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Abused Wife Wins Political Asylum in US

Decision sets precedent for women fleeing domestic abuse

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 30, 2009 6:51 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The Obama administration has recommended that a Guatemalan woman who came to America fleeing horrific domestic abuse be granted political asylum. Rody Alvarado Peña's case has been in the courts since 1995 and lawyers say the decision will finally clarify the rules on whether abused women in foreign countries can seek asylum in the US. The ruling is "a giant step forward," one asylum lawyer said.

Alvarado suffered a decade of abuse from her husband, an ex-soldier, and came to the US out of fear for her life, court papers state. Experts testified that only 2% of the thousands of domestic murders in Guatemala over the last decade have been solved, adding weight to arguments that Alvarado, as a battered woman, could be considered part of a persecuted group. “I thank God it came out well,” Alvarado, who works as a housekeeper for elderly nuns in California, tells the New York Times. “But it wasn’t easy to wait this long for immigration to make a decision.”

Rody Alvarado Peña speaks about her asylum case to a PBS interviewer.
Rody Alvarado Peña speaks about her asylum case to a PBS interviewer.   (PBS)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
grassisntgreener
Nov 8, 2009 5:43 AM CST
Hopefully she has an illiterate husband (so hes not reading the article)I'm surprised the poor womans address wasnt included next to her NAME.
Shannonals
Oct 31, 2009 2:46 AM CDT
Ouch
schmidtkoff
Oct 30, 2009 6:04 AM CDT
welcome to america where violence against women stats speak for volumes.

 
domestic violence • asylum • Central America • Guatemala • domestic abuse • political asylum • women's issues

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