‘I was devastated’: the Nigerian with albinism deported under Trump’s asylum crackdown
Her two siblings both gained asylum before the Trump administration’s changes to immigration policy. But instead of being allowed to join them, she is being deported to Uganda
TL;DR
- Aisha, a Nigerian woman with albinism, had her asylum claim denied in the US and faces deportation to Uganda.
- She and her siblings experienced severe stigma and threats of violence in Nigeria due to superstitions surrounding albinism.
- Her siblings were granted asylum in the US, but Aisha's case was rejected despite evidence of danger in Uganda.
- Albinism is a genetic condition that is most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, where individuals face ritual killings, rape, and mutilation.
- Aisha's lawyer calls the decision 'ridiculous' and attributes the denial to the Trump administration's immigration policies and changes in global administrations looking 'inward'.
- Advocacy groups state that asylum claims for people with albinism were previously successful at a high rate but have declined with recent political shifts.
- The US has entered into asylum cooperative agreements allowing for asylum seekers to be transferred to third countries, even those without ties to the nation.
- Despite her situation, Aisha remains hopeful for a normal life in the US.
- The Ugandan government's own action plan acknowledges people with albinism as a vulnerable group facing discrimination and human rights violations, including murder due to unfounded beliefs.