Policy Demands for the US. Administration
By: Rosa Celorio, Dr. Mary Ellsberg, Dr. Carolina Jiménez Sandoval and Dr. Gabriella Nassif
The full consequences of the current administration’s mass deportation campaign are still unfolding. However, alarming images of migrants handcuffed in human chains, detained in hotels with “help us” signs taped to windows, and held in military compounds or prisons without medical care expose the program’s blatant disregard for due process and human rights. Public deportation raids further dehumanize migrants, branding them as “illegal criminals.”
The U.S. Administration’s approach to immigration policies disproportionately exposes women and girl migrants — especially those at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities, including women of color, Black and Indigenous women, and women with disabilities— to gender-based violence (GBV):
- Research consistently shows that GBV intensifies when community safeguards are dismantled. ICE raids on previously protected spaces, including churches, schools, and sanctuary cities, along with the forcible separation of families, have eroded the protective structures within migrant communities. This breakdown disrupts access to critical, life-saving services such as specialized healthcare, legal protection, and mechanisms for reporting abuse. The situation is compounded by the Trump Administration’s rollback of domestic refugee support services leaving women without critical GBV response services.
- Reports over recent years have uncovered patterns of systematic sexual assault in ICE facilities. For many women and girls, this may appear to be the safer choice given the well-founded fears of sexual and physical violence in detention centers:
- The aggressive enforcement of immigration laws further discourages GBV survivors from seeking legal residency. Without legal status, many are reluctant to report out of fear of deportation or retaliation. In the worst cases, this vulnerability is exploited by those in power. Survivors may be coerced into silence or subjected to continued abuse by traffickers, employers, or even officials.
- In numerous cases, survivors have been deported before being able to testify in ongoing investigations, representing a clear violation of due process. Allegations have also emerged accusing ICE of deporting women who came forward about receiving unnecessary and invasive medical procedures, including forced hysterectomies, while in custody.
- The rise in deportation operations has also led to increased instances of “de facto” and “self-deportation,” where individuals, fearing arrest or detention, voluntarily leave the country, retracing perilous routes and facing heightened vulnerability to exploitation and assault. Across the broader migration route from South America through Central America and Mexico, for example, at least two in five women have witnessed or endured some form of GBV. In many instances of migration, essential resources such as food are withheld unless women offer sex in exchange; Threats of violence toward family members or the risk of forced detention are commonly used to manipulate and exploit women, particularly those lacking legal documentation.
We’re calling on the U.S. government to immediately take the following actions to rectify the additional risk of violence against women and girls inflicted as part of its inhumane immigration and deportation policies:
The U.S. government must:
- Uphold international human rights law and take immediate steps to address abuses within its immigration system. This includes acknowledging the well-documented human rights violations in ICE detention centers and committing to thorough investigations and accountability measures. Migrants held in detention have the right to basic necessities, including safe water, nutritious food, and access to medical care.
- Halt detention and deportation operations that violate due process. Every migrant is entitled to a full, fair, and impartial hearing, access to legal counsel, and a clear explanation of the charges brought against them. Legal proceedings must include the opportunity to present evidence, offer testimony, and cross-examine witnesses. Migrants should also be provided with comprehensive information about their legal rights and the means to exercise them.
- Act with due diligence to investigate and address all forms of violence against migrant women and girls, including policies and practices that increase their risk of harm. Deportations to countries where women and girls face threats such as sexual violence, enforced disappearance, torture, or other human rights violations should be immediately suspended.
- Resource and empower grassroots organizations, many of which are already doing essential work, to expand community-level protections and services. These efforts include initiatives like “Know Your Rights” workshops, which provide critical legal knowledge and preparedness for interactions with immigration officials. Strengthening these networks is vital to building a more just and humane immigration system.
This piece is informed by the full article “Gendered Consequences of U.S. Mass Deportations: How Shifting Migration Policies Endanger Women and Girls” by Rosa Celorio, Dr. Mary Ellsberg, Dr. Carolina Jiménez Sandoval and Dr. Gabriella Nassif which can be found here: https://gjia.georgetown.edu/2025/05/06/gendered-consequences-of-u-s-mass-deportations-how-shifting-migration-policiesendanger-women-and-girls/
Learn more about what is happening in real time on the U.S.-Mexico border, or about the overall status of migration between South America and the U.S. from our partners at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA).
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