Welcome to the April 2025 issue of CVT World, CVT’s periodic compilation of the latest news, stories and public activities from our team.

Emergency Response to Forced Halt of CVT’s International Programs

The Unfinished Healing
“Are you leaving me alone like the others? Am I going back to how I was before I met you?” A 14-year old girl asked this question when counselors at CVT Ethiopia in Debre Birhan shared the terrible news that the healing program was being immediately halted. Counselor Wubit Zerihun wrote this article about her work with the teenager and the impacts on survivors of the abrupt end to care. Wubit writes, “And for clients like her, it feels like yet another confirmation of what they have always feared: that no one stays.”

And for clients like her, it feels like yet another confirmation of what they have always feared: that no one stays.”

-Wubit Zerihun

The Open Wound
Eman Al Hamad, who until late January served as senior psychological counselor at CVT Jordan, wrote this article about what it has meant to halt care for survivors of torture. She writes, “The sudden suspension also is re-victimization with the message that ‘your suffering is not worth caring about.’”

Press Conference with Representative Ilhan Omar on Cuts to USAID Funding
Alison Beckman, senior clinician for external relations, participated in a press conference after this discussion session hosted by Representative Ilhan Omar with about 20 Minnesota organizations impacted by cuts to USAID funding. Senator Amy Klobuchar also participated by phone. In her remarks, Ally commented, “Just before the USAID work stoppage, clients were in the middle of structured treatment programs. This abrupt discontinuation may lead to relapses, increased psychological distress and worsening of mental health conditions.”

The State of Refugees & Asylum Seekers in the United States: A Town Hall
“We escaped our countries only to die here in the camps,” said a former CVT client living in a refugee camp, to Neal Porter, CVT director of international services. Neal shared this comment in a town hall hosted by the development department to discuss the impacts of the Trump administration’s suspension of the U.S. refugee resettlement program. This article summarizes some of the points made by Neal, along with Alison Beckman, Leora Hudak, migration partnerships program manager, and Dr. Simon Adams, president and CEO.

We escaped our countries only to die here in the camps.”

-Former CVT client

The New Republic: Recent commentary by Scott Roehm, director of global policy and advocacy, and law professor Rebecca Ingber, is cited here on the Trump administration’s violation of non-refoulement principles in removing Venezuelans to El Salvador. Reporter Greg Sargent writes about the role of Secretary Marco Rubio, positing that he is the president’s most dangerous enabler.

Just Security: Scott Roehm and Rebecca Ingber, professor of law at Cardozo Law School, wrote this article titled, “The Trump Administration’s Recent Removals to El Salvador Violate the Prohibition on Transfer to Torture.” They note that the president’s recent removal of Venezuelan immigrants to a notorious prison in El Salvador violates the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits states from sending people to places where they face high risk of human rights violations, including torture. They write, “Sending these men to face abuse is appalling and shameful. It is also against the law.”

Sending these men to face abuse is appalling and shameful. It is also against the law.”

-Scott Roehm, director of global policy and advocacy, and Rebecca Ingber, professor of Law

WCCO TV News: Sara Nelson, program manager, and Connor Molloy, psychotherapist, spoke to WCCO News, the CBS affiliate in Minneapolis, about the climate of fear that clients are experiencing recently amid news reports of threats of deportation and rumors of ICE raids. “The chaos and confusion, it’s been really hard on our clients. They don’t know if they can feel safe here, and they came to the U.S. specifically to feel safe,” Sara commented.

They don’t know if they can feel safe here, and they came to the U.S. specifically to feel safe.”

-Sara Nelson, CVT program manager

The BBC: Medhanye Alem, clinical program director at CVT Ethiopia, spoke on the BBC Outside Source program, noting the enormous need to provide mental health services to conflict-affected communities. He spoke about the halting of the program and the importance of CVT having built trust over many years, saying, “And for that our role as an international NGO – that abides by the principles of humanity, by the neutrality – that has helped. So they know our main agenda is to bring healing, to restore their dignity. Nothing else.” Medhanye’s section in the show starts at the 31-minute mark.

