-
2022 Policy Platform
Tahirih’s policy work is rooted in our core values and in our specific theory of change. Inspired by the Bahá’í faith and grounded in our belief in the oneness of humanity, we reach for a society that embraces our diversity and guarantees everyone’s human rights. Our mission is to advance policies and laws that enable immigrant survivors of gender-based violence to pursue legal immigration status, live in safety, and forge their own paths. Everything we do is in service of that goal.
The immigration system is shattered. Survivors are denied access to safety because of policies and practices that could be fixed. The Tahirih Justice Center is prioritizing the following policy goals to immediately improve protections for immigrant survivors while simultaneously seeking long-term, systemic change.
-
Maryland: Come for the crab cakes, the boardwalk, a child bride
The Washington Post’s columnist Petula Dvorak interviewed Tahirih’s Public Policy Director, Casey Swegman Carter, on the importance of passing a legislation that would end child marriage in Maryland. This is the seventh year a bill has been introduced that seeks to ban child marriage in the state.
-
Maryland Should Ban Child Marriage
Tahirih’s Senior Public Policy Associate, Alex Goyette, wrote an opinion piece for the Baltimore Sun. The commentary elevates the importance of passing legislation to end child marriage in Maryland.
-
Journey to Justice: Progress & Perseverance
This year, we are celebrating a monumental milestone at our organization – it has been 25 years since our doors opened, and we have served more than 30,000 immigrant survivors of gender-based violence.
-
Reducing instances of child marriage in Maryland “It’s well past time for Maryland to take action on this issue.”
Tahirih’s Director of Public Policy, Casey Swegman, was interviewed by ABC Baltimore about the importance of banning child marriage and fixing state laws that perpetuate the issue. Tahirih hopes that Maryland’s legislative session will move forward with a bill that heads in the right direction to ending child marriage.
-
International Migrants Day
For International Migrants Day 2021, Tahirih condemns the unjust detention of migrants and survivors who are seeking asylum.
-
Support Indigenous Liberation
In the United States, November marks Native American Heritage Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the contributions, lives, and cultures of Indigenous people across the Americas. […]
-
Uplifting Trans Immigrants on Trans Day of Resilience
Trans Day of Resilience is an occasion for us to uplift and celebrate the trans community and the future we can build by breaking the chains of oppression. Tahirih and its supporters dream of and work to build a world that values and liberates those who have been oppressed by systems and institutions committed to maintaining a binary status quo.
-
End State Violence Against Trans & Queer Migrants
This LGBTQ+ History Month, Tahirih’s Queer & Trans Caucus demands an immediate end to the state-sponsored violence that trans, nonbinary, two-spirit, and queer immigrants face at the hands of our immigration and criminal punishment systems.
-
Intersex Awareness Day 2021
October 26 marks Intersex Awareness Day and uplifts the fight to end non-consensual infant genital surgeries. Today, we amplify the voices of intersex people and intersex advocacy organizations which call for the end of invasive, unnecessary forced intersex surgeries which are a form of institutionalized gender-based violence. Tahirih is committed to ending gender-based violence and reaching collective liberation, which includes fighting against these invasive, non-consensual procedures.