Joint USCIS-ICE-CBP-CRCL Statement on Zero Tolerance Day for FGM

Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties February 6, 2021 Joint USCIS-ICE-CBP-CRCL Statement on Zero Tolerance Day for FGM On February 6, 2021, the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) join other U.S. government agencies and the international community in calling for an end to the practice of female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C).  This day serves as an opportunity to reflect on victims who have suffered from FGM/C, including many women and girls who have died or suffered lifelong health complications from the practice.  The day also renews a global commitment to the health and well-being of all women, girls, and communities by eliminating the practice. FGM/C is the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for no medical reason.  It is recognized internationally as a human rights violation and a form of child abuse, gender discrimination, and violence against women and girls.  FGM/C is a crime under federal law and in 39 states.  When committed against children, it is a form of child abuse.  People who commit this crime can face prison time and significant immigration consequences.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates approximately 500,000 girls in the United States are at risk of having or have had FGM/C performed on them. On January 5, 2021, the STOP FGM Act 2020 was signed into law, further amending the crime under federal law to align the definition of FGM/C with the World Health Organization's definition, as well as increasing the statutory maximum term of imprisonment for violating the law from five to ten years.  On January 13, 2021, the Department of Justice obtained an indictment in the case of a Texas woman for allegedly transporting a minor for FGM/C, the first indictment under the amended statute. We reiterate our strong and unwavering support for local, state, national, and international efforts to combat FGM/C. We continue to work with interagency partners to identify opportunities to #EndFGM in the United States and worldwide.  Read more information about the practice of FGM/C in the USCIS FGM/C brochure (PDF, 714 KB), the U.S. Government Fact Sheet (PDF, 573 KB), and on the United Nations' Zero Tolerance Day website.   Department of Homeland Security www.dhs.gov  |  info@dhs.gov Manage subscription  |  Unsubscribe  |  Help CRCL Phone:  202-401-1474 • Toll-Free: 866-644-8360  TTY: 202-401-0470 • Toll-Free TTY: 866-644-8361 CRCLOutreach@hq.dhs.gov

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U.S. Department of Homeland Security · www.dhs.gov · 202-282-8000

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