An intersectional argument for the abolition of the 'protected ground' framework

• Date: 01 April 2023

CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS

AN INTERSECTIONAL ARGUMENT FOR THE

ABOLITION OF THE “PROTECTED GROUND”

FRAMEWORK

REBEKAH ROSENBERG*

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ......................................... 519

I. BACKGROUND ON INTERSECTIONALITY AND CRITICAL RACE FEMINISM . . . 520

II. CRITIQUE OF THE “PROTECTED GROUND” FRAMEWORK.......... 521

III. A SOLUTION: ELIMINATION OF “PROTECTED GROUNDS”. . . . . . . . . . 524

CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 527

INTRODUCTION

Few would argue that the American immigration system, in its present

form, adequately addresses the concerns of interested parties. One facet of

the immigration complex warrants nuanced consideration: the persistent fail-

ure of the system to protect immigrant women. Structural and systemic

oppression ingrained in the American asylum system work to the disadvant-

age of these women. To better understand the issues women endure in the

context of asylum law, it is helpful to utilize an intersectional framework.

* Georgetown University Law Center, J.D. 2023; University of Michigan, B.A. 2020. © 2023,

Rebekah Rosenberg.

519