Facility, and Elizabeth Detention Center, the three principal facilities used…

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United States to Resettle Refugees Languishing Indefinitely in Australian Off-Shore Detention Centers

November 16, 2016

On Sunday, November 13th Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced a resettlement agreement with the United States for some of the refugees in Australia’s off-shore detention…

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Homeland Security Committee Recommends End to Family Immigration Detention

November 16, 2016

New York City—Human Rights First today urged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to swiftly implement the recommendations put forth by the DHS Advisory Committee…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: November 7, 2016

November 7, 2016

Top Items Election Day Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 8 is election day! In coming weeks, Human Rights First will offer analysis and recommendations for how the next…

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Immigration Detention Reaches Historic Highs as Asylum Seekers Sit in Prolonged Detention

October 28, 2016

By Olga Byrne Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials expect the number of people in immigration detention…

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Immigration Detention Reaches Historic Highs as Asylum Seekers Sit in Prolonged Detention

October 28, 2016

By Olga Byrne Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials expect the number of people in immigration detention to reach…

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Amicus Argues that U.S. Immigration Detention Policies Violate International Human Rights Obligations

October 25, 2016

Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First along with Patterson, Belknap, Webb, and Tyler LLP filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court case of Jennings v. Rodriguez, arguing that U.S. international…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: October 17, 2016

October 17, 2016

Top Items Guantanamo Human Rights First today praised the repatriation of Guantanamo detainee Mohamedou Slahi to Mauritania, and encourages the Obama Administration to keep up…

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Letter

Letter to President Obama on Last 100 Days in Office

October 13, 2016

October 13, 2016   The Honorable Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20500   Dear Mr. President: Right now, in…

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Press

Homeland Security Committee Recommends End to Family Immigration Detention

October 3, 2016

New York City—Human Rights First today urged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to implement the draft recommendations put forth by the DHS Advisory Committee on…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: October 3, 2016

October 3, 2016

Top Items Refugee Resettlement The Obama Administration has reached its refugee resettlement goal for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, which ended on Friday. Early reports indicate that…

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Testimony

Statement for the Record of Eleanor Acer: Oversight of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

September 30, 2016

Over the last year Human Rights First has issued several reports on this country’s escalating detention of asylum seekers. As detailed in those reports, Human…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: September 26, 2016

September 26, 2016

Top Items Global Refugee Crisis On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Immigration and National Interest Subcommittee will hold a hearing to examine the administration’s FY2017 refugee…

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Press

New Analysis Finds Hurdles to Release, Asylum in Georgia Immigration Detention Facilities

September 22, 2016

Washington, D.C.—In a new analysis released today, Human Rights First found that asylum seekers and immigrants detained in Georgia are often held for long periods of time…

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Issue Brief

Detention of Asylum Seekers in Georgia

September 22, 2016

In August 2016 Human Rights First visited the Irwin County Detention Center and the Stewart Detention Center in southern Georgia. The Stewart Detention Center, operated…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: September 19, 2016

September 19, 2016

Top Items United Nations Tomorrow President Obama will give his eighth and final presidential address to the United Nations General Assembly. The speech will likely…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: September 12, 2016

September 12, 2016

Top Items Global Refugee Crisis This Thursday the White House will host an event to celebrate the contributions of refugees resettled in the United States.  The…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: September 6, 2016

September 6, 2016

Top Items Congress This month in New York City world leaders will attend two major summits designed to address the ongoing global refugee crisis, the…

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As The DOJ Takes Aim at Mass Incarceration, DHS Detains Record Numbers of Immigrants

August 31, 2016

By Olga Byrne On Monday, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson issued a statement announcing that DHS would be reviewing its use of private prisons following a…

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Federal Court Ruling Denies Families in Immigration Detention Review of Legality of their Removal

August 30, 2016

Washington, D.C. – Human Rights First today decried the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit’s ruling  in Castro v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security that denies 28 mothers detained in…

