Bill Frelick
LightNews LightNews
banner
billfrelick.bsky.social
Bill Frelick
@billfrelick.bsky.social
2.8K followers 800 following 160 posts
Director, Refugee and Migrant Rights Division, Human Rights Watch
Posts Replies Media Videos
billfrelick.bsky.social
The US Board of Immigration Appeals ruled on Jan 9 that the persecution standard for asylum was not met for a newscaster who had received two written death threats, one with 3 bullets. Going forward, it appears only death threats that are actually carried out will be sufficient evidence for asylum.
www.justice.gov
January 12, 2026 at 10:51 PM
billfrelick.bsky.social
My initial thoughts on the possible refugee fallout of US intervention in Venezuela, although this could go any number of ways. In short, no one should be forcibly returned, even if some voluntarily go home.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
What Maduro’s ouster means for Trump’s mass deportation campaign
Trump said many Venezuelan immigrants “want to go back.” Will Maduro’s removal spark a return — or another exodus?
www.washingtonpost.com
January 5, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Reposted by Bill Frelick
hrw.org
On Sunday, @60minutes.bsky.social pulled a segment on torture against US deportees in CECOT, El Salvador's mega prison.

Curious what the story said? Read HRW and @cristosal.bsky.social's report: www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
US/El Salvador: Torture of Venezuelan Deportees
The Venezuelan nationals the US government sent to El Salvador in March and April were tortured and subjected to other abuses, including sexual violence.
www.hrw.org
December 22, 2025 at 2:22 PM
billfrelick.bsky.social
“Allowing masked, unidentified agents to roam communities & apprehend people w/out identifying themselves erodes trust in the rule of law & creates a dangerous vacuum where abuses can flourish, exacerbating the brutality of the arrests.” @belkiswille.bsky.social @hrw.org www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...
US: Masked Federal Agents Undermine Rule of Law
United States federal immigration enforcement agents now commonly operate masked and without visible identification, compounding the abusive and unaccountable nature of the Trump administration’s mass...
www.hrw.org
December 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM
billfrelick.bsky.social
The groundless case against humanitarian workers facing 20 years in prison in Greece.

Commentary from my @hrw.org colleagues @evacosse.bsky.social and @billvanesveld.bsky.social

www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...
Humanitarians’ Baseless Trial in Greece
Two dozen humanitarian workers facing 20 years in prison finally got their day in court on December 4 and 5 on the Greek island of Lesbos after a seven-year wait.
www.hrw.org
December 11, 2025 at 4:09 PM
billfrelick.bsky.social
Nothing meaningfully links the 19 nationalities for whom entry & immigration processing have been stopped except the administration’s opportunistic stigmatization and exclusion of people based on where they were born. -- Tanya Greene, US Program director @hrw.org. www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...
US: Processing Freeze Scapegoats Immigrants, Asylum Seekers
The Trump administration’s latest actions on immigration policy appear to be based on punitive hostility toward people of particular nationalities and to carry an unmistakable current of racism as wel...
www.hrw.org
December 5, 2025 at 1:56 PM
billfrelick.bsky.social
“The Thai government has blatantly violated the country’s anti-torture law & its international legal obligations by returning Y Quynh Bdap to Vietnam, where he faces...the risk of torture.” @elainepearson.bsky.social, Asia director at Human Rights Watch @hrw.org. www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...
Thailand: Montagnard Activist Extradited to Vietnam
Thai authorities forcibly returned to Vietnam the prominent Montagnard human rights activist Y Quynh Bdap, putting him at risk of torture and other serious abuses.
www.hrw.org
December 4, 2025 at 6:50 PM
billfrelick.bsky.social
"If the Trump administration is serious about combatting crime, it will expand and improve visa programs that allow victims to come forward without fear of deportation.” Sara Darehshori, consultant to Human Rights Watch @HRW.org www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...
US: Immigration Policy Undermines Public Safety
The Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics undercutting protection for undocumented crime survivors weakens law enforcement’s ability to investigate and prosecute crimes.
www.hrw.org
December 2, 2025 at 9:33 PM
billfrelick.bsky.social
"Homeland Security’s misstatements in revoking TPS for people from Myanmar are so egregious that it is hard to imagine who would believe them. Perhaps no one was expected to." My @hrw.org colleague John Sifton on the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Myanmar.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Myanmar is Safe?
Is it safe to return to a country wracked by an abusive armed conflict, widespread atrocities, and targeted ethnic violence, including war crimes and crimes against humanity?
www.hrw.org
November 26, 2025 at 3:30 PM
billfrelick.bsky.social
The Cambodian government is failing to provide support to hundreds of thousands of migrant workers with microfinance debts who returned from Thailand because of hostilities in mid-2025.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Cambodia: Returned Migrant Workers Face Hunger, Joblessness
The Cambodian government is failing to provide support to hundreds of thousands of migrant workers with microfinance debts who returned from Thailand because of hostilities in mid-2025.
www.hrw.org
November 26, 2025 at 3:22 PM
billfrelick.bsky.social
Five employees of the Tunisian Council for Refugees will go on trial today amid a broader crackdown on civil society groups in Tunisia. They face up to 23 years in prison if convicted of the unfounded charges. www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Tunisia: Abusive Prosecutions of Refugee Group
Five employees of the Tunisian Council for Refugees will go on trial on November 24, 2025, amid a broader crackdown on civil society groups in Tunisia.
www.hrw.org
November 24, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Reposted by Bill Frelick
hrw.org
NEW: The Israeli government’s forced displacement of the populations of three West Bank refugee camps in January and February 2025 amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Read more: www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
November 20, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Reposted by Bill Frelick
nadiahardman.bsky.social
🚨New @hrw.org report finds #Israel committed war crimes, crimes against humanity + ethnic cleansing in the West Bank. Israel forcibly displaced 32,000 #Palestinian refugees from 3 refugee camps, prevented return + systematically destroyed parts of the camps.👇
hrw.org/node/392462
November 20, 2025 at 5:10 AM
billfrelick.bsky.social
A resurgence of cholera in Haiti’s West department underscores the urgent need for coordinated, long-term action to restore basic water and sanitation systems.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Haiti: Cholera Resurgence Threatens Vulnerable Communities
A resurgence of cholera in Haiti’s West department underscores the urgent need for coordinated, long-term action to restore basic water and sanitation systems.
www.hrw.org
November 5, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Reposted by Bill Frelick
belkiswille.bsky.social
1/ 🚨 New @hrw.org report: Federal agents used excessive force against protesters in Illinois. Here’s what we found. 🧵https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/10/23/united-states-federal-agents-use-excessive-force-in-illinois
October 23, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Reposted by Bill Frelick
belkiswille.bsky.social
🚨 NEW: @homelandgov.bsky.social federal agents used excessive force against protesters, medics, legal observers & journalists at numerous protests outside ICE facility in Illinois. This isn’t crowd control—it’s intimidation. Congress must act.
📢 Read the @hrw.org report: www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
October 23, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Reposted by Bill Frelick
davidstoreygeog.bsky.social
"The Trump administration will prioritize the immigration of people who oppose the immigration of other people"!!
@billfrelick.bsky.social @hrw.org
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
For the US, a 180-Degree Turn on Refugees
The Trump administration is poised to mount a two-pronged attack on refugee resettlement.
www.hrw.org
October 22, 2025 at 9:23 AM
billfrelick.bsky.social
Malaysian authorities should press Myanmar’s junta to free Thuzar Maung and her family. They should investigate the abduction of Thuzar Maung and her family from their home in Kuala Lumpur, which may amount to transnational repression. @hrw.org @elainepearson.bsky.social
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
Malaysia: Abducted Refugee Detained in Myanmar
The Malaysian government should press Myanmar’s junta for the immediate release of a refugee family abducted from Kuala Lumpur in July 2023.
www.hrw.org
October 22, 2025 at 1:34 PM
billfrelick.bsky.social
"Trump refugee plan seeks 7,000 Afrikaners — and virtually no one else" -- See my commentary on this: hrw.org/news/2025/10...

