Senate Democrats Vote Down GOP Amendment to End Asylum

WASHINGTON, DC – Tonight, Senate Democrats voted against Senator Lankford’s amendment to extend Title 42, an amendment that would indefinitely end asylum for families and children seeking safety. The rejection of the GOP’s amendment comes after a coalition of nearly 300 faith, civil rights, labor and immigration organizations urged Senators to vote NO on poison-pill amendments that would jeopardize the reconciliation bill.

In response, Kerri Talbot, Deputy Director of the Immigration Hub, issued the following statement:  

“Today, Senate Democrats stood up to a Republican Party determined to end legal immigration and end refugee protections for those applying for asylum. Democrats sent a resounding message to all Americans that our nation is committed to a more fair and humane immigration system that ensures those seeking freedom and safety are given a fair process to come to this country. 

“As Democrats are on the precipice of delivering historic relief that will lower healthcare and energy costs for millions of families and address climate change, Republicans are trying to kill the bill by offering anti-immigrant amendments that could risk the passage of this breakthrough legislation, end America’s asylum system and jeopardize the lives of millions. 

“It’s clear that Republicans aren’t interested in improving our immigration system to make our economy stronger for everyone. They would rather attack and use immigrants as pawns to score political points. Instead of putting forward solutions for Congress to strengthen our immigration and asylum system and end harmful policies that deny families the right to a safe and fair asylum process, Republicans are more interested in playing political games with people’s lives. They are pushing an extreme agenda that takes away our freedoms, closes the door to refugees, and peddles racially-charged ideologies that divide us as a nation. 

“We thank Democrats for standing up to the GOP’s agenda and encourage them to continue to stand firm and vote against all poison-pill amendments that could derail this breakthrough legislation.”

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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.