Slate Daily Feed What Next | She Was Tortured. America Shut Her Out.
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Jun 5, 2025 In this discussion, Mark Betancourt, a DC-based freelance reporter specializing in immigration, sheds light on the unsettling story of an Ethiopian woman tortured by her government, now facing forced deportation. The conversation dives into the chilling suspension of asylum rights in the U.S., particularly for those escaping torture. Betancourt highlights the systemic obstacles within the immigration process, the evolving asylum policies, and the stark realities faced by lawyers and asylum seekers in a landscape marred by confusion and fear.
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Ethiopian Woman's Asylum Struggle
- An Ethiopian woman witnessed military executions and was tortured, prompting her to flee to the U.S.
- She sought asylum under the Convention Against Torture but faced denial and deportation without proper legal support.
U.S. Asylum History's Complex Origins
- U.S. asylum rules evolved post-WWII from complex, often racially biased quotas to today's tense, restrictive system.
- The process reflects a pull between providing refuge and rising anti-immigrant sentiment.
"Shout Test" Limits Asylum Access
- Changes to asylum screening drastically reduced interviews by 85%, requiring migrants to 'shout' their fear actively.
- Small procedural tweaks have huge impact on who gains asylum access.