20 May 2022
Nevada Leaders and Immigration Experts Call on Sen. Cortez-Masto and Democratic Senators to Stand Up Against Efforts to End Asylum, Deliver Immigration Solutions Voters Demand
Click here for recording of the call
NEVADA - Yesterday, the Immigration Hub hosted a press call with Nevada leaders and immigration experts to denounce legislative efforts to undermine America’s asylum system and to urge Senator Cortez-Masto and her Senate colleagues to reject legislative efforts to codify Title 42 and dismantle America’s asylum system.
This press call comes as Republicans attempt to hold important COVID-19 funding hostage in a legislative bid to continue using the border as an electoral wedge issue. According to a recent Immigration Hub survey, a majority of voters support a fair and orderly process for refugees and those seeking asylum. Yet, the Lankford-Sinema bill stands to block refugees and asylum seekers, primarily Haitians, Central Americans, Venezuelans and other migrants of color, from processing claims at the border for years to come.
"We know where Republicans stand. The question is whether Senator Cortez-Masto and Democratic leaders are willing to be complicit and end our asylum system and tell America we will keep out Black and brown people fleeing from persecution and violence," said Beatriz Lopez, Chief Political & Communications Officer, Immigration Hub. "Democratic Senators have an opportunity to reject Republican both political and legislative efforts to undermine one of America’s greatest pillars - an asylum system that welcomes those seeking refuge and safety."
“The Lankford-Sinema bill overrides the science and public health experts, and it buys into this Republican narrative that immigrants are a threat to the country,” said Tyler Moran, former Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor for Migration. “This is not about open borders or closed borders – it is about misusing a public health authority to shut down asylum.”
“The sad reality is that people fleeing persecution and violence are being thrown back into danger because of Title 42,” said Rico Ocampo, Lead Organizer, Make the Road Action. “Voters in Nevada want solutions, not a broken system with cruel and harmful policies. I urge Democrats, like Cortez-Masto, to support restoring asylum and protecting those seeking safety at our border. The past administration created chaos at our border and targeted our communities, but we’re more than capable of solving it. We cannot accept ‘no’ for an answer.”
“Among battleground state voters, there has been absolutely no erosion in support for treating immigrants with respect, with dignity, and with supporting comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship,” said Matt Barreto, Founding Partner and President of BSP Research. “Over the Trump years, if anything, we noticed voters reacted negatively to the rhetoric and the policies of the Trump administration and voiced stronger support for immigrant rights. And our polling clearly shows that battleground state voters strongly support the incorporation of immigrants as full members of our society.
“At a time when voters are cautiously concerned about the state of governance because they’ve seen their lives turned upside down over the past few years, it’s time for our elected officials to stop playing political games with our lives,” said Erika Castro, Organizing Director, Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN) Action. “It’s time to be bold and govern with courage instead of allowing xenophobic politicians to use the immigrant community as scapegoats for our policy failures. The constant obstruction of governance and prioritization of corporations has caused more pain to families across the country than any hypothetical harm spewed by anti-immigrant policymakers.”
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The Immigration Hub is a national organization dedicated to advancing fair and just immigration policies through strategic leadership, innovative communications strategies, legislative advocacy and collaborative partnerships.