The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) joined other federal agencies in recognizing February 6 as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation and calling for an end to the harmful practice.

Female Genital Mutilation, or FGM, refers to procedures that maim external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. 

"FGM/C is a human rights violation and a form of child abuse, gender discrimination, and violence against women and girls," writes the USCIS on its website. 

According to the UN, over 200 million women and girls have undergone some form of genital mutilation around the world. The Center for Disease Control estimates that in the United States, around 500,000 girls and women have either undergone genital mutilation or are at risk of FGM in the future. The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation aims to shine a light on this prevalent, yet oftentimes overlooked issue.

It is illegal to attempt to perform female genital mutilation on a minor in the United States. It is also illegal to transport a minor outside the country for the purpose of having genital mutilation performed on them.

The United States Citizen and Immigration Services grants asylum to those who have survived FGM and bars immigration for those who have performed it or have assisted in having it carried out.