L4GG Strongly Opposes Gutting Asylum in Exchange for Foreign Aid and Urges L4GG Community to Call Senators Today
As negotiations on President Biden’s supplemental funding request continue in the U.S. Senate this week, Lawyers for Good Government strongly opposes a reported deal that would gut the U.S. asylum system, create chaos at the border, and return refugees to danger and death.
Currently, Senate Republicans are hinging critical funding for international partners on capitulation to their demand for extreme, lasting changes to immigration policy they have inserted into the supplemental funding bill, including “poison pill” provisions that would make it nearly impossible to apply for asylum by increasing the credible fear standard and making changes to the safe-third-country agreements that would force people into well-documented danger. The deal would also undermine humanitarian and other forms of parole, a critical immigration tool that provides temporary admission into the U.S. for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit, e.g., to admit Ukrainian refugees and military spouses.
“If this proposed deal goes through, thousands of refugees fleeing for their lives will be returned to their home countries to once again face persecution and death. Many will die. These changes to asylum law would violate our international obligations and decimate decades-old immigration laws that were passed with almost unanimous support. We categorically oppose any attempts to build even higher barriers to asylum, and reject Trump-like attempts to dismantle our asylum system. We are better than this.”
“As a survivor of the inhumane immigration policies of former President Donald Trump, I know firsthand how these proposed changes in asylum standards will threaten the lives of asylum seekers instead of prioritizing their safety, well-being, and dignity. These changes will only increase the dangers that many times turn out to be deadly, particularly for children, women, families and other vulnerable people.”
We cannot let this deal go through. If enough of us call and stand up for the right to seek asylum and for the vulnerable populations this will impact, we can make sure it doesn’t happen.
We’re asking our community to please call your Senator today by dialing (202) 224-3121 and asking for your Senator’s office. Here’s a sample script to use when you connect with someone:
“I’m calling to urge Senator [insert name] to protect critical asylum protections and reject any proposals presented in negotiations on the supplemental funding request that would eliminate or reduce access to asylum or parole. Protections for people seeking refuge are needed now more than ever. Permanent weakening of our asylum laws would have devastating impacts at the border, in neighboring countries, and on vulnerable migrants and their families. Please say no to any deal that abandons asylum seekers and email me your response at [insert your email].”