New Policy Permits Asylum for Victims of Domestic Violence

 

The Obama administration has reversed the position formerly held by Bush administration officials regarding asylum for battered women.

The Obama administration has reversed the position formerly held by Bush administration officials regarding asylum for battered women. Senior government lawyers within USCIS have filed documents in immigration appeals court which favor the possibility of allowing battered women to qualify for asylum under US immigration law. This comes after over 10 years of legal battles and uncertainty on the part of applicants and adjudicators alike. The requirements for these applicants will be more stringent than that of other asylum applicants as they will need to show that they could not find a safe haven within their own country, among other unique requirements.

www.nytimes.com/2009/07/16/us/16asylum.html

 

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