The case of Rodi Alvarado, a Guatemalan survivor of severe domestic violence currently seeking asylum in the U.S., is pending before Attorney General John Ashcroft.  On February 19, 2004, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) filed a brief urging Attorney General Ashcroft to grant asylum to Ms. Alvarado. In its brief, the DHS promises to issue regulations soon that will provide guidance in cases involving similar issues. Members of the Senate led by Senator Clinton (D-NY) and Senator Brownback (R-KS) have joined in support of regulations to govern gender-based asylum claims.

Please contact your Senator and express your support for women refugees who have fled gender-based persecution such as trafficking, sexual slavery, honor killing, and domestic violence who are seeking refuge in the United States.  Urge your Senator to sign the Clinton-Brownback letter to Attorney General John Ashcroft on this important issue.

Take Action: 
http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/senate_sign_on_gender

To learn more about this issue, see Asylum Protection News #23: http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/asylum/torchlight/newsletter/newslet_23.htm

To learn more about Asylum in the U.S., visit our website at http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/asylum/asylum.htm.