A cut-off finger ended her comfortable family life. Now she's hiding from US officials

August 24, 2025

Gabriela, a middle-class Ecuadorian woman, fled to the United States after receiving death threats from gangs and witnessing the kidnapping and murder of her daughter's grandfather. She is now among millions with pending asylum claims in the US, where applicants fleeing cartel violence face significant legal challenges. US asylum law only recognizes five grounds for protection (race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group), making it difficult for cartel violence victims to qualify.

Who is affected

Asylum seekers from Latin America fleeing cartel violence, including Gabriela, Maria, and Luis from Ecuador
The approximately 4 million people with pending asylum cases in the US
The record 60,000 migrants currently in detention while awaiting their asylum cases
Middle-class and working-class people who become targets of gang extortion and violence
LGBTQ+ individuals like Maria who face specific threats from gangs
Family members of those who have been victims of cartel violence
Undocumented immigrants who fear deportation under expanded enforcement

What action is being taken

The US government is detaining a record number of asylum seekers while they await decisions
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is conducting expanded deportations and arrests under new executive orders
The US is designating some cartels as terrorist organizations
Asylum seekers are filing claims based on political grounds, arguing cartels function as de facto governing entities
Judges are processing asylum cases under increased pressure to deny those not deemed legally sufficient
Asylum seekers are limiting their activities and movements to avoid potential deportation
Applicants like Gabriela are working legally with permits while their asylum claims are pending

Why it matters

The current asylum framework, based on post-World War II refugee conventions, doesn't adequately address modern threats like cartel violence
People fleeing genuine life-threatening situations may not qualify for protection under existing legal categories
The designation of cartels as terrorist organizations could paradoxically harm asylum seekers if they're viewed as having provided "material support" to these groups
The backlog of asylum cases means many live in limbo for years, with hearings scheduled as far out as 2028
Many asylum seekers live in constant fear, unable to recover from trauma or integrate fully into society
The issue highlights tensions between immigration enforcement and humanitarian protection
Public opinion is deeply divided along party lines regarding asylum policies and deportation

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC