This Ethiopian woman was tortured by her government. The US is sending her home anyway
The Case: An Ethiopian woman named "Abeba" (pseudonym) fled Ethiopia after witnessing an extrajudicial killing by the military and subsequently being imprisoned and tortured for over a week. She traveled through Mexico and crossed the Rio Grande into Texas seeking asylum.
The Legal Context: President Trump's January 20, 2025 executive order suspended asylum rights at the border and severely restricted protections under the UN Convention Against Torture (CAT). The order eliminated key rights for CAT applicants, including the right to have lawyers present during interviews and the ability to appeal denials.
What Happened: Abeba underwent a phone screening while detained at Otay Mesa Detention Center. During the two-hour interview, she was ill from medication, the interpreter dropped out twice, and she was only asked yes/no questions. Despite officials finding her torture claims credible, they determined she didn't meet the standard for protection and denied her case with no appeal option.
The Broader Impact: Immigration attorneys report that CAT screenings have become "a farce by design" - some lasting as little as five minutes compared to previously taking 30 minutes to four hours. The process now operates in secrecy, with lawyers unable to access case documents or understand how decisions are made.
Current Status: Abeba faces imminent deportation to Ethiopia, where her lawyers believe she will be tortured or killed. The ACLU has filed a class-action lawsuit challenging the executive order's legality, but Abeba's attorney says ICE told her "there's nothing you can do" about the deportation.
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