Conyers and Lofgren Laud Attorney General’s Decision to Overturn Flawed Board of Immigration Appeals Ruling on Female Genital Mutilation Ruling

(Washington)-- In January, Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers and Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law, wrote the Attorney General requesting him to overturn a decision by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) that denied asylum to a victim of female genital mutilation (FGM) on the grounds that a woman who has already suffered the procedure could not demonstrate a fear of future persecution.

Yesterday, Attorney General Michael Mukasey vacated the decision and remanded it to the court for further proceedings. Today, Conyers and Lofgren sent the Attorney General another letter, lauding him for his consideration of the case.

"Our immigration courts should be giving refuge to victims of human rights abuses, not deporting them back to the very place that mutilated them," said Conyers. "Attorney General Mukasey did the right thing by vacating this ill-informed decision."

"I am glad that the Attorney General heard the calls for reconsideration, and acted as he did," said Lofgren. "Combating violence against women is an American priority, and our immigration law cannot be out of step."

Copy of both letters are linked.

Mukasey FGM Letter

Letter to AG re FGM