Washington, D.C. (June 16, 2021) – Together with our clients, Ayuda celebrates the Attorney General’s decision today to vacate Matter of A-B and Matter of L-E-A. Matter of A-B- and Matter of L-E-A- were prior Attorney General decisions which dramatically limited asylum’s protections for survivors of domestic violence and for those fleeing persecution based on their membership in family groups. Today’s decisions vacate these unduly restrictive standards and allow survivors of domestic violence and those fleeing gang violence, and many others who cannot obtain protection from their countries or origin, to again access asylum’s critical protections. These decisions will benefit dozens of Ayuda’s clients and thousands of individuals in the United States seeking asylum already. Today’s decisions should also benefit asylum-seekers at and near the U.S. border when, hopefully someday soon, the United States ceases to expel and exclude asylum-seekers under Title 42. #welcomewithdignity

LEA: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1404791/download

AB: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1404796/download

About Ayuda

Ayuda helps vulnerable immigrants succeed and thrive in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Since our founding in 1973, Ayuda has served more than 150,000 immigrants throughout the region. Ayuda is the only non-profit service provider in the area that provides a wide range of immigration and family law assistance, social services, and language access support for all immigrants — including women, men, and children — from anywhere in the world. This comprehensive and open approach breaks down barriers, helps those in need, and makes our communities stronger.

Survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and other crimes deserve timely access to for the work permits to which they are entitled. It is a genuine honor for Ayuda to stand with immigrant survivors from all over the world, today and every day, especially in moments of joy like that brought by this announcement.