On March 25, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) categorically revoked humanitarian parole protections for individuals covered under the Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan parole program (CHNV parole). This announcement leaves over 530,000 CHNV humanitarian parolees without status in the United States and at risk of deportation, starting April 24. “Humanitarian parole” allows individuals outside […]
Category: Headquarters
Shifts in Gender-Related Refugee Protection Eligibility Guidelines
Refugee and asylum eligibility is largely determined using the “refugee” definition from the 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol (“Refugee Convention”), which defines a refugee as a person who, “owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country […]
A Haunting Reality: My Visit to Kakuma Refugee Camp
I once believed that my work in Osire refugee camp in Namibia had prepared me for anything. But nothing could have readied me for the dark reality I encountered during my visit to Kakuma earlier this year. What I witnessed was not just hardship; it was a haunting reminder of the world’s failure to protect […]
Fairness for Women in Gender-Related Refugee Cases
Of the over 120 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, 43.4 million people are refugees and 6.9 million people are asylum seekers. Women make up around half of each population, yet they face refugee and asylum processes that are not operating with a gender-neutral approach. Refugee and asylum eligibility is largely determined using the “refugee” definition […]
The Refugee Act of 1980: Needed Now More Than Ever
The Refugee Act of 1980 was born from bipartisan efforts to respond to the needs of victims of persecution, creating a pathway for them to become an American. A landmark piece of legislation, it fundamentally shaped U.S. refugee policy. The Act defined a refugee as someone with a ‘well-founded fear of persecution’ and established a […]
USCRI Tijuana – Reinstating Visitor’s Card for Humanitarian Reasons
In 2023, the National Institute of Migration took the decision to suspend the issuance of Visitor’s Cards for Humanitarian Reasons; this eventually resulted in a failure to comply with its legal obligations and, therefore, in the constant and repeated violation of the Human Rights of the applicants. This identification document is essential for the population […]
Refugee Laws Typically Work Against Women—These Examples Promise a Shift
Of the over 120 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, 43.4 million people are refugees and 6.9 million people are asylum seekers. Women make up around half of each population, yet they face refugee and asylum processes that are not operating with a gender-neutral approach. Refugee and asylum eligibility is largely determined using the “refugee” definition […]
USCRI Tijuana – Restituyendo las Tarjetas de Visitante por Razones Humanitarias
A mediados del año 2023, el Instituto Nacional de Migración tomó la decisión de suspender la emisión de las Tarjetas de visitante por Razones Humanitarias; esto eventualmente se tradujo en un incumplimiento con sus obligaciones legales y, por ende, en la violación constante y reiterada a los Derechos Humanos de las personas solicitantes. Este documento […]
Refugees Protest Inhumane Conditions in Kakuma
Refugees close to starvation are protesting for their very survival. Cuts to aid have led to catastrophe in Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp—home to nearly 300,000 refugees. In recent days, refugees in Kakuma staged peaceful protests demanding access to food, water, and shelter—the necessities for survival. Protests turned violent when the Kenyan police intervened, deploying live […]
The Lives of Children in Kakuma Refugee Camp
by Taylor McNaboe, Director of International Programs, USCRI My Visit to Kakuma Refugee Camp In mid-January, I visited Kakuma refugee camp in northwestern Kenya, one of the many places from which refugees are resettled. Hosting nearly 300,000 refugees, Kakuma is, in a word, derelict. It has been in dire need of assistance for decades. […]
