SAVE Asylum

https://www.newsanctuarynyc.org/save_asylum
Reference: RIN 1125-AA94 or EOIR Docket No. 18-0002,

"the Departments are amending their respective regulations to provide that, with limited exceptions, an alien who enters or attempts to enter the United States across the southern border after failing to apply for protection in a third country outside the alien's country of citizenship, nationality, or last lawful habitual residence through which the alien transited en route to the United States is ineligible for asylum."

My name is Lawrence Scahill. I live in Decatur, GA. I write to object to this proposed amendment to the asylum rule. A person threatened, tortured or raped in one country who then passes through a second county en route to the United States to seek asylum may have good reason to withhold a claim of asylum in that second country. For example, officials in the second country may have prejudicial views of asylum claims from the country of origin. It is cruel and inhumane to deny asylum claims on the reason alone.

In addition, I read later in the document that asylum seekers are not guaranteed a hearing before a judge. If I read correctly, I also object to this proposal

We face a cabal of inhumane characters. They make Nixon seem house broken to paraphrase Tom Scahill, Jr.

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"I am a person of faith and conscience. I believe that our country can extend our protection to those who are persecuted in their own countries without narrowing the criteria to such a degree that it excludes many people. Gender-based violence should not be excluded as a category. Women facing attack because they are women should be given shelter, as should LGBTQ individuals who are targets of violence in their home countries. The 30 day review period is too short. There should be a 60 day time period for comments from the public. These changes seem broad and sweeping and it is hard to understand what the effect of them might be on vulnerable people running toward safety. I do not want the U.S. to so easily dismiss claims for asylum and send people back to situations where they are in danger of torture and death. Thank you for reading my comments."

-Sally Larrick