Attorney General Jeff Sessions ordered federal judges Monday to stop granting asylum to most of the tens of thousands of applicants who claim to be fleeing gang violence and domestic abuse.
Acting on his authority to issue decisions that serve as binding precedent for federal judges, Sessions made the case that victims of “private” crimes are not entitled, simply by virtue of their status as victims, to asylum in the U.S.
“Generally, claims by aliens pertaining to domestic violence or gang violence perpetrated by non-governmental actors will not qualify for asylum,” Sessions wrote in his ruling. “The mere fact that a country may have problems effectively policing certain crimes — such as domestic violence or gang violence — or that certain populations are more likely to be victims of crime, cannot itself establish an asylum claim.”
The move comes after Sessions hinted at the crackdown earlier Monday during a training session for immigration judges. It is sure to be criticized by advocates of more permissive immigration policy as an affront to the humanity of asylum seekers fleeing violence in their home countries.
|