October 27, 2020

The San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA) recently submitted a public comment opposing the proposed asylum rule and urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to withdraw the proposed rules in their entirety.

SEE: Public Comment Opposing Proposed Rules on Procedures for Asylum and Withholding of Removal

The Proposed Rule would take away procedural protections for asylum seekers in removal proceedings, making it more difficult for asylum seekers to find safety in the United States. The proposed rule would require asylum seekers to file highly technical asylum applications within 15 days of their first court hearing, resulting in great difficulty for asylum seekers, especially those in detention centers, trying to find competent counsel or prepare for their cases.

SEE: Proposed 15-Day Filing Rule for Asylum Seekers Is Designed to Be Impossible

Brittney Rezaei, Immigrants Rights’ Attorney at CAIR-SFBA said in a statement:

“Many of our asylum clients are fleeing religious persecution from countries such as China and Myanmar, or political persecution from countries like Syria or Egypt. This new rule would make it increasingly difficult for them to obtain the legal remedy they need to protect themselves and their families.”

Amber Muhammad, California ChangeLawyers Legal Fellow at CAIR-SFBA said in a statement:

The new rule would strip vital due process protections for one of the most vulnerable groups of people coming to our country. The proposed rule would greatly inhibit asylum seekers from pleading their cases accurately and effectively.”