GANGS/IMMIGRATION/JEFF SESSIONS/JUSTICE DEPARTMENT/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The Trump administration Monday [6-11-18] overturned asylum protections for domestic violence and gang violence victims in a ruling that could potentially prevent tens of thousands of immigrants from getting protection in the US. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ decision sets a high bar for victims of crime to qualify for asylum protections. Not only must the government of the home country be unable or unwilling to help the victims, but ‘the applicant must show that the government condoned the private actions or demonstrated an inability to protect the victims.’ The ruling is the latest instance of Sessions taking full advantage of his authority over the immigration courts — a separate court system designed by law to be under the auspices of the Justice Department. The attorney general functions as a one-person Supreme Court in the system, in addition to hiring and evaluating the lower court judges themselves. The administration has made a priority of trying to curtail asylum claims in the US, despite asylum being a valid protection under US law and an obligation under international law. Sessions argues most asylum claims are ultimately unsuccessful. Gang violence is a major problem in Central America and one the Trump administration has itself highlighted with heightened rhetoric, with President Donald Trump calling MS-13 gang members ‘animals.'”
-Tal Kopan, “Trump admin drops asylum protections for domestic violence victims,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, June 11, 2018 5:57 pm