Jeff Sessions just announced a massive shift in asylum protections for victims of gang and domestic violence
- Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Monday announced broad new restrictions on who can qualify asylum in the United States that effectively blocks most victims of gang or domestic violence.
- "Generally, claims by aliens pertaining to domestic violence or gang violence perpetrated by non-governmental actors will not qualify for asylum," Sessions said in his ruling.
- Sessions has claimed asylum seekers are "gaming" the US immigration system, and this move is seemingly designed to prevent that.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Monday announced broad new restrictions on who can obtain asylum in the United States that effectively blocks most victims of gang or domestic violence from qualifying.
The attorney general's decision could impact thousands of asylum seekers and has sweeping implications for US immigration courts.
"Generally, claims by aliens pertaining to domestic violence or gang violence perpetrated by non-governmental actors will not qualify for asylum," Sessions said in a 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 ruling added.
Sessions has claimed asylum seekers are "gaming" the US immigration system, and this move is seemingly designed to prevent that. During a speech earlier in the day, Sessions said asylum was "was never meant to alleviate all problems- even all serious problems- that people face every day all over the world."
The attorney general said during his speech his impending decision would restore "sound principles of asylum and long standing principles of immigration law." Sessions also said it was the "duty" of judges to follow his orders and carry out his interpretation of the law.
As a consequence of this move, experts have warned any number of asylum seekers could be deported from the US and back into potentially dangerous situations.
"Monstrous," tweeted Sen. Dick Durbin, the chamber's second-ranking Democrat.