Dear Friend,

Today, a federal appeals court in California ordered the government to stop its so-called “Migrant Protection Protocols” or Remain in Mexico. The court found that forcing asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico for their immigration proceedings violated both U.S. law and the United States' international treaty obligations to not return people to a country where they would suffer persecution.

Just last month, a Young Center team spent time with families trapped in Matamoros, Mexico. The court’s decision reflects what we learned while there: that the government’s policy subjects families to irreparable harm including kidnapping, assault, and death. We know how critical and life-saving this decision is for the children and families we met there.

We expect the government to fight the court’s decision. But the advocates who brought the lawsuit to stop this policy have demonstrated that Remain in Mexico is unlawful and cruel and it puts children and families in harm’s way. Seeking asylum is a right. People seeking safety at our border should be allowed into the country to pursue their case for protection. Today was an important step in that direction and toward restoring a degree of humanity and legality to our immigration system.

Gratefully,

Jennifer Nagda
Policy Director