Washington, D.C. – Today, the Biden Administration’s Department of Homeland Security embraced a new rule that mimics the Trump administration’s violent attacks against immigrants and our country’s asylum system by expediting the deportations of people and families seeking safety. The rule would alarmingly transfer life-altering decision-making powers to asylum officers at the initial stages of the asylum process, rather than the judges who usually make those decisions and have fuller awareness and details of asylum seekers’ cases. This new barrier is on top of the existing asylum ban, which already keeps the vast majority of asylum seekers (85%) from ever being able to claim their right to seek asylum.
Bruna Sollod, Senior Political Director of United We Dream Action, said:
“The Biden Administration’s latest rule is a cruel, political maneuver that cowers to the anti-immigrant obsessions of MAGA Republicans and fails to provide real, popular and humane solutions. Biden cannot afford to continue allowing the MAGA anti-immigrant agenda guide his immigration policy. If the administration wanted to truly demonstrate sound governance on immigration, it would listen to the overwhelming majority of people in this country who support humane pathways for people to seek safety –without being subjected to violence– and inclusive pathways to citizenship for those who choose to call this country home. Being pro-immigrant and supporting pro-immigrant policies that honor everyone’s inherent right to move, live, stay, and thrive in their chosen homes is what wins.
After years of neglect and promises left unfulfilled, President Biden must make the right decision to ensure a humane immigration system that shelters –rather than endangers– people seeking refuge and delivers permanent protections for immigrant youth and undocumented immigrants whose home is here. Continuing to exploit immigrant lives as political pawns ignores the vision that young people across the country, including young voters, have made clear the administration must follow if they want to earn their support.”