John, ​​​​​the Trump administration has launched another baseless attack against asylum seekers — and we need you to take action now and send a comment to voice your opposition.

Using the COVID-19 pandemic as cover to advance its long-standing anti-immigrant agenda, the Trump administration proposed an insidious new rule that would unlawfully ban individuals seeking asylum in the United States under the false pretense of limiting the spread of disease.

Our asylum laws are intended to protect to human rights, not implement the harmful policies of this administration. Protecting asylum seekers and protecting public health are not mutually exclusive and we cannot stand by while this administration uses this false conflict to punish asylum seekers. This rule would have devastating consequences for asylum seekers during this pandemic and would allow officials to bar asylum to groups of migrants in the future.

Take action now to oppose this proposed rule and protect asylum seekers: www.immigrantjustice.org/asylumphcomment

This new rule would literally label asylum seekers a “danger to the security” of the United States. Among many harmful things, the rule would: 

• Exclude asylum seekers who flee from OR travel through a country where infectious or highly contagious diseases are prevalent
   
• Exclude asylum seekers who exhibit symptoms “consistent with” such disease or illness 
   
• Add “public health emergencies” to the grounds on which people could be denied asylum, a clear contravention of the United States’ international obligations
   
• Apply new bars at the initial credible fear interview (where officers decide whether asylum seekers will face immediate deportation or be permitted to present their asylum claims to a judge), rolling back due process rights and making it difficult for asylum seekers to have their claim presented before a judge 
   
• Require that asylum seekers meet the unreasonably high bar of proving that they would “more likely than not” be tortured in their country of origin
   
• Allow the deportation of even those who have proven that they are at risk of torture in their country of origin to a third country, before they present their case in court

We need to send the Trump administration a resounding message rejecting xenophobia and protecting the right to seek asylum. 

By law, the Trump administration is required to accept comments from the public about regulations before they go into effect. Yet the end of the 30-day public comment period is rapidly approaching