Attorney General denies asylum to victims of domestic abuse, gang violence

Attorney General Jeff Sessions delivers remarks at the Justice Department's Executive Officer for Immigration Review (EOIR) Annual Legal Training Program on Monday in Tysons, Va. Sessions spoke about his plan to limit reasons for people to claim asylum in the U.S

Attorney General Jeff Sessions laughed off and repeated a "Lock Her Up" chant at a speech at a high school leadership summit. Sessions was speaking Tuesday in Washington, D.C, when members of the audience interrupted him with cries of "Lock Her Up. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Attorney General Jeff Sessions is imposing sharp new limits on who can get asylum in the United States, ruling in a closely-watched case that most migrants fleeing domestic violence or gang violence will not qualify.

“Asylum was never meant to alleviate all problems — even all serious problems — that people face every day all over the world,” Sessions said this morning in a speech before immigration judges in Virginia.

Sessions announced his decision this afternoon. As attorney general, Sessions has broad powers over the nation’s immigration courts. He has long complained that asylum seekers are “gaming” the U.S. system.

Immigrant rights advocates say Sessions’ decision runs counter to decades of established precedent. They fear the lives of thousands of legitimate asylum-seekers will be in danger when they are returned to their countries of origin.

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