What Next | Daily News and Analysis She Was Tortured. America Shut Her Out.
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Jun 5, 2025 Mark Betancourt, a freelance reporter specializing in immigration, shares the harrowing story of an Ethiopian woman tortured by her government and facing deportation from the U.S. They discuss the chilling consequences of shifting asylum policies under the Trump administration, particularly the dismantling of protections for torture survivors. Betancourt highlights the evolving asylum process and its impact on vulnerable individuals, revealing the legal battles and human rights implications embedded in these changes.
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Ethiopian Woman's Harrowing Journey
- An Ethiopian woman witnessed executions, was imprisoned and tortured by her government before fleeing.
- She entered the U.S. hoping for asylum but is now detained awaiting deportation back to Ethiopia.
Convention Against Torture Undermined
- The woman passed the credibility test but failed to prove a high likelihood of torture if deported.
- Officials provided no explanation for denying protection under the Convention Against Torture.
Asylum Access Drastically Reduced
- After officials stopped asking people if they feared return, asylum interviews dropped about 85%.
- This 'shout test' change significantly reduced access to protection under asylum laws.