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We put a human face on complex issues to hold governments accountable.

Below you’ll find breaking news as well as reports, updates on our campaigns, and victories.

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Press Release

President Trump to Impose Yet More Restrictions on Refugees, Leaving Thousands in Peril

As his original 120-day ban on refugees expires tomorrow, President Trump Administration is expected to announce additional restrictions on refugees and a cap of 45,000 as the number of refugees admitted – policies that will leave thousands of people in danger.

October 23, 2017

Amnesty International USA activists speak out against a ban and a wall against people
AIUSA Executive Director Margaret and AI Secretary General Salil Shetty delivered a letter to the Department of Homeland Security Secretary, outlining numerous personal stories of people who are affected by the Muslim ban, asking DHS to release full information about how the ban has been implemented, and demanding that DHS help roll back the ban. As a part of the protests outside, we projected “No Ban, No Wall” on the building along with photos of refugees in Lebanon and Kenya provided by Magnum Photography.

Press Release

Organizations Urge Congress to Act to End Muslim Ban Once and For All

This morning, a coalition of 15 organizations delivered a joint petition with over 100,000 signatures to members of Congress calling for legislation to rescind the newest version of the Muslim Ban immediately.

October 18, 2017

Press Release

Federal Judge in Maryland Rules Against Muslim Ban Hours After Hawaii Ruling

A federal judge in Maryland has ruled against President Trump’s Muslim ban mere hours after a judge in Hawaii blocked its implementation. Naureen Shah, senior director of campaigns at Amnesty International USA, made the following statement.

October 18, 2017

Update

3rd Edition of Human Rights On Capitol Hill

This edition of Human Rights on Capitol Hill discusses the White House immigration plan, Gun Violence, Rohingya refugees, Rwanda, the proposed State Department dismantling of key human rights offices, U.S. refugees, and AIUSA lobby day.

October 12, 2017

Afghan security forces personnel are seen at the site of a car bomb attack in Kabul on May 31, 2017. At least 40 people were killed or wounded on May 31 as a massive blast ripped through Kabul's diplomatic quarter, shattering the morning rush hour and bringing carnage to the streets of the Afghan capital. / AFP PHOTO / SHAH MARAI (Photo credit should read SHAH MARAI/AFP/Getty Images)

Sheet of paper Report

Forced Back to Danger: Asylum-Seekers Returned from Europe to Afghanistan

European governments have put thousands of Afghans in harm’s way by forcibly returning them to a country where they are at serious risk of torture, kidnapping, death and other human rights abuses, Amnesty International said today in a new report.

October 4, 2017

Burundian refugees gather along the shoreline of the Tanganyika lake in the fishing village of Kagunga, on May 21, 2015. UNHCR is transporting approximately 2000 refugees per day to a transit camp at the stadium in Kigoma. Over 110,000 Burundians have become refugees since unrest erupted in their country in April, according to the UN refugee agency, and 70,000 of them have gone to Tanzania. AFP PHOTO/DANIEL HAYDUK (Photo credit should read Daniel Hayduk/AFP/Getty Images)

Sheet of paper Report

Conform or flee: Repression and insecurity pushing Burundians into exile

Thousands of Burundian refugees are under mounting pressure to return to their country where they would be at risk of death, rape and torture, said Amnesty International in a report out today.

September 28, 2017

A Rohingya Muslim illegal immigrant puts his hand on the railing inside the Immigration Detention Centre during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan in Kanchanaburi province July 10, 2013. More than a hundred Rohingya Muslims gathered to pray and break fast as they welcome the first day of Ramadan in Thailand. The stateless people arrived in Thailand earlier in January this year after fleeing a bloody conflict between the Buddhist and Muslims in Myanmar's western Rakhine State. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha (THAILAND - Tags: SOCIETY RELIGION IMMIGRATION) - GM1E97B031V01

Sheet of paper Report

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

With the world’s fastest growing refugee crisis developing on its doorstep, Thailand must take concrete action to reverse its long-standing failure to offer protection to those most in need, Amnesty International said today as it launched a report revealing gaping holes in the country’s refugee policies.

