Nicolae Vermont, “The Refugees,” 1923, sketch, public domain
The Biden administration has proposed a plan that would ban many refugees from asylum protection in the United States based on their manner of entry and their transit through other countries on the way to safety. (Read this explanation by the American Immigration Lawyers Association.)The policy would discriminate against low-income persons and immigrants of color who must often cross multiple countries on their way to safety. Like the practices of the previous administration, it would put many—especially women and children—at risk for extortion, sexual assault, human trafficking, and violence.
The administration is taking comments from the public through March 27th. We must voice our opposition to this proposed asylum ban which contradicts U.S. laws explicitly guarding an asylum seeker’s right to seek protection regardless of their method of entry into the United States.
Take Five: Click here to submit a comment to the Biden administration opposing the proposed asylum ban. (Use the example as a guide, but speak in your own words,* as duplicate comments will be lumped together and responded to as one.) Then let us know you took action by emailing here with “I Spoke Up Against the Asylum Ban” in your subject line.
*Would you like to learn better how to craft and submit comments pushing back on these and other proposed regulations? The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) will give a brief presentation in a Zoom meeting of Texas immigration advocates Tuesday, March 7, 11 a.m. CST. If you’d like to attend, email here for a meeting link and password.
