The Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS) is a leading voice in the movement to rebuild the U.S. asylum system and expand access to protection for women, children, LGBTQ+ people, and others seeking refuge. Our Policy & Advocacy team serves as a critical resource on asylum to policymakers, journalists, and the public. We provide rapid analysis of policy developments and offer practical recommendations for decision-makers at all levels of government, advising our leaders on how to ensure the United States lives up to its legal and moral commitments to people fleeing persecution.
CGRS submitted a public comment opposing the Department of Homeland Security's rule that allows it to mandate the electronic filing of immigration benefit requests, including asylum applications.
CGRS submitted a public comment opposing the Department of Homeland Security's rule that attempts to end the right to an affirmative asylum interview.
This CGRS explainer provides an overview to U.T. v. Blanche, the lawsuit challenging the Asylum Cooperative Agreements, and recent developments.
This document lists all of the recorded webinars presented by CGRS staff attorneys since February 2025 that are accessible to all registered CGRS TA users at any time through our online TA library.
CGRS submission for UNHCR’s updated Handbook on the criteria for refugee status, analyzing U.S. divergences from international standards including particular social group, nexus, bars, as well as emerging forms of climate-related displacement.
This is a resource meant for medical and mental health experts as a starting point on doing research.
This practice advisory co-authored by CGRS and NIPNLG provides an overview of motions to pretermit in immigration court, including updates on how the motions are being treated and recommendations for practitioners to advocate for their clients' right to due process.
CGRS submitted input to the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, highlighting the role of justice systems in effectively applying international protection frameworks to people displaced across borders in the context of climate change and disasters.
CGRS submitted input to the Independent Expert on Human Rights and International Solidarity on the impact of U.S. asylum restrictions on women engaged in international solidarity, including survivors of gender-based violence seeking safety as a foundation for their work.
This CGRS explainer walks advocates through the Circumvention of Lawful Pathways Rule implemented between May 11, 2023, and May 11, 2025, the lawsuit challenging the rule, East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, et al., v. Trump, et al., and the impacts of the ruling in the lawsuit.