Re-setting Gender-Based Asylum Law
Program Founder Deborah Anker and Program Director Sabi Ardalan advocate for restoring gender-based asylum law in this blog post for the Harvard Law Review.
Secretary Mayorkas announces termination of MPP
On October 29th, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas issued a memorandum announcing the termination of the so-called Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) program. We applaud the end of this inhumane policy, which, despite its name, fails to protect asylum seekers and, instead, has led to devastating harm to individuals who are seeking safety in the United…
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Comments submitted on proposed rule regarding credible fear screenings
On October 19th, our Program, in collaboration with the HLS Immigration Project and the Immigration Coalition of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, submitted comments on a proposed rule regarding asylum procedures and credible fear screenings. While the proposed rule claims to “streamline” the asylum process, we believe that it would instead undermine asylum seekers’ due process rights…
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Biden administration hit with complaint from Black immigration groups over Haitian migrants
Our Program signed on to a complaint regarding the conduct of DHS agents at the US/Mexico border in Del Rio, Texas.
Court rules against turn backs of asylum seekers
On September 2nd, a federal judge ruled that the U.S. government’s practice of turning away asylum seekers at ports of entry is unconstitutional. This ruling indicates that the U.S. is required by law to inspect and process asylum seekers when they present themselves at ports of entry and condemns the practice of metering, which denies migrants…
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Ninth Circuit Court vacates decision in Matter of K-S-E-
In June 2021, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the decision in Matter of K-S-E-, in which the Board of Immigration Appeals had ruled that Kesly Sylvestre, a Haitian man, was “firmly resettled” in Brazil and that the Haitian government was able and willing to control his persecutors. Mr. Sylvestre was represented by our…
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HIRCP signs on to letter regarding Title 42 expulsion policy
Our Program recently joined Human Rights First and over 100 other organizations from across the country in submitting a letter to President Biden regarding his administration’s reported plans to continue to use the Title 42 expulsion policy. Under this policy, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has banned individuals from entering the…
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AG Garland vacates Matter A-B- I & II and Matter of L-E-A II
Yesterday, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland vacated Matter of A-B- I & II and Matter of L-E-A- II, three controversial, precedent decisions that resulted in denials of protection to countless refugees, in particular those fleeing gender-based or gang violence. We at the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program applaud Attorney General Garland for taking action…
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New report released on climate change and migration
On April 22, our Program, in partnership with the HLS Immigration Project, the University Network, students from Yale Law School’s Environmental Law Association, and the Yale Immigrant Justice Project, released the report Shelter from the Storm: Policy Options to Address Climate Induced Displacement from the Northern Triangle. This report examines the large-scale migration of residents…
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Spring 2021 newsletter now available
Want to get the latest news from the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program? Check out our Spring 2021 newsletter here. In this newsletter, we have updates on policy advocacy and litigation efforts, student and staff achievements, case victories, and more. If you would like to sign up to receive our newsletter via email, you can…
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