IMMIGRATION/JEFF SESSIONS/LAWSUIT/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The American Civil Liberties Union on Tuesday [8-7-18] filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration over its decision to remove asylum protections for victims of domestic and gang violence. The ACLU is arguing against ‘expedited removal’ policies, put forth by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, that it says ‘generally’ deny claims of violence of that nature…The lawsuit, Grace v. Sessions, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in conjunction with the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. In June, the attorney general overturned asylum protections for certain victims of violence, effectively reversing a push by the Obama administration to provide refuge to women with credible claims of domestic violence. Sessions, a former U.S. senator from Alabama, questioned in his decision whether victims of private criminal activity qualified as members of a ‘particular social group’ eligible for asylum in the U.S. Asylum seekers must currently prove they have credible fear — based on grounds of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion — in their home country.”
-Rebecca Morin, “ACLU sues Trump administration for denying asylum to those fleeing domestic and gang violence,” Politico, August 7, 2018 6:49 pm