Amicus Brief: Advocating for Mental Health Circumstances to Be Considered in Determining Whether Someone is Barred from Asylum
RMIAN co-authored an amicus brief this week advocating for the Attorney General to vacate harmful precedent that has a discriminatory impact in immigration proceedings on noncitizens living with mental illness. The current rule prevents judges from considering mental health evidence when assessing eligibility for asylum or withholding of removal - protections that prevent the deportation of people who fear persecution in their home countries. Notably, many people fear return to their countries of origin on account of the systemic harm inflicted on persons with mental disabilities. RMIAN and co-counsel, the Capital Area Immigrants' Rights Coalition (CAIR Coalition), were joined by eleven other legal service providers seeking a just outcome in the case pending before AG Garland, Matter of B-Z-R-.