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Homeland Security Orders Review of Privatized Immigration Detention Facilities

August 29, 2016

Washington, D.C. ‑ Following today’s announcement from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson directing the Homeland Security Advisory Council to evaluate whether immigration detention operations…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: August 29, 2016

August 29, 2016

Top Items G20 in China As President Obama prepares to travel to China at the end of this week for his final G20 summit, Human Rights First urges him…

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Report

Lifeline on Lockdown: Increased U.S. Detention of Asylum Seekers

August 26, 2016

  War, repression, terrorism, and rampant human rights violations have conspired to produce what’s commonly called the global refugee crisis. There are more than 20…

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Press

New Report Details Examines Issues Surrounding Berks Family Detention Center

August 22, 2016

New York City—As mothers enter the third week of a hunger strike at the Berks County family detention center, Human Rights First today released a new…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: August 22, 2016

August 22, 2016

Top Items Private Prisons In the wake of last week’s announcement by the Department of Justice (DOJ) that it will end its reliance on private prisons,…

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Issue Brief

Long-Term Detention of Mothers and Children in Pennsylvania

August 19, 2016

On August 8, 2016, 22 mothers at the Berks County Residential Center launched a hunger strike to protest their long-term detention and the harm it…

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Press

Department of Homeland Security Urged to End Use of Private Prisons for Immigration Detention

August 18, 2016

New York City—In the wake of the announcement by the Department of Justice (DOJ) that it will end its reliance on private prisons, Human Rights First today called on…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: August 15, 2016

August 15, 2016

Top Items Family Detention Last week a group of nearly two dozen mothers detained at the Berks County Detention Facility in Pennsylvania—many for over one year—announced…

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Asylum Seekers and Immigrants Detained in Georgia Face Insurmountable Hurdles to Asylum, Release, and Counsel

August 15, 2016

This blog is a cross post from The Huffington Post  Last week I visited the two immigration detention centers in south Georgia—Irwin County Detention Center…

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Subaru Must Begin Holding Its Suppliers Accountable

August 15, 2016

In the past four years, Subaru’s U.S. sales have almost doubled and its stock price has quadrupled. Yet most consumers don’t know that a large…

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Press

Detained Mothers Begin Hunger Strike at Berks Immigration Detention Facility

August 11, 2016

New York City–Human Rights First today renewed its calls on the Obama Administration to end its policy of detaining women and children seeking U.S. protection following the…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: August 1, 2016

August 1, 2016

Top News Immigration Detention This Wednesday, August 3rd the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and Human Rights First will host a breakfast discussion on…

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Letter

Letter: U.S. human rights leadership and outcome document for UN High-Level Meeting on Refugees and Migrants

July 29, 2016

July 29, 2016 The Honorable Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20500 Re: U.S. human rights leadership and outcome document…

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New Report Details Increase in Detention of Asylum Seekers

July 25, 2016

Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today released a new report detailing the increase in asylum seekers held in U.S. immigration detention facilities and the failure of…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: July 25, 2016

July 25, 2016

Top News Immigration Detention Human Rights First today released a new report detailing the increase in asylum seekers held in U.S. immigration detention facilities and…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: July 18, 2016

July 18, 2016

TOP NEWS Guantanamo Bay There are 59 motions on the docket for consideration during the next two weeks as the military commission proceedings for the…

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Protecting the World’s Persecuted

July 15, 2016

We fight for asylum seekers—and against the detention of families and children In 2014-15, tens of thousands of people—many of them children—fled brutal gang and…

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Press

Congress Urged to Support Refugee Protection Act of 2016

July 14, 2016

New York City—Human Rights First urges members of Congress to support the Refugee Protection Act of 2016, a bill that reaffirms the United States’ commitment…

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Fact Sheet

Refugee Protection Act of 2016

July 14, 2016

THE REFUGEE PROTECTION ACT OF 2016 Why is the Refugee Act of 2016 important? The United States has a proud history of providing refuge to…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: July 11, 2016

