WASHINGTON, D.C. – Despite significant pushback from immigrant rights advocates, national security experts, faith organizations, legal experts, and members of Congress, the Biden administration continues to consider drastic and harmful immigration policy changes in budget negotiations with congressional leaders. Among the harmful provisions being considered as tradeoffs for Ukraine aid are an asylum ban that would largely impact Latine and Black asylum seekers, mass deportations without a hearing, mass incarceration of immigrants already in the country and families seeking asylum, reinstating and expanding draconian Title 42 expulsions, and blocking and limiting those who can seek asylum.

“These ugly, extreme proposals currently on the negotiating table are Trump-era policies that the Biden administration initially rejected. In fact, we saw a slew of Executive Orders to undo so much of this harm which terrorized immigrant communities during the Trump administration and they will do so again if enacted,” said Nicole Melaku, executive director of the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA). “Right now, we are holding accountable every Senator, every Representative, and President Biden himself if they are quietly willing to vote for a package that will detain children, tear apart families, and violate our nation’s legal obligation to provide safe haven for asylum seekers. We implore our leaders: this is not the path to take – not now, not ever. There are smart, balanced solutions that can improve legal channels for migrants and make management of the border more humane and workable. The proposals being considered this week are abhorrent and must be rejected by the President and all members of Congress immediately.” 

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The National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) is a multi-ethnic, multiracial coalition of 66 of the nation’s largest immigrant and refugee rights organizations with reach across over 40 states. Together with our members, we advance immigrant and refugee equity and inclusion, build and expand immigration legal services and integration programming capacity, and drive campaigns that strengthen democracy through increased civic participation. See our website for more information at partnershipfornewamericans.org