8 FEB 2023
Immigration Hub’s Kerri Talbot: “Relic policies of the Trump-era have no business being pushed by a Democratic administration.”
Washington, D.C. – Today, Reuters reported that the Biden administration is preparing legislation to codify an asylum ban. The proposal, commonly called a “transit ban,” would presumptively deny asylum to migrants encountered along the border who transited through a third country without requesting protection, and to those who entered America between ports of entry. This will severely curtail the rights of individuals and families fleeing persecution to seek asylum at our southern border.
In response to this report, Kerri Talbot, the Deputy Director of the Immigration Hub issued the following statement:
“The Biden administration is proposing a failed policy once proudly touted by President Trump and later struck down by federal courts. No matter how the administration tries to spin this, any iteration of a “transit ban” would jeopardize the lives of desperate families seeking safety and refuge, and would undermine the President’s commitment to a fair and humane immigration system.
“We acknowledge that Congressional inaction, especially Republican obstruction, has left the administration with limited options to manage irregular migration and asylum processing at our southern border. That’s why we fully support the President’s call-to-action to Congress to pass legislation that would modernize our immigration system, reform and resource our asylum system, enhance border security and create a pathway to citizenship for the millions of immigrants who call this nation their home.
“But let’s be clear. Relic policies of the Trump-era have no business being pushed by a Democratic administration, especially one that promised to restore an asylum system severely gutted by the former President. Reforms to make asylum work are necessary; undermining America’s core commitment to offer asylum to those fleeing persecution and violence is not.
“Democrats must stop letting MAGA Republicans define the political and policy debate on immigration, and instead lean in on the agenda that voters elected them to implement in 2020: turn the page on Trump's cruel policies and build a fair, functional, and humane immigration system.
“We urge congressional leaders and the Biden administration to keep focus on common sense solutions that the American public supports, solutions that secure the border, protect asylum while reforming the system to make it more efficient, and legalize long-term residents – not gutting one of America’s most fundamental commitments as a nation."
###
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.