Key Takeaways
• Abeba faces deportation despite claims of torture and fears of harm in Ethiopia.
• U.S. suspended asylum at the southern border, limiting protection options for migrants like Abeba.
• Temporary Protected Status covers Ethiopians present before April 11, 2024; Abeba arrived after.
An Ethiopian woman, known as Abeba, is facing deportation from the United States 🇺🇸 despite her claims of torture and fears of further harm if returned to Ethiopia 🇪🇹. Her story brings attention to the difficult choices faced by people fleeing violence, the strict rules of U.S. immigration policy, and the limits of international human rights protections. As her case unfolds, it raises important questions about how the United States 🇺🇸 treats people who say they have suffered torture and what protections are available to them.
Who is Abeba and Why is She Facing Deportation?
Abeba’s journey began in Ethiopia 🇪🇹, where she says she witnessed a killing by the military. After this, she was imprisoned and beaten for more than a week. Fearing for her life, she escaped the country and traveled through Mexico, hoping to find safety in the United States 🇺🇸. When she arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border, she was unaware of new rules that made it almost impossible for people like her to apply for asylum.
After President Trump’s second inauguration, a new order labeled anyone crossing the southern border without permission as part of an “invasion.” This order suspended the right to apply for asylum at the border. Abeba, not knowing about these changes, swam across the Rio Grande and asked Border Patrol agents for help. Instead of finding protection, she was detained and now faces being sent back to Ethiopia 🇪🇹.
Legal Proceedings and Current Status
As of May 28, 2025, Abeba remains in a detention center. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has already asked the Ethiopian government for travel documents. Once her passport is ready and a flight is arranged, she could be deported at any time.
Her lawyer has tried to stop the deportation by filing a request for an administrative stay. This is a formal request asking ICE to delay her removal until a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is resolved. The lawyer has also asked for Abeba to be released from detention so she can get proper medical care, but so far, ICE has not agreed.
What is the Convention Against Torture?
Even though Abeba could not apply for asylum at the border, she might qualify for protection under the United Nations Convention Against Torture (CAT). This international agreement says that countries should not send people back to places where they are likely to be tortured. The United States 🇺🇸 is a signatory to this agreement, which means it has promised to follow these rules.
Key points about CAT protection:
- CAT protection is harder to get than asylum.
- It does not provide a path to U.S. citizenship.
- It does not allow people to bring family members to the United States 🇺🇸.
- It only stops the government from sending someone back to a country where they might be tortured.
Torture, according to the Convention, includes beatings, sexual abuse, terrible prison conditions, and psychological abuse like sleep deprivation or long periods alone in a cell. Under Articles 1, 2, 4, and 12-14, countries must prevent torture and help victims.
Why is Ethiopia 🇪🇹 Considered Dangerous?
Ethiopia 🇪🇹 has a long history of violence and human rights abuses. Armed conflict continues in several parts of the country, and civilians often face attacks from both government forces and rebel groups. Reports from human rights organizations show that torture and extrajudicial killings—killings without a fair trial—are still happening.
Earlier this year, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed claimed that no one had been tortured in the last six years. However, many groups have reported otherwise. For example, in April 2024, a well-known Oromo politician named Bate Urgessa was found dead with his hands tied and a gunshot wound to his head. Evidence suggested he had been tortured before being killed.
A government task force set up in 2021 found thousands of cases of abuse in the Amhara and Afar regions, including:
- 2,831 extrajudicial killings
- 1,315 cases of bodily injury
- 2,212 cases of rape and sexual violence
- 452 cases of inhuman and degrading treatment
These numbers show that Ethiopia 🇪🇹 remains a dangerous place for many people, especially those who have spoken out against the government or witnessed crimes.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopians in the United States 🇺🇸
In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security extended and redesignated Ethiopia 🇪🇹 for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, from June 13, 2024, to December 12, 2025. TPS is a special program that lets people from certain countries stay and work in the United States 🇺🇸 if it is too dangerous to return home.
Important facts about TPS for Ethiopians:
- About 2,300 Ethiopians already have TPS and can keep it during this period.
- An estimated 12,800 more Ethiopians can now apply if they were living in the United States 🇺🇸 on or before April 11, 2024.
- TPS does not help people who arrived after April 11, 2024, like Abeba.
For more information about TPS and eligibility, readers can visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) TPS page.
Concerns About Deportation and the Risk of Torture
Abeba is deeply afraid of being sent back to Ethiopia 🇪🇹. She has told her lawyer that she believes she will be killed if she returns. She has even said, “she would rather die here than return to die in Ethiopia.” Her fear is not unfounded. Immigration experts warn that even asking the Ethiopian government for her travel documents puts her at risk. Once she arrives, authorities will know she has returned and may send her straight back to prison, where she could face torture again.
