In response to the finalization of a new rule published jointly on Dec. 11 by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice governing asylum and withholding of removal, the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Director of Policy and Community Building Terra Russell-Slavin issued a statement “condemning another blatant attack on the due process rights of asylum seekers by the Trump administration.”

“This final rule immorally targets women and LGBTQ asylum seekers by limiting their ability to claim asylum based on their gender, eliminating nearly all LGBTQ asylum claims,” Russell-Slavin said. “If implemented, the rule would also eliminate asylum for survivors of gender-based persecution such as female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), forced marriage, rape, domestic violence, femicide and human trafficking.

“The rule’s far-reaching changes to asylum set a dangerous framework, endangering the lives of thousands of asylum-seekers who face anti-LGBT laws and anti-LGBT violence around the world. We strongly urge President-elect Joe Biden to immediately take action to stop this rule once his administration takes office,” Russell-Slavin said.

For information, visit lalgbtcenter.org.