The Tahirih Justice Center filed an amicus brief on Thursday supporting plaintiffs who have challenged USCIS’s recently issued “Lesson Plan” which is used to train Asylum Officers about how to conduct a credible fear interview.  Our brief explains the history of how the intentionally low threshold standard of credible fear was developed and details how the new Plan impermissibly raises that standard.  We also highlight how the new Plan deleted guidance relating to the effects of trauma, contrary to long-accepted research about how trauma may affect a victim’s demeanor, memory, and ability to explain her situation.