In 2008, Tahirih filed an amicus brief for the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of "Barry v. Mukasey", arguing that FGM/C can cause permanent and continuing harm to women who are forced to undergo the procedure, often leading to ongoing health issues. Barry was denied asylum as a direct result of the Board of Immigration Appeals decision in "Matter of A-T-", where the court held that past FGM/C alone cannot provide a basis for a fear of future persecution, and "Matter of A-K-", where the court held that a parent cannot receive derivative asylum to protect a United States citizen child from FGM/C.