Dear John,
On this year’s International Day of the Migrant, the United States stands at a critical juncture.
Mass deportations have expanded to encompass our neighbors, close friends, and family members. The Trump administration has increasingly employed migration policy as a means to consolidate executive authority and erode respect for the rule of law. Individuals seeking protection—whether fleeing persecution or pursuing basic safety—are instead subjected to punitive and often inhumane treatment. Even long-time residents who have built their lives in this country can no longer rely on the security they once assumed.
Throughout the year, WOLA’s experts have worked diligently to monitor, analyze, and document the human rights abuses occurring across the United States and throughout the region. I traveled with WOLA’s Mexico Director Stephanie Brewer and undertook field research in Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras to evaluate the real-world impact of ICE detention and deportation practices. WOLA also played a prominent role in national discussions on migration through our most widely accessed publication, the Weekly Border Update, which continues to serve as a trusted resource for policymakers, journalists, academics, and advocates.
WOLA collaborated closely with congressional delegations traveling to El Salvador, ensuring they received comprehensive local insights and human rights documentation—including the case of Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia, detained in the CECOT facility. In May, we called on the U.S. government to comply with federal court orders regarding wrongful deportations. Additionally, WOLA submitted a formal communication to the governments of Costa Rica and Panama advocating for the legal rights of individuals deported from the United States without the opportunity to seek asylum.
These collective efforts underscore a central reality: the present moment demands heightened vigilance, rigorous expertise, and unwavering principled engagement.
WOLA remains firmly committed to advancing humane, rights-respecting migration policies and to safeguarding the dignity of those whose lives are disrupted by abuses of power. Achieving a more just and effective approach requires evidence-based analysis, sustained advocacy, and a steadfast commitment to human rights.
With your partnership, we can continue this work at a time when it is most urgently required.
Please join us.
