Hello there — I am reaching out today from the United States-Mexico border, where advocates from across the immigrant justice and civil rights movements have gathered to shine a spotlight on an urgent situation. Here’s a photo from my visit earlier today:

Tonight, we will finally witness the end of the Title 42 policy, which both the Biden and Trump administrations used to unlawfully deny hundreds of thousands of people of their legal right to seek asylum in the United States. This policy, concocted by Stephen Miller, chief architect of Trump's extremist immigration agenda, cost people their lives. While its end is long overdue, its terrible legacy threatens to live on.

Rather than recommitting to strengthening our asylum system and ensuring that people are treated humanely, President Biden is taking yet another page from Trump's playbook. He is readying a new asylum ban, which will once again expose people to danger, separate families, and shirk our legal obligations under U.S. and international law.

Friend, these measures are not only cruel and unlawful – they are unnecessary and put our country on a dangerous path to resurrecting the worst of Trump’s vision for America. Over the course of this trip, I am listening to and learning from the people directly impacted by these inhumane policies, and visiting with on-the-ground organizations whose crucial work proves that it is possible to welcome people seeking safety with dignity.

To push our elected officials to meet this moment with the courage and moral leadership it demands, they need to hear from as many people as possible. Add your name below to join our call demanding the Biden administration to restore asylum for good >>>

Thank you for stepping up, friend.

Kica Matos
Incoming President
National Immigration Law Center