Dear John,
It's been more than a year since the Trump administration implemented the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which has created a humanitarian crisis with tens of thousands of people fleeing violence and persecution finding the door slammed on them at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Because of this policy, asylum seekers have been forced to wait for months in makeshift refugee camps in Mexico while their cases are pending in U.S. courts. These encampments are dangerous and dirty. They’re no place for any human being to live – and some people have died before their cases could be heard.
Access to legal counsel is often the difference between winning asylum and having an application denied. But right now, there’s a massive backlog of cases, and many asylum seekers are being forced to go through the legal process without representation.
That’s where HIAS comes in: We’re meeting the challenge head-on by providing legal aid and resources to as many asylum seekers at the border as we can. This work can be lifesaving, but our resources are limited, and we depend on your support to provide legal advice and sponsor Border Fellows (full-time attorneys who help asylum seekers with their cases).
HIAS is working tirelessly on the ground to help asylum seekers, providing representation and lawyer referrals to people waiting in Ciudad Juárez, and preparing to open offices in Monterrey, Tijuana, and Mexicali, Mexico. With the help of our volunteer network, we’ve screened nearly 850 asylum seekers and prepared nearly 100 asylum applications. We also referred 80 people to our partners in El Paso for legal representation, many of whose safety was at risk due to the “Remain in Mexico” policy.
John, we’re as committed as ever to doing whatever it takes to support asylum seekers and refugees, but we’re counting on you to stand with us in this critical work by sending your support today: Give $18 or more now – every dollar goes a long way – to help HIAS support the families and children seeking safety and a life of dignity in the U.S.
Thank you so much for your support.
Sue Kenney-Pfalzer
Director, Border & Asylum Network
