This week, Attorney General Pam Bondi reinstated harsh, regressive rulings from the first Trump administration, reviving legal barriers that strip away asylum protections for women and families fleeing violence.
In Matter of S-S-F-M-, Bondi brought back the notorious 2018 Matter of A-B- decision, which instructed immigration judges to “generally” deny asylum to women escaping domestic violence. In Matter of R-E-R-M- & J-D-R-M-, she revived the 2019 Matter of L-E-A- ruling, which undercut the ability of families and children fleeing targeted violence to seek refuge. Together, these rulings all but close the door on women and families in desperate need of safety.
Professor Karen Musalo, Director of the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS), condemned the rulings as a brazen attempt by Trump’s Justice Department to rewrite asylum law:
“Bondi’s decisions attempt to turn back the clock on decades of progress recognizing domestic and gender-based violence as human rights violations. These rulings will cause confusion and embolden judges who are inclined to deny protection, even when women and families face life-or-death risks.”
What These Decisions Mean
- For women: By labeling domestic and gender-based violence as “private conduct,” the DOJ is erasing hard-fought recognition of these abuses as grounds for asylum. This opens the door to denying protection not only to women, but also to LGBTQ+ refugees and children fleeing abuse.
- For families: By rejecting family membership as a “particular social group,” the DOJ seeks to strip away one of the few legal pathways available to families persecuted because of their family ties.
Why It Matters
These rulings defy decades of legal precedent, international obligations, and humanitarian standards. Under the first Trump administration, both Matter of A-B- and Matter of L-E-A- were widely condemned by lawmakers, the UN Refugee Agency, former immigration judges, and human rights organizations. Bondi’s revival of these cases signals a renewed assault on America’s promise of asylum.
At Shepelsky Law Group, we know what’s at stake. These decisions will lead to wrongful deportations of women, children, and families back into the hands of abusers, gangs, and persecutors. But asylum law is still on the side of justice—judges are required to review each case on its merits, and many claims will remain viable despite these rulings.
Our Commitment
We will continue fighting for immigrant women, families, and children. We will challenge these unjust rulings in court, build strong asylum cases rooted in precedent and human rights, and make sure our clients’ voices are heard.
📞 If you or your loved ones are seeking asylum, call Shepelsky Law Group today. Your safety matters, and we are here to stand with you.