Cruel new fed bar to immigs fleeing abuse

IMMIGRATION judges generally can’t consider domestic and gang violence as grounds for asylum, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Monday in a ruling that could affect large numbers of Central Americans who have turned to the U.S. for protection.

“Generally, claims by aliens pertaining to domestic violence or gang violence perpetrated by non-government actors will not qualify for asylum,” Sessions wrote in 31-page decision.

The move overruled a 2016 Board of Immigration Appeals decision that gave asylum to a woman from El Salvador who fled her husband. Sessions reopened the case for review in March.

Sessions took aim at one of five categories to qualify for asylum — persecution for membership in a social group — calling it “inherently ambiguous.” The other categories are for race, religion, nationality and political affiliation.

Dan Kowalski, editor of Bender’s Immigration Bulletin, said the decision, subject to appeal in federal appeals court, could affect tens of thousands of people claiming asylum on grounds of domestic violence.