July 11, 2016

TOP ITEMS Global Refugee Crisis This week, the House Committee on Appropriations will markup the Fiscal Year 2017 State and Foreign Operations Bill. In its…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: July 5, 2016

July 5, 2016

TOP ITEMS Bahrain This week President Obama travels to Poland, where he and other world leaders will attend the July 8-9 NATO summit. Human Rights…

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Supreme Court Ruling Denies Temporary Relief from Deportation to 5 Million, Thwarting Protection and Stability for Millions of Children

June 28, 2016

By Olga Byrne Last week the Supreme Court announced its deadlock in Texas v. United States, the case brought by 26 states challenging the Obama Administration’s…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: June 27, 2016

June 27, 2016

TOP ITEMS Bahrain Wednesday, June 29 marks the one-year anniversary of the State Department’s decision to resume security assistance to Bahrain and remove some holds on arms sales originally imposed following Bahrain’s 2011 crackdown on peaceful protestors calling for reform. The anniversary…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: June 20, 2016

June 21, 2016

Top News World Refugee Day Today, to mark World Refugee Day, 28 of the nation’s most prominent national security leaders, retired generals and admirals, and former government…

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Tortured Saudi Gitmo Detainee Receives Review Board Hearing

June 16, 2016

This morning the Guantanamo Periodic Review Board (PRB) held a hearing for Mohammad Mani Ahmad al-Qahtani. Al-Qahtani is a 40-year-old Saudi Arabian detainee who has been imprisoned…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: June 13, 2016

June 13, 2016

Top News Ukraine Pride After the deadliest mass shooting attack in U.S. history targeted LGBT men and women at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub, claiming 50 lives and…

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Let Me Tell You About The Refugees I Assist

June 10, 2016

By Adelma Jakupovic Since August of 2015, I have volunteered at the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) in Washington, D.C. As part of my work…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: May 23, 2016

May 23, 2016

Top News Guantanamo On Tuesday, the House Oversight and Government Reform National Security Subcommittee will hold a hearing examining the remaining detainees at the U.S. detention…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: May 16, 2016

May 16, 2016

TOP NEWS Guantanamo This week as the military commission proceedings in the case against Abdul Hadi al Iraqi continue at the U.S. detention center at…

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Press

On International Day of Families, Administration Urged to End Deportation Raids, Detention of Women and Children Fleeing Violence

May 15, 2016

Washington, D.C.—In recognition of International Day of Families on today, Human Rights First today renewed its calls on the Obama Administration to abandon its policy…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: May 9, 2016

May 9, 2016

Top News Global Refugee Crisis Last week, the State Department released its official resettlement numbers for April, indicating that it resettled 451 Syrian refugees last…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: May 2, 2016

May 2, 2016

Top News  Guantanamo As the administration works toward its goal of closing the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, it has scheduled two more Periodic…

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Topics

Recruitment

May 1, 2016

How are trafficking victims recruited into sex work or forced labor? Domestic Victims Human trafficking victims in America are recruited from both within the United…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: April 18, 2016

April 18, 2016

TOP NEWS Obama in Saudi Arabia This week President Obama travels to Saudi Arabia to meet with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including…

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Deserving Asylum Seekers are Trapped in Detention, Like Military Interpreter Samey

April 5, 2016

In an op-ed published in Sunday’s New York Times, Elizabeth Rubin describes the long and harsh ordeal Samey Honaryar, a man from Afghanistan, suffered while seeking asylum…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: April 4, 2016

April 4, 2016

Top News Guantanamo Today two detainees from the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, were transferred to Senegal. The transfers come as the Pentagon continues to advocate for the administration’s plan to close…

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Washington Week on Human Rights: March 28, 2016

March 28, 2016

Top News Global Refugee Crisis In a move that would severely hinder the ability of the United States to provide protection for those fleeing violence in…

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Press