Welcome to the April 2026 issue of CVT World, CVT’s periodic compilation of the latest news, stories and public activities from our team.

Do Not Send Cubans to Guantánamo as They Flee Impacts of the U.S. Fuel Blockade

As the U.S. military threatens to detain Cubans in Guantánamo should they begin fleeing deteriorating conditions in their country – conditions caused by the United States’ sanctions and fuel blockade – CVT and partners took action to push back. Led by Yumna Rizvi, senior policy analyst, a letter signed by 86 organizations was sent to Congress calling for a halt to the blockade and for permanent closure of Guantánamo. Read the release here.

The United States cannot continue to leverage Guantánamo’s legacy of torture and inhumane treatment to intimidate people seeking safety.”

-Yumna Rizvi, senior policy analyst

In addition, The Guardian published this article about the coalition action and the letter, in which Yumna says, “The United States cannot continue to leverage Guantánamo’s legacy of torture and inhumane treatment to intimidate people seeking safety.” This story got very wide global pick-up. She was also quoted in this article that originally appeared in Folha de S. Paulo, noting “this type of approach is especially worrying because Guantanamo functions as a ‘legal gray zone’ and a ‘legal black hole’ historically associated with rights violations.”

Yumna also published this op ed in Responsible Statecraft, writing, “Guantánamo clearly cannot adequately house a wave of people seeking safety. Rather, the U.S. would be deliberately holding them in the worst place we can think of,” she writes. “This is not accidental. Guantánamo is not just a base; it is a symbol meant to deter and instill fear.” This article was picked up by Truthout here.

New Tactic in Support of the Rights of Yazidi Survivors in Iraq

The New Tactics team published this human rights tactic implemented by our long-time partner the Coalition for Just Reparation (C4JR) in Iraq. The tactic describes C4JR’s campaign to facilitate implementation of the Yazidi Women Survivors Law, working to support survivors, civil society and the government as they took steps to ensure rights and compensation reached survivors as prescribed in the law. The team writes, “This tactic works because it addresses both personal and institutional barriers that prevent survivors from accessing reparations. Direct support helps survivors complete their applications, while research and advocacy encourage institutions to improve how the law is implemented.”

CVT’s New Service in Mexico Helps Families Seeking Asylum

CVT issued this press release announcing our new service in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, supporting families who attempted to seek asylum in the United States but were stranded when they were not allowed to cross the border. CVT México offers psychosocial support and specialized care for both children and adults, providing coping techniques and tactics for grounding during highly stressful times. “These are difficult, sometimes bleak, days for asylum seekers, and especially for their children,” said Ariadna Gudiño, psychotherapist/trainer. “We are able to provide tools, support and some hope.”

These are difficult, sometimes bleak, days for asylum seekers, and especially for their children.”

-Ariadna Gudiño, psychotherapist/trainer

How to Cope in the Aftermath of Violence and Crisis

We published this article about care extended to clients during the height of the ICE surge in Minnesota, along with suggestions for people interested in coping techniques and considerations for pursuing justice and accountability. “Because healing is a long process,” said Yasna Shahbazi, CVT psychotherapist, “it is helpful to have reminders of the small, practical steps we can take to facilitate it.”

“U.S. Withdrawal has Handed Beijing a Velvet Veto”

CVT is mentioned in this article in The Hill by opinion contributor Alison Lombardo, who lists us among several human rights and development organizations blocked by China from accreditation by the UN, which would allow attendance and participation in UN meetings, a key role for civil society. Ms. Lombardo notes that the absence of the United States this year in particular allowed China to admit organizations with concerning connections to the Chinese government. This article was picked up by Yahoo and AOL.

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 recent coalition and partner actions.

• CVT endorsed this new bill introduced by Representatives Jesús García, Rashida Tlaib, Delia Ramirez among others, to end ICE warehouse detention prisons, currently being established in locations across the United States. Congresswoman Tlaib writes, “This will only increase the serious human rights abuses and trauma on immigrant families including medical neglect, inhumane conditions, and rising deaths. The Ban Warehouse Detention Act would stop this expansion by prohibiting the use of warehouses for immigration detention.” The bill was covered here in El Dia News.
• CVT joined this 2026 World Cup Travel Advisory organized by Amnesty USA and ACLU. Signed by 120 organizations in all 11 host cities, the advisory specifies six risks that fans, athletes, reporters and others may face in the U.S., including risk of deportation, violent immigration enforcement and mistreatment in detention, and more. The authors write, “While the Trump administration’s rising authoritarianism and increasing violence pose serious risks to all, those from immigrant communities, racial and ethnic minority groups, and LGBTQ+ individuals have been and continue to be disproportionately targeted and affected by the administration’s policies and, as such, are most vulnerable to serious harm when traveling to and/or within the United States.” The advisory and its warnings were covered in this article in The Athletic, a sports-focused section of the New York Times.
• CVT joined 125 human rights organizations in signing this action to stop extrajudicial killings by the U.S. in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean; 175 people have been killed already. “The right to life and due process are fundamental principles of international law,” write the authors. The joint open call was covered in this article in El Pais.
• CVT was one of 200 organizations signing this joint statement calling for an end to President Trump’s threats of war crimes, issued after he wrote in an online post that if Iran did not meet his demands, “a whole civilization will die tonight.” The authors write, “Such language describes a grave atrocity if carried out.” They urge respect for international law, writing, “Those responsible for atrocities, including crimes against humanity and war crimes, can and must be held accountable.”