John,

Congress and the White House are seriously considering proposals that would revive Trump-era immigration policies like restricting asylum, expanding expedited removal, detaining families, and reviving presidential authority to keep migrants from entering the country by declaring a national emergency.¹

All these policies will endanger lives. Any effort to revive Trump-era proposals to expand mandatory detention and expedited removal also put more people at risk of being detained in inhumane conditions or separated from their families. We know from previous years that Black, brown, and Indigenous immigrants will be the most harmed by these measures.

Negotiations are currently underway. Click here to send a letter to Congress now, demanding they oppose permanent changes to immigration laws that harm children and other migrants.

Unfortunately, the push to impose new permanent restrictions on who can seek asylum, an expanded nationwide deportation process, and a return to Title 42 comes on top of policies that are already harming families. Ever since the Biden Administration initiated its asylum ban policy in May of 2023, more than 1,300 people―including children―have faced kidnapping, torture, rape, and other violent assaults as they wait in Mexico for limited appointments with Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).² The revival of emergency authority (similar to Title 42 during the pandemic)―which expelled 30,000 children aged 3 years and younger―would put more babies and children in harms way and lead to the separation of families, which has devastating lasting effects.³

Inhumane immigration enforcement policies like nationwide expedited removal threatens the unity, health, and well-being of tens of thousands of immigrant families―including 5 million children who have at least one undocumented parent.⁴ These are people who have long been integrated into our communities and separating them from their families creates an environment of fear that extends to entire communities and beyond.

While we acknowledge the need to address our broken immigration system and invest resources to support new migrants, these policies do absolutely nothing but wreak unimaginable havoc on immigrant families, children, and their surrounding communities. Congress must hear from us now. We need to ask every member if they’re truly willing to vote for legislation that allows their constituents to be surveilled, rounded up, and deported.

Send a letter to Congress telling them to protect families, affirm the right to safety of asylum seekers, and reject harmful immigration policies.

Thank you for all you do,

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs

¹ Drastic border restrictions considered by Biden and the Senate reflect seismic political shift on immigration
² ASYLUM BAN STRANDS ASYLUM SEEKERS AND MIGRANTS IN MEXICO AND RETURNS THEM TO DANGER
³ Children and Families Must Have Access to Asylum: Threats to Asylum are Threats to Children’s Safety
⁴ Still at Risk: The Urgent Need to Address Immigration Enforcement’s Harms to Children