DOJ Restores Asylum Rights for Gang and Domestic Violence Survivors

June 17, 2021 — We applaud Attorney General Merrick Garland’s decision yesterday to reverse Trump-era immigration rulings that had made it all but impossible for women fleeing from domestic violence or families targeted by violent gangs to seek asylum in the United States.

The Justice Department’s decisions to vacate Matter of A-B I & II and Matter L-E-A-II are an important first step in re-establishing the rights of asylum seekers and undoing the multitude of cruel and inhumane policies of the previous administration.

These decisions will restore fairness to the asylum process for tens of thousands of migrants and ensure that De Novo clients who have fled horrific abuse and gang violence in their home countries will have their asylum claims fairly considered.

As Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta noted, "These decisions involve important questions about the meaning of our nation's asylum laws, which reflect America's commitment to providing refuge to some of the world's most vulnerable people."

If you have received legal advice from De Novo that you believe may be impacted by these decisions, please call our Intake and Referral Line at (617) 661-1010.