The Trump administration is separating Yemeni-American families. We're suing to reunite them.
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On Thursday, we filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for unlawfully revoking approved visas for nearly three dozen family members of Yemeni-Americans. At their interviews at the U.S. Embassy in Djibouti before December 2017, each family was told their visas had been granted and provided written documentation stating "your visa is approved." Everything changed when Trump's Muslim Ban went into effect in December 2017.
Immediately, embassy officials reversed course and refused to issue the approved visas, pursuant to the Muslim Ban. In the suit we claim that revoking the visas is unlawful and demand that the administration immediately issue visas to our clients.
"The Muslim Ban has been in effect for almost two years, and it continues to wreak havoc among families and their broader communities," said Staff Attorney Diala Shamas. "Yet again, the Trump administration is breaking the law to prevent families from being reunited – we see this over and over, whether it’s at the border or at consulates overseas."
Photo: One of our clients, Ebrahim Musleh Mohamed, with two of his three children.
Guantánamo lawyers in court for detainee who attempted suicide
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Just a week ago, we shared a critical update on our client, Sharqawi Al Hajj, a 45-year-old citizen of Yemen detained at Guantánamo who has been held without charge for over 17 years, including two years being tortured in secret CIA detention. Al Hajj's mental and physical health has now reached a crisis point.
Recently, on the phone with his counsel, Al Hajj attempted suicide by cutting his wrists with a piece of glass, making it eminently clear that his life and health are concretely, imminently at risk and that he requires immediate medical and psychiatric care.
On Friday, lawyers from the Center for Constitutional Rights appeared before a federal court in Washington, D.C. for an emergency status conference to request that Al Hajj be permitted to meet with an independent physician with whom he can build trust to evaluate his current medical condition and needs. Attorneys are hoping for a quick decision and will provide any further information as soon as they are able.
For more information, visit our case page.
Artwork courtesy of Christopher Noxon.
The UN must not forget LGBTQ workers in its workplace discrimination report
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On September 1, the Center for Constitutional Rights, Lambda Legal, the Transgender Law Center, and 50 legal experts and advocacy organizations made a submission to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights concerning the devastating epidemic of LGBTQ employment discrimination in the U.S. and the Trump administration’s refusal to recognize the rights of LGBTQ workers – a violation of international human rights laws and norms.
We detail several first-hand accounts of how discrimination and bigotry impact transgender workers and job seekers in particular. We report how transgender and gender non-conforming people of all genders face bias, discrimination, and even violence in the workplace for their gender identity and gender expression.
Learn more about the submission on our website.
Event: An intergenerational conversation with Dr. Angela Y. Davis
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Join us for a remarkable and eye-opening intergenerational conversation with the brilliant and renowned Dr. Angela Y. Davis, hosted by the National Conference of Black Lawyers on September 23, 2019 at Riverside Church in New York.
Derecka Purnell, attorney, writer, and organizer, and Vincent Warren, executive director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, will be joining Dr. Davis in a discussion about the future direction of the movement for Black liberation and the challenges for Black lawyers. The conversation will be moderated by Amanda Alexander, executive director of the Detroit Justice Center.
"©TRP-Bxl2013-3.jpg" by trp_int is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Freedom Flicks: MIDNIGHT TRAVELER
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We’re excited to partner with Film Forum on the September 19 screening of MIDNIGHT TRAVELER, one family's extraordinary story of migration and borders, filmed on mobile phones. Center for Constitutional Rights Advocacy Director Nadia Ben-Youssef will join Writer/Editor/Producer Emelie Mahdavian and Producer Su Kim for a discussion after the 7:50 p.m. screening.
When you purchase tickets on the Film Forum website use the code "CCRJ" for a special discount. Learn more about MIDNIGHT TRAVELER and Freedom Flicks on our website.
We're hirking! - Senior Major Gifts Officer
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At the Center for Constitutional Rights, we believe it is a privilege to engage with philanthropic people who want to change the world. We are looking for a Senior Major Gifts Officer for our top-notch development team. The Senior Major Gifts Officer will develop and implement strategic plans for the cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation of a portfolio of our current and potential major donors.
Our major gift program is donor-centered, aggressive, and fast-paced. Bring your skills and passion to help make our work possible!
