Press Release

Washington – United States Representative Judy Chu (CA-27) joined leaders from grass-roots organizations in Texas, Washington, DC and New York City who have stepped into welcome people seeking asylum on a press call today to call on Congress to defend the right to seek asylum. The speakers highlighted widespread community support for welcoming asylum-seekers into their cities. The #WelcomeWithDignity campaign calls on Congress to vote ‘no’ on any anti-immigrant or anti-asylum amendments during the upcoming budget reconciliation process. The adoption of such poison pills in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 could threaten the passage of this important legislation.

“On behalf of the #WelcomeWithDignity campaign, I urge the Senate to reject any amendments that would harm immigrant communities or asylum-seekers. Addressing climate change, healthcare, taxes, and inflation is important and desperately needed progress – that’s why the Senate must not set up the budget reconciliation bill to fail by adding in destructive anti-immigrant amendments,” said Melina Roche, #WelcomeWithDignity Campaign Manager. “If the Senate adopts extremist amendments, like codifying Title 42, to the budget reconciliation bill, we will oppose its passage. For far too long, Title 42 has harmed countless migrants and people seeking protection, including those who are especially vulnerable such as Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQ asylum-seekers. Furthermore, this policy has only benefitted nefarious actors seizing on the desperation of people fleeing for their lives.”

“I was relieved to see the Supreme Court’s ruling last month that the Biden administration will no longer be forced to implement Trump’s cruel Remain in Mexico program — however, even though this decision was a victory, there is much work to be done to restore dignity and humanity to migrants who come to our Southern border in the hopes of a better life. This starts with ending the shameful Title 42 border expulsions,” said Rep. Judy Chu of California’s 27th District. “Like many of my colleagues, I am disappointed and frustrated by the House Appropriations Committee’s inclusion of amendments which would prevent the CDC from ending the application of Title 42 to asylum seekers at the border — and I strongly oppose any effort to codify or prolong Title 42 border expulsions. Rather, Congress should commit to finding a permanent humanitarian solution to ensure adults and families going through the immigration process are received with dignity.”

“We recently learned that people have donated about $160,000 to Governor Abbott’s effort to bus people to DC. And we – the DC community – have raised over $350,000. What this means is that our community is making a clear statement. We are a region of welcome, a community that believes in upholding the rights and dignity of migrants. While politicians on both sides of the aisle use fear-mongering tactics to undermine the human right to seek asylum, we know that is not reflective of communities. When we feel overwhelmed with the numbers arriving, or the lack of capacity, our answer is not to tell people not to come. Our answer is to call for more support to expand our capacity to welcome, not shut the door,” said Amy Fischer, Americas Advocacy Director at Amnesty International USA. “And now, with Mayor Bowser’s announcement requesting the national guard to respond to the asylum seekers, we are once again reminded that militarized responses only further traumatize and cause irreparable harm to people exercising their human right to seek safety, especially for Black, Brown, and Indigenous people.”

“The Sidewalk School was born out of necessity and from the hearts of American citizens who witnessed the tragic consequences of Trump’s anti-immigrant administration. We struggled alongside retirees, teachers, veterans, lawyers, religious groups, and advocates from varying walks of life. We collectively stepped out of our comfort as US citizens to travel across to Mexico, to provide aid in a region deemed as, “Do Not Travel to” by the U.S. Department of State. We rallied support from all over the U.S. as well as all over the world. Refugees from all over the world heard of our kindness and work. While others on the right political spectrum were claiming the American Dream was dead, we saw it every day in their eyes,” said Victor Cavazos, Co-Director of the Sidewalk School for Children Asylum Seekers.

The Welcome with Dignity Campaign is composed of more than 100 national and regional organizations committed to transforming the way the United States receives and protects people forced to flee their homes to ensure they are treated humanely and fairly. To learn more and join our campaign visit: welcomewithdignity.org

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