Press Release

Washington – The #WelcomeWithDignity campaign expressed grave concern with the anti-immigrant legislative priorities for the 118th Congress that extremist hate groups including the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) shared with Congressional leaders yesterday. These groups are committed to enacting cruel policies that would keep out people seeking safety, dismantle our asylum system, and eliminate the United States’ longstanding tradition of welcoming immigrants and refugees who enrich this country.

It is no surprise that organizations dedicated to excluding immigrants and advancing white nationalist objectives have presented such extreme and dangerous policy recommendations. Republicans and, to their shame, some Democrats are already embracing and advancing some of these policies. Proposals to extend the Trump-era asylum ban known as Title 42 – like the Public Health and Border Security Act of 2022 (S. 4036 / H.R. 7458) sponsored by Senators Sinema and Lankford – are aligned with the anti-immigrant agenda. While touted as a public health measure, we know that Title 42 has had no impact on limiting the spread of COVID-19, has been a hugely ineffective tool in managing migration and has always been about restricting access to asylum. By design, the policy has disparately harmed Black and brown immigrants seeking safety.

“Rather than being complicit and carrying out the legislative demands of hate groups and former Trump officials, we expect our leaders to support and work towards building a fair and humane immigration system,” said Melina Roche, Campaign Manager of #WelcomeWithDignity. “We urge Senate to reject legislation or any efforts that mandate the continuation of Title 42, which is a threat to our asylum system. We implore Congressional leaders to work with #WelcomeWithDignity partners to restore access to asylum at the border and create a more fair, humane, and orderly system that lives up to our values as a nation that welcomes people fleeing persecution. Our partners at the border, in Washington, and across the nation stand ready to help ensure that America keeps its promise to protect the vulnerable and upholds its obligation, enshrined in our laws, to never send people back to persecution or torture.”

The Welcome with Dignity Campaign is composed of more than 95  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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