Madeline Cohodes /
Bellevue Hospital Program for Survivors of Torture /
New York, USA /
As this summer comes to a close, reflecting on the work I have done at PSOT is certainly bitter-sweet. The Program has continued to assist current clients and intake nearly two new clients a week. Between writing asylum applications, providing therapy, coordinating social services, and keeping up all the daily operational tasks, there is never a dull moment at Bellevue. Yet, all the day-to-day accomplishments seem overshadowed by broader national challenges.
Nearly every day, the New York Times notifies me of another announcement on immigration policy in the United States, like how President Biden continues to keep Trump-Era policies in place ). Or, Vice President Harris discussing refugees at the Southern Border and how they should stay in their home countries. I wonder if she understands that she isn’t just speaking to Guatemalans, she’s telling refugees from Burkina Faso, Chad, and Guinea who have traveled across continents and oceans, that they should simply go home too.
While PSOT and other centers like ours collect demographic data and work with national-level agencies on policy, sometimes the most basic facts are seemingly ignored. Compiling all of this information only to have it swept aside can be disheartening. Yet, I do hold out hope that continued advocacy efforts will make a difference. This fellowship has introduced me to previous generations of critical human rights theorists, but it has also shown me a new generation of activists, who may have different goals but similar values. Reading my peers’ blog posts and seeing their work in action has reminded me that we all face challenges in our respective fields, but we can also look to each other as a source of motivation to continue uphill battles, this summer and beyond.