Category: Human Rights First

Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today said that Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ announcement on the immigration court system threaten due process and fairness in the asylum system.  

Tuesday, October 31, 2017 – 2:04pm

North Korean Workers Earn Millions for their Government Overseas

While people are paying attention to North Korea’s nuclear program, most don’t know that it is funded using forced labor.

Tuesday, November 7, 2017 – 8:41am

City of Houston Acts to Stop Goods Produced with Forced Labor

Earlier this month, Houston’s Mayor signed an executive order to implement a zero tolerance policy for human trafficking in city service contracts and purchasing

Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today praises the swift, bipartisan passage of Senate Resolution 211, a condemnation of the detention, torture, and murders of gay and bisexual men in Chechnya. The resolution, led by Senators Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Ed Markey (D-MA), passed last night in a voice vote with strong bipartisan support. The resolution had a total of 46 cosponsors, including members from both sides of the aisle.

Monday, October 30, 2017 – 12:15pm

Upholding the International Religious Freedom Act

Friday marked the 19^th anniversary of the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act. It was originally passed in response to growing religious persecution globally, a problem that remains ur

Washington, D.C.—In response to the ongoing human rights and humanitarian crisis in Burma, Human Rights First, in coalition with 58 human rights, labor rights, and religious organizations today called on Secretaries Tillerson and Mnuchin to take immediate action against Burmese military officials responsible for crimes against humanity and other atrocities committed against the country’s Rohingya population.

Washington, D.C.— Human Rights First today expressed concern over an announced policy change by U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) that will affect individuals applying for permanent residence and other benefits who are deemed to be inadmissible for some association with a group characterized as an undesignated or Tier III terrorist organization under the Immigration & Nationality Act (INA). Specifically, the change will eliminate a hold for individuals for whom the statute allows a discretionary exemption, but no exemption has yet been implemented.