Additional Items

Press Conference on Immigration & Int’l Law with Representative Ramirez
“Seeking refuge is not a crime, and migrants should never be treated as criminals,” said Yumna Rizvi, CVT senior policy analyst, at this press conference in Washington, hosted by Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, calling for Secretary Kristi Noem to answer to Congress on violations of U.S. and international law. Yumna spoke about the transfer of immigrants to Guantánamo, saying, “The Trump administration’s decision to now hold immigrants, including asylum seekers and refugees, in a facility notorious for human rights abuses is reprehensible, unprecedented and unlawful.”

There Is No Line to Wait In: The U.S. Needs Immigration Reform
“People once looked to the United States as a beacon of hope – that is undoubtedly the dream that so many people’s ancestors pursued a century ago. But those simpler days are no longer a reality,” writes Alison Beckman in this article. She writes, “With the shutdown of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and the suspension of the ability to apply for asylum at the border, there is simply no line to wait in for those seeking protection against threats to their lives.”

Vigil for Immigration Reform
“Some survivors tell us the torture they endure while in U.S. detention is worse than the abuse they fled back home,” said Sara Nelson at this vigil in St. Paul. The vigil was hosted by Minnesota Interfaith Coalition on Immigration and titled “Build a Longer Table, Not a Higher Wall.” She spoke about the difficulties our clients face, noting, “We at the Center for Victims of Torture are here in solidarity to bear witness to the cruelty of our immigration system.”

Some survivors tell us the torture they endure while in U.S. detention is worse than the abuse they fled back home.”

-Sara Nelson, program manager

Partnership Work with Survivors and Families of the Missing
CVT’s work with Association for the Detained and Missing of Sednaya Prison (ADMSP) is mentioned in this article by Global Survivor’s Fund. A beautiful documentary highlights the experiences of survivors and features commentary from Islam Al-Aqeel, senior resilience programming trainer. “We used to say that this project felt like a miracle.” Islam said. “It came like a gift, giving us peace of mind as we provided services to people suffering from sexual violence.”

Highlighting the Work of the CVT St. Cloud Team
“Everyone was a parent to every child in Somalia, but here it’s different. Many parents think they don’t have rights in America, so it’s very important to teach them how the system works in the United States,” said Mathar Abdullahi, bilingual community educator and case manager with CVT St. Cloud. The team’s work was highlighted here in the recent issue of the Minnesota Department of Health newsletter. Hanan Barud, bilingual community educator, commented about the importance of incorporating mental health information into parenting curriculum, saying, “It’s scary for people to talk about mental health stigma, and it’s hard to talk about the trauma and torture they experienced.”

An Important Global Conference on Human Rights
Ayman Malhis, MENA digital senior coordinator for CVT’s New Tactics in Human Rights, wrote this article about attending RightsCon 2025 last month in Taipai, Taiwan. RightsCon calls itself “the world’s leading summit on human rights in the digital age,” and each year hosts thousands of people to share the latest in global digital work on human rights. Ayman writes about presenting New Tactics’ Tactical Mapping Tool and Strategic Effectiveness Method.

Working in Coalition with Partners

Working with partners brings strength to CVT’s policy advocacy. We regularly participate in organized coalition actions that support survivors of torture. Below are some of these coalition and partner actions.

• CVT signed this open letter to Attorney General Bondi, calling on her to defend against attacks on lawyers and firms. The authors write, “It is your responsibility, as the lawyer ultimately entrusted with the representation of the United States in legal matters, to oppose attacks on the legal profession, on judges, and on the rule of law and to ensure that the Department of Justice uses its full power to protect the legal profession and equal justice under law for all people.”
• CVT endorsed this bill titled “Protecting Our Guests During Hostilities in Ukraine Act,” introduced by Representatives Fitzpatrick and Quigley, granting temporary guest status to Ukrainians who came to the U.S. for safety during Russian invasion, as part of the Uniting for Ukraine parole program. The representatives write, “This legislation reinforces that America does not just speak about freedom—it takes action to defend it.”
• CVT endorsed this letter from Representative Connolly and others to Secretaries Noem and Rubio, demanding answers to the detention of Mahmoud Khalil and attempts to deport him for his activism in support of Palestinians. The authors write that “. . . every American should be outraged by this brazen attempt to use the power of the United States government to silence and punish people who do not agree with the sitting President.”