wapo.st/47BTzMA
Trump refugee plan seeks 7,000 Afrikaners — and virtually no one else
The Trump administration’s rush to process thousands of White South Africans as refugees coincides with plans for overall admissions set as low as 7,500.
wapo.st
October 21, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Reposted by Bill Frelick
loucharb.bsky.social
The #Trump administration signals deep cuts in refugee admissions and prioritizing remaining places for white South Africans & Europeans who oppose immigration. @hrw.org's @billfrelick.bsky.social says this 180° resettlement turn "adds deep insult to even deeper injury."
For the US, a 180-Degree Turn on Refugees
The Trump administration is poised to mount a two-pronged attack on refugee resettlement.
www.hrw.org
October 16, 2025 at 11:28 PM
billfrelick.bsky.social
China is legally bound not to send anyone to places where they face a threat of persecution or torture. North Korea makes defection a crime punishable by death. Beijing should stop forced returns of North Koreans, provide them asylum, or permit them to seek resettlement. www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
China: No Letup in Forced Returns to North Korea
Chinese authorities since 2024 have forcibly returned at least 406 people to North Korea, where they are at grave risk of persecution and ill-treatment.
www.hrw.org
October 16, 2025 at 12:26 PM
billfrelick.bsky.social
Alarming: "Along Haiti’s border with the Dominican Republic, communities are facing additional strain as more than 207,000 deported Haitians have returned since January 2025, to a country where gang violence has escalated."
www.iom.int/news/displac...
Displacement in Haiti Reaches Record High as 1.4 Million People Flee Violence
Geneva/Port-au-Prince, 15 October 2025 – The number of people displaced by violence and instability in Haiti has reached an unprecedented level, with more than 1.4 million people forced from their hom...
www.iom.int
October 15, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Reposted by Bill Frelick
ecchr.bsky.social
Italy should revoke its damaging migrant cooperation agreement with Libya, @hrw.org said today. The Italy-Libya Memorandum of Understanding on migration cooperation will renew automatically for three years on November 2, 2025, if neither party revokes it or makes any revisions by that date.
Italy: End Border Control Pact with Libya
Italy should revoke its damaging migrant cooperation agreement with Libya, Human Rights Watch said today. The Italy-Libya Memorandum of Understanding on migration cooperation will renew automatically ...
www.hrw.org
October 13, 2025 at 3:50 PM
billfrelick.bsky.social
"Education should never be used as a political pawn & parents should not have to worry from one year to the next if their children will be able to go to school." @michellerandhawa.bsky.social @hrw.org in "How Syrian children are being shut out of Lebanon's classrooms" www.newarab.com/analysis/how...
How Syrian children are being shut out of Lebanon’s classrooms
Government restrictions have effectively barred tens of thousands of Syrian children from school in Lebanon, as NGOs step in to teach those left behind
www.newarab.com
October 7, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Reposted by Bill Frelick
hrw.org
Lebanon's new government has emphasized the importance of quality education. But in a disappointing move, the government recently restricted access to education for many refugees.

All children, regardless of immigration status, have a right to education.
Lebanon Restricts Education Access for Many Refugees
The new government in Lebanon, formed this February under Prime Minster Nawaf Salam, has emphasized the importance of quality education for students in Lebanon and committed to providing all children ...
www.hrw.org
October 7, 2025 at 2:59 PM