The conditions surrounding the asylum application process under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) have drastically deteriorated, particularly affecting individuals like Abeba, who sought refuge after witnessing violence in Ethiopia. Reports indicate that rights traditionally afforded to applicants are being systematically removed, effectively shielding the asylum process in secrecy. Allegations from human rights organizations claim that current screenings are effectively tools for expedited deportation rather than fair assessments for protection, raising alarm among immigration advocates regarding the treatment and rights of vulnerable individuals seeking safety in the U.S.
The Department of Homeland Security has declined to answer the California Newsroom's questions about Abeba's case or how the asylum system is currently working.
A report published by Human Rights First and Refugees International calls screenings for CAT applicants a 'sham' that is now being used to fast-track deportations.
Nearly all of Abeba's rights as a CAT applicant had been quietly and deliberately erased, along with the veil of secrecy surrounding the process.
Abeba's story, which began with her witnessing an extrajudicial killing, illustrates the dire predicaments faced by those seeking asylum in the U.S.
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