updated Mon. December 4, 2023
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Human Rights First
February 9, 2018
New York City—Following tours this week of three family immigration detention facilities in New Jersey, Human Rights First calls on the Trump Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the local governments to improve conditions and access to health care, and to ensure dueÃÂ ...
Human Rights First
February 7, 2018
“President Trump continues to falsely portray the U.S. asylum system as some kind of loophole that allows dangerous individuals to enter the United States, when in fact nothing can be further from the truth; those who turn to this country for protection from persecution are often the vulnerable individuals whoÃÂ ...
Human Rights First (blog)
February 6, 2018
On Tuesday, the Periodic Review Board (PRB)—an administrative review process set up to evaluate Guantanamo cases—convened to determine whether Khalid Ahmed Qasim should continue to be detained, or transferred. He's a 41-year-old Yemeni held since May 2002 and never charged with a crime.
Human Rights First
February 6, 2018
Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today urged senators to support the Uniting and Securing America (USA) Act, introduced by Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Chris Coons (D-DE), which would provide legal protection for Dreamers and increase border security without erecting further barriers to theÃÂ ...
Human Rights First
January 31, 2018
New York City—Human Rights First warned that changes announced today by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to process asylum applications in reverse order—with the newest claims processed first—will impose additional burdens and suffering on legitimate asylum seekers who haveÃÂ ...
Human Rights First
January 30, 2018
“President Trump's State of the Union address was filled with shameless fear-mongering aimed at undermining this nation's long history of protecting persecuted individuals. Protecting our national security and offering refuge to those fleeing violence are not mutually exclusive—why should the mostÃÂ ...
Human Rights First (blog)
January 30, 2018
An American citizen accused of being an ISIS member is challenging the U.S. military's authority to detain him. The unnamed detainee (“John Doe” in legal documents) had been held for three months in Iraq without access to an attorney, before a federal judge ordered the government to allow him to speakÃÂ ...
Human Rights First
January 26, 2018
New York City—Human Rights First today denounced the Trump Administration's immigration framework—billed as a "legislative fix" for protecting DACA recipients—as a shameful and dishonest ploy to hold Dreamers hostage to extreme demands that have long failed to pass Congress.
Human Rights First
January 26, 2018
Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today condemned President Trump's reported decision to sign an executive order to keep open the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, a move that threatens the United States' national security and is out of step with American ideals. In response to the news, the firstÃÂ ...
Human Rights First (blog)
January 24, 2018
However, numerous organizations, including Human Rights First, have condemned this report for its use of cherry-picked data to demonize immigrants and mislead the American public. The report indicates that three out of four people convicted in the United States of international terrorism are foreign-born,ÃÂ ...
Human Rights First
January 24, 2018
Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today calls on the Trump Administration to resume processing of refugees from 11 countries that had been subjected to the president's 90-day refugee ban, which ended yesterday. The administration has not indicated that it will release a new ban or policy memo.
Human Rights First (blog)
January 17, 2018
Yesterday, Senators Menendez (D-NJ) and Portman (R- OH) introduced the Anti-Trafficking Trade Act, a bill to prevent countries failing to meet the minimum standards for combating human trafficking from receiving preferential trade benefits. The bill utilizes economic incentives to get countries to implementÃÂ ...
Human Rights First
January 16, 2018
Washington, D.C—Human Rights First today condemned a new Departments of Justice and Homeland Security report on terrorism related offenses and immigration, for its use of selective data to demonize immigrants and undermine federal terrorism courts. The report uses highly misleading statistics onÃÂ ...
Human Rights First (blog)
January 12, 2018
Although the United States abolished slavery with the ratification of the 13th Amendment over 150 years ago, there are still an estimated 24.9 million slaves living around the world today. To raise awareness of this crime and its prevalence in our modern world, January was named National Slavery andÃÂ ...
Human Rights First
January 12, 2018
New York City—Human Rights First today urged Congress to reject the "Securing America's Future Act" introduced today by Representatives Goodlatte, Labrador, McCaul, and McSally, which woul. January 09, 2018. State Department Urged To Condemn Homophobic Rhetoric of Pastor Steven AndersonÃÂ ...
Human Rights First
January 12, 2018
Human Rights First continues to urge Congress to pass clean bipartisan legislation that protects DREAMERS and not sacrifice the safety of refugees and vulnerable families and children to anti-immigrant and anti-refugee voices. For more information or to speak with Massimino, contact Mary ElizabethÃÂ ...
Human Rights First
January 11, 2018
New York City—Human Rights First today urged Congress to reject the "Securing America's Future Act" introduced today by Representatives Goodlatte, Labrador, McCaul, and McSally, which would hurt American families and punish refugees seeking U.S. protection. The bill includes provisions that wouldÃÂ ...
Human Rights First (blog)
January 11, 2018
This morning the Senate Judiciary Committee is considering whether to advance the nomination of Howard C. Nielson to be a federal judge. His record raises serious concerns about his qualifications to serve. Human Rights First urged committee members to carefully examine Mr. Neilson's legal views onÃÂ ...
Human Rights First
January 10, 2018
“If by 'loopholes' the administration is referring to credible fear interviews, which are a hurdle asylum seekers must pass before they are even allowed to apply for asylum, then this is yet another disingenuous and opportunist attempt by the Trump Administration to illegally block vulnerable refugees fromÃÂ ...
Human Rights First
January 10, 2018
Washington, D.C—Human Rights First today expressed alarm at the news that Steven Anderson, the American pastor known for his violent and extremist rhetoric targeting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, is planning to travel to Jamaica as part of a public church mission.
