The new administration has now left the door ajar for persons who have suffered domestic abuse abroad by allowing these victims to apply for asylum in the U.S.   In many countries, in Latin America, Africa and Asia, these victims may now be considered a persecuted social group by our government, and thereby come under the protection of our asylum laws.   These abused persons often are not protected by local constabulary even if they move to other parts of their own country.  Local authorities often take the approach that these are private matters, and the authorities refuse to take cognizance of their humane obligations under international law.  When these persecuted individuals flee their country and seek refuge here, the United States now recognizing that we as a matter of national pride consider ourselves as a haven for the oppressed, the encouraging change of attitude by the current administration, allows these persecuted persons to apply for asylum.

The previous government consistently rejected these claims, first because it did not believe that these victims were encompassed by our asylum laws in spite of the fact that these persons were afflicted by rape, sexual assault, and threats to life and limb, and second because the previous administration believed that we would be overwhelmed by such cases from all over the world.

The present administration has taken a different direction, namely, that in accord with our traditions of protecting the oppressed throughout the world that we would carefully consider these cases, and individually review them for conclusive proof of the abuse and in meritorious cases grant asylum.

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