"Violence against women, and particularly domestic violence, around the world is a violation of human rights and an issue of public health." (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Jul 13, 2018
Seventy-five House Democrats submitted a resolution this week strongly condemning the decision by Attorney General Jeff Sessions to deny entry to victimes of domestic abuse and gang violence seeking asylum in the United States. The mid-July decision made amidst widespread national outrage over the Trump Administration's inhumane border and immigration policies, is now in effect and currently being challenged in court.
Citing pervasive global violence against women, as the World Health Organization determines 1 in 3 women experience domestic violence, the resolution warns of the grave consequences for the thousands of asylum seekers it may condemn to the dangerous threats which forced them to flee their home countries.
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-I.), who introduced the resolution, described the DOJ's decision as the next cruel step in the Trump administration's intentional scheme to dismantle the United States asylum system:
Domestic violence is a deadly global epidemic. According to the United Nations, of all women victims of homicide around the world, half were estimated to have been killed by intimate partners or family members. So what does Attorney General Sessions propose the United States of America do about it? Shut our doors, turn our backs, and send victims back to the life-threatening situations they are fleeing. Shame on him.
According to U.S. statutes and international law, people can claim asylum out of fear of being persecuted in their home countries based on their race, political opinion, nationality, religion, or belonging to a particular social group.
"Sessions concludes that domestic violence survivors do not face persecution due to their membership in a 'particular social group,' which is required to gain asylum in the United States," explained Natalie Rowthorn at The American Prospect this week. But Sessions, she continued, "ignores a simple fact: El Salvador is one of the deadliest places in the world to be a woman. It's also been called the 'murder capital of the world': A recent study found a woman is killed there every 16 hours." Doctors Without Borders called the new DOJ policy a death sentence for Central American women attempting to escape violence.
Schakowsky's resolution demands the policy change by Sessions be reversed and calls on the House of Representatives to remain "actively committed to reconstituting, preserving, and defending asylum laws that allows victims of domestic violence to seek life-saving refuge and protection in the United States."
Schakowsky added, "I am proud to see so many of my Democratic colleagues join me on this resolution condemning AG Sessions' inhumanity. I look forward to seeing many more join us as we move forward."
An Unconstitutional Rampage
Trump and Musk are on an unconstitutional rampage, aiming for virtually every corner of the federal government. These two right-wing billionaires are targeting nurses, scientists, teachers, daycare providers, judges, veterans, air traffic controllers, and nuclear safety inspectors. No one is safe. The food stamps program, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are next. It’s an unprecedented disaster and a five-alarm fire, but there will be a reckoning. The people did not vote for this. The American people do not want this dystopian hellscape that hides behind claims of “efficiency.” Still, in reality, it is all a giveaway to corporate interests and the libertarian dreams of far-right oligarchs like Musk. Common Dreams is playing a vital role by reporting day and night on this orgy of corruption and greed, as well as what everyday people can do to organize and fight back. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover issues the corporate media never will, but we can only continue with our readers’ support. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Seventy-five House Democrats submitted a resolution this week strongly condemning the decision by Attorney General Jeff Sessions to deny entry to victimes of domestic abuse and gang violence seeking asylum in the United States. The mid-July decision made amidst widespread national outrage over the Trump Administration's inhumane border and immigration policies, is now in effect and currently being challenged in court.
Citing pervasive global violence against women, as the World Health Organization determines 1 in 3 women experience domestic violence, the resolution warns of the grave consequences for the thousands of asylum seekers it may condemn to the dangerous threats which forced them to flee their home countries.
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-I.), who introduced the resolution, described the DOJ's decision as the next cruel step in the Trump administration's intentional scheme to dismantle the United States asylum system:
Domestic violence is a deadly global epidemic. According to the United Nations, of all women victims of homicide around the world, half were estimated to have been killed by intimate partners or family members. So what does Attorney General Sessions propose the United States of America do about it? Shut our doors, turn our backs, and send victims back to the life-threatening situations they are fleeing. Shame on him.
According to U.S. statutes and international law, people can claim asylum out of fear of being persecuted in their home countries based on their race, political opinion, nationality, religion, or belonging to a particular social group.
"Sessions concludes that domestic violence survivors do not face persecution due to their membership in a 'particular social group,' which is required to gain asylum in the United States," explained Natalie Rowthorn at The American Prospect this week. But Sessions, she continued, "ignores a simple fact: El Salvador is one of the deadliest places in the world to be a woman. It's also been called the 'murder capital of the world': A recent study found a woman is killed there every 16 hours." Doctors Without Borders called the new DOJ policy a death sentence for Central American women attempting to escape violence.
Schakowsky's resolution demands the policy change by Sessions be reversed and calls on the House of Representatives to remain "actively committed to reconstituting, preserving, and defending asylum laws that allows victims of domestic violence to seek life-saving refuge and protection in the United States."
Schakowsky added, "I am proud to see so many of my Democratic colleagues join me on this resolution condemning AG Sessions' inhumanity. I look forward to seeing many more join us as we move forward."
Seventy-five House Democrats submitted a resolution this week strongly condemning the decision by Attorney General Jeff Sessions to deny entry to victimes of domestic abuse and gang violence seeking asylum in the United States. The mid-July decision made amidst widespread national outrage over the Trump Administration's inhumane border and immigration policies, is now in effect and currently being challenged in court.
Citing pervasive global violence against women, as the World Health Organization determines 1 in 3 women experience domestic violence, the resolution warns of the grave consequences for the thousands of asylum seekers it may condemn to the dangerous threats which forced them to flee their home countries.
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-I.), who introduced the resolution, described the DOJ's decision as the next cruel step in the Trump administration's intentional scheme to dismantle the United States asylum system:
Domestic violence is a deadly global epidemic. According to the United Nations, of all women victims of homicide around the world, half were estimated to have been killed by intimate partners or family members. So what does Attorney General Sessions propose the United States of America do about it? Shut our doors, turn our backs, and send victims back to the life-threatening situations they are fleeing. Shame on him.
According to U.S. statutes and international law, people can claim asylum out of fear of being persecuted in their home countries based on their race, political opinion, nationality, religion, or belonging to a particular social group.
"Sessions concludes that domestic violence survivors do not face persecution due to their membership in a 'particular social group,' which is required to gain asylum in the United States," explained Natalie Rowthorn at The American Prospect this week. But Sessions, she continued, "ignores a simple fact: El Salvador is one of the deadliest places in the world to be a woman. It's also been called the 'murder capital of the world': A recent study found a woman is killed there every 16 hours." Doctors Without Borders called the new DOJ policy a death sentence for Central American women attempting to escape violence.
Schakowsky's resolution demands the policy change by Sessions be reversed and calls on the House of Representatives to remain "actively committed to reconstituting, preserving, and defending asylum laws that allows victims of domestic violence to seek life-saving refuge and protection in the United States."
Schakowsky added, "I am proud to see so many of my Democratic colleagues join me on this resolution condemning AG Sessions' inhumanity. I look forward to seeing many more join us as we move forward."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.