Human Rights First
January 10, 2018
New York City--Human Rights First today announced that Alexi Ashe Meyers, former prosecutor and a lawyer with Sanctuary for Families, has joined its distinguished board of directors. “Alexi is a talented lawyer and a fierce advocate for victims of gender-based violence. At a time when there is increasedÃÂ ...
Human Rights First
December 20, 2017
Human Rights First notes that sanctions, such as those prescribed in the Magnitsky Act, are one important lever for the United States to press for accountability in cases of serious human rights violations. This tool should however be but one element of a broader strategy to promote respect for human rightsÃÂ ...
Human Rights First (blog)
December 31, 1999
Peter Hoekstra, a former Republican member of Congress from Michigan, was a leading supporter of Donald Trump's presidential campaign. He was rewarded by being appointed U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands. He recently made news by saying that Muslim-controlled “no-go-zones” existed in theÃÂ ...
Human Rights First
December 31, 1999
Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First calls on Vice President Mike Pence to urge Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to adopt effective, comprehensive strategies to combat the threat of terrorism, to end discriminatory practices against Christian and other religious minorities, and to condemn attacks onÃÂ ...
Human Rights First
December 31, 1999
The loss of protection for family members who have been in the United States for decades only further destabilizes this vulnerable community,” said Human Rights First's Eleanor Acer. “As the administration continues its campaign to destroy families, we call on Congress to act immediately to protect theseÃÂ ...
Human Rights First
December 5, 2017
Washington, D.C.—In response to today's decision by the Supreme Court to allow the Trump Administration to implement its executive order banning immigrants from six majority-Muslim countries, Human Rights First's Eleanor Acer made the following statement: “We are disappointed by the Supreme ...
Human Rights First
December 4, 2017
“This shortsighted move is yet another blow to U.S. leadership and will harm, rather than help, American interests including national security and global stability. Secretary Haley's claim that the compact somehow allows decisions relating to U.S. borders to be made by non-Americans reflects either a total ...
Human Rights First
November 30, 2017
"Americans should be appalled that President Trump is using fear mongering to promote anti-Muslim bigotry, which could lead to violence. Once again, the President of the United States is willfully emboldening bigots at home and abroad. In so doing, he is cheered by Ku Klux Klan leaders, and criticized by ...
Human Rights First
November 29, 2017
Washington. D.C.—Human Rights First said that today's conviction of Ahmed Abu Khattala of terrorism charges in connection with the 2012Â ...
Human Rights First (blog)
November 22, 2017
... vastly expanded family detention to deter more families from coming to the United States, Human Rights First has been actively documenting ...
Human Rights First (blog)
November 21, 2017
Earlier this year, Human Rights First joined more than 80 organizations calling on the DOJ to improve data collection. For a more ...
Human Rights First
November 21, 2017
New York City—Human Rights First today condemned the Trump Administration's decision to end Temporary Protective Status (TPS) for ...
Human Rights First (blog)
November 20, 2017
... interpreters, translators, and other local allies,” says Joe Jenkins, a leader in Veterans for American Ideals, a project of Human Rights First.
Human Rights First (blog)
November 18, 2017
As Human Rights First reported earlier this year, border officials have illegally turned back asylum seekers from the border, and asylum seekers ...
Human Rights First
November 17, 2017
Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today applauded a number of measures in the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act that will ...
Human Rights First
November 11, 2017
Washington, D.C.—To mark Veterans Day Veterans for American Ideals, a project of Human Rights First, today launched a new multimedia ...
Human Rights First (blog)
November 8, 2017
On Wednesday, the Senate Homeland Security Committee will have the opportunity to question Kirstjen Nielson, President Trump's nominee for Homeland Security Secretary. Senators should ask Ms. Nielson about her knowledge of, and commitment to, upholding U.S. human rights and refugee protection ...
Human Rights First (blog)
November 8, 2017
One year ago today, Donald Trump was elected president. For those who believe that American leadership is essential in the global struggle ...
Human Rights First
November 6, 2017
Washington, D.C.—In response to the ongoing crackdown against the Egyptian LGBT community, Human Rights First recently called on ...
Human Rights First
November 3, 2017
Washington, D.C.—In response to the ongoing human rights and humanitarian crisis in Burma, Human Rights First, in coalition with 58 human ...
Human Rights First
November 2, 2017
Human Rights First notes that federal courts have proven much more effective at obtaining convictions of terrorist suspects than military ...
Human Rights First (blog)
November 2, 2017
Earlier this afternoon, President Trump spoke about last night's terror attack in New York City. He said that he wanted the alleged attacker, ...
Human Rights First (blog)
November 1, 2017
While people are paying attention to North Korea's nuclear program, most don't know that it is funded using forced labor. Earlier this month the ...
Human Rights First
November 1, 2017
Washington, D.C.— Human Rights First today expressed concern over an announced policy change by U.S. Citizenship & Immigration ...
Human Rights First (blog)
November 1, 2017
Human Rights First, in a report issued a few months ago, identified critical flaws in Mexico's asylum system and recommended that the United ...
Human Rights First
November 1, 2017
Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today praises the swift, bipartisan passage of Senate Resolution 211, a condemnation of the detention, ...
Human Rights First
October 31, 2017
... D.C.—As Congress considers a war authorization for military force following the deaths of U.S. service members in Niger, Human Rights First ...
Human Rights First
October 26, 2017
Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today condemned proposed Egyptian legislation that would criminalize same-sex relations and public ...
Human Rights First (blog)
October 25, 2017
In Washington, D.C. we work with many outstanding teams, but two stand above the rest. The first is Cathy Scheineson, a partner at McDermott ...
Human Rights First
October 24, 2017
Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today expressed alarm following a recent wave of attacks and crackdowns on the LGBT community in ...
