Washington, D.C. – Alarming news has surfaced this week indicating that President Biden is considering using executive action to restrict immigrants’ rights to seek asylum at the border, resembling efforts used by Trump to target and dismantle U.S. asylum processes. The news comes just weeks after young people and allies from across the country took action in Washington D.C. and unequivocally demanded a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and for Congress to reject efforts to revive Trump-era anti-immigrant policies in its supplemental funding negotiations.
Bruna Sollod, Senior Political Director of United We Dream Action, said:
“President Biden’s reported consideration of anti-immigrant executive action represents a failure by his administration to listen and respond to the will of its constituents who overwhelmingly support humane solutions that welcome people who migrate. Especially over this past year, immigrant youth, young voters, and voters of color across the country have seen the Biden Administration repeatedly back down from its promises to deliver permanent protections for our communities and cave to MAGA Republicans’ fear-mongering and divisive tactics.
Just last week, immigrant youth and our allies who represent a multiracial, multiethnic, multigenerational, and interfaith coalition united to demand permanent protections for immigrants and a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Our communities have always been clear about our vision for the future; a future where we all have the right to move, stay, and thrive, and a future that divests from militarism, detention, and deportation and invests in policies that help people. Any anti-immigrant executive action from the White House that strips away asylum rights contradicts the very values of humanity, dignity, and integrity that young people have been demanding from our elected officials. Young people and people of color are hungry for a people-centered government that responds to and reflects the will of the people, and this executive action would move us away from that.”