Blaine Bookey, Legal Director at the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies at UC Hastings College of the Law, has advised on Abeba’s case. Bookey says that the process of requesting travel documents already puts Abeba in danger. If she is deported, Bookey fears she will be sent directly to detention or prison, where she will likely be tortured again.
Abeba’s cousin, a U.S. citizen living in California, described her as a smart and kind woman who is now subdued, nervous, and scared when she calls from detention. He is also afraid that the Ethiopian government would harm him if he returned, showing that the threat extends to family members.
Historical Context: Deportations Between Ethiopia 🇪🇹 and Eritrea 🇪🇷
Abeba’s case is not the first time people from Ethiopia 🇪🇹 have faced the threat of deportation and loss of rights. During the Horn of Africa War, Ethiopian authorities deported thousands of people of Eritrean origin. These deportees were stripped of their proof of Ethiopian citizenship, separated from their families, and denied their nationality.
Officials took away identity cards, passports, work papers, and driving licenses from detainees. This meant that, even if they tried to return, they had no way to prove they were Ethiopian citizens. This history shows how dangerous deportation can be for people who have already suffered persecution.
How U.S. Immigration Policy Affects People Like Abeba
The rules that prevent people like Abeba from applying for asylum at the border are part of a larger debate about immigration enforcement and human rights. The order issued after President Trump’s second inauguration made it much harder for people fleeing violence to find safety in the United States 🇺🇸.
Key points about current U.S. policy:
- People who cross the border without permission are often denied the chance to apply for asylum.
- Even those who have strong claims of torture or persecution may be detained and deported.
- Legal protections like CAT are available, but they are difficult to win and do not offer the same benefits as asylum.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these policies have led to many people being sent back to dangerous situations, even when they have clear evidence of torture or threats to their lives.
What Are the Implications for Stakeholders?
For Immigrants:
People fleeing violence, like Abeba, face a confusing and often harsh system. They may not know about recent changes in the law or understand the difference between asylum and CAT protection. Many are detained for long periods and have little access to legal help.
For Families:
Family members in the United States 🇺🇸 worry about the safety of their loved ones. They may also fear for their own safety if they have connections to the country their relatives are fleeing.
For Legal Advocates:
Lawyers and human rights groups must work quickly to file legal challenges and try to stop deportations. They often face tight deadlines and must gather evidence to show that their clients are at risk of torture.
For the U.S. Government:
Officials must balance the need to enforce immigration laws with the country’s obligations under international agreements like the Convention Against Torture. They also face pressure from both sides of the political debate—some want stricter enforcement, while others call for more protection for people fleeing harm.
Practical Guidance for People in Similar Situations
- Know your rights: If you fear torture or persecution in your home country, you may be eligible for protection under the Convention Against Torture, even if you cannot apply for asylum.
- Seek legal help: Immigration law is complicated, and having a lawyer can make a big difference. Legal aid organizations and advocacy groups may be able to help.
- Stay informed: Immigration policies can change quickly. Check official sources like USCIS for the latest information.
- Document your case: Keep records of any threats, injuries, or abuse you have suffered. This evidence can be important in legal proceedings.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Abeba’s case shows the real-life impact of immigration policies on people fleeing torture and violence. While the United States 🇺🇸 has programs like TPS and protections under the Convention Against Torture, these do not help everyone. People who arrive after certain deadlines or who do not meet strict requirements may still face deportation, even when their lives are at risk.
For those in similar situations, it is important to act quickly, seek legal help, and gather as much evidence as possible. Advocates continue to push for changes to make the system fairer and to ensure that people fleeing torture are not sent back to danger. As the debate continues, cases like Abeba’s remind us of the human cost of immigration enforcement and the need for strong protections for those most at risk.
Learn Today
Deportation → The formal removal of a person from a country by government order, often to their home nation.
Asylum → Protection granted to someone fleeing persecution or danger in their home country.
Convention Against Torture (CAT) → An international treaty prohibiting sending individuals to countries where they risk torture.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) → A U.S. program allowing certain foreigners to live and work temporarily due to unsafe conditions back home.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) → U.S. federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws and detaining individuals.
This Article in a Nutshell
Abeba’s case highlights harsh U.S. immigration rules that impede asylum seekers fleeing torture. Despite international protections like CAT and TPS, people arriving after deadlines risk deportation to countries with ongoing violence.
— By VisaVerge.com