September 28, 2017

Press Release

Thousands of Lives In Danger As Trump Slashes Number of Refugees Admitted to U.S.

CONTACT: Mandy Simon, [email protected] WASHINGTON – Responding to reports that President Trump will slashed the number of refugee admissions to the United States to an all-time historical low number of 45,000 next year, Margaret Huang, executive director of Amnesty International USA, released the following statement: “If these reports are true, this is a devastating betrayal of an American tradition of helping people escape war and horrific violence. President Trump’s heartless decision puts thousands of people’s lives at risk of certain death. Refugees are ordinary people who have lost everything. They deserve our compassion and concern as they rebuild their lives. Instead,…

September 26, 2017

Press Release

USA/Australia/Papua New Guinea: Arrivals of refugees welcome, but fear remains

Responding to the news of the arrival of the first refugees into the USA from the Australian-run offshore detention centre on Papua New Guinea, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, Anna Neistat, said:

September 26, 2017

No Ban No Wall protest at Grand Central Terminal

Press Release

Muslim Ban Revision Risks More Suffering

Following a revision of President Trump’s travel ban to now include restrictions on travelers from Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen, Naureen Shah, senior campaigns director for Amnesty International USA, released the following statement: “Since this ban was implemented 10 months ago, we’ve seen families torn apart and whole nations of people demonized for the crimes of a few. The order was a catastrophe not just for those seeking safety but for those who simply want to travel, work, or study in the United States. Today’s action neither relieves this tension nor keeps anyone safe. “Just…

September 24, 2017

LAMPEDUSA, ITALY - MAY 24: Refugees and migrants are seen swimming and yelling for assistance from crew members from the Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) 'Phoenix' vessel after a wooden boat bound for Italy carrying more than 500 people capsized on May 24, 2017 off Lampedusa, Italy. Numbers of refugees and migrants attempting the dangerous central Mediterranean crossing from Libya to Italy has risen since the same time last year with more than 43,000 people recorded so far in 2017. In an attempt to slow the flow of migrants Italy recently signed a deal with Libya, Chad and Niger outlining a plan to increase border controls and add new reception centers in the African nations, which are key transit points for migrants heading to Italy. MOAS is a Malta based NGO dedicated to providing professional search-and-rescue assistance to refugees and migrants in distress at sea. Since the start of the year MOAS have rescued and assisted 3572 people and are currently patrolling and running rescue operations in international waters off the coast of Libya. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Press Release

Trump Callous Approach to Refugees Will Cost Lives

CONTACT: Mandy Simon, [email protected] NEW YORK – Following U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks on refugees today at the United Nations General Assembly, Amnesty International USA called on the U.S. to do more, not less to address the global refugee crisis. Currently, more than half of the world’s 22.5 million refugees are hosted by just 10 countries — all in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, taking refugees in because they are neighbors to crisis. The New York Times today reported on a study – which the White House sought to block – showing that refugees contribute more to the U.S. economy than they…

September 19, 2017

Amnesty International USA activists speak out against a ban and a wall against people
AIUSA Executive Director Margaret and AI Secretary General Salil Shetty delivered a letter to the Department of Homeland Security Secretary, outlining numerous personal stories of people who are affected by the Muslim ban, asking DHS to release full information about how the ban has been implemented, and demanding that DHS help roll back the ban. As a part of the protests outside, we projected “No Ban, No Wall” on the building along with photos of refugees in Lebanon and Kenya provided by Magnum Photography.

Press Release

Amnesty International USA Reacts to Supreme Court Decision on Refugee Ban

Following the Supreme Court’s decision to temporarily uphold the refugee ban, Naureen Shah, Amnesty International USA senior director of campaigns, released the following statement:

September 12, 2017