1 DEC 2023
Over 185 Immigrant Advocacy and Progressive Groups Urge Congress to Safeguard Asylum in Negotiations for Ukraine Aid
“We all share a commitment to ensuring that those who need protection can find it here in the United States. We urge Members of Congress to reject demands that are reminiscent of the Trump administration’s efforts to end asylum,” said the groups.
WASHINGTON — Today, as first reported in Politico’s Playbook, 188 immigrant rights and progressive organizations released a letter urging Congress to reject any supplemental funding proposal that would enact harmful, permanent changes to the immigration system–including Trump-inspired policies that eliminate access to asylum or parole.
As Senate Republicans hold Ukrainian aid hostage in return for draconian changes to the immigration system, which would violate international law and leave hundreds of thousands of refugees in danger, the letter urges Congress to instead advance solutions that strengthen the existing system and ensure the safety of vulnerable migrants.
The letter specifically calls on Congress to: 1) increase funding to improve asylum processing, 2) reduce backlogs and work permit waiting times, 3) resource states, localities and community shelter and support services; and fund legal counsel.
Signed by 188 organizations committed to civil rights, human rights, gender, and racial justice; including the American Civil Liberties Union, United We Dream, UnidosUS, and Human Rights First; the letter builds on similar calls from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, U.S. Senators, and House members.
The letter states:
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“These changes would devastate America’s asylum process and harm asylum seekers and other vulnerable immigrants. As Congress negotiates an emergency supplemental funding bill, some Members of Congress are misusing these negotiations in order to extract cruel, ineffective and radical changes to our immigration and asylum system. These changes would have lasting effects that would create more chaos and disorder at the southern border and across neighboring countries. Demanding impossible standards for securing asylum or curbing parole authority as a condition for moving funding for Ukraine is unacceptable.”
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“We are appalled by proposals that would eliminate or reduce access to asylum or parole at precisely the moment in which protections for people seeking refuge are most needed. These proposals include statutory changes to asylum law that would violate international law and decimate decades-old laws that were passed with almost unanimous support, undermining refugee protection globally. Most importantly, if these proposals are implemented, more people who have no choice but to flee for their lives will be sent back to once again face persecution and harm. Some will die. The harm will fall disproportionately on Black, Brown, Indigenous, women, and LGBTQI refugees who are already marginalized globally.”
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“Congress should advance bipartisan solutions to provide smart resources at the border that make the existing process work better while keeping communities safe. For example, Congress should increase funding to improve asylum processing; reduce backlogs and work permit waiting times; resource states, localities and community shelter and support services; and fund legal counsel. A smart funding package should not expand detention and deportation, but instead devote funds to supporting a humane asylum system that provides access to safety for all who need refuge.”
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“We all share a commitment to ensuring that those who need protection can find it here in the United States. We urge Members of Congress to reject demands that are reminiscent of the Trump administration’s efforts to end asylum.”
To read a full copy of the letter, please click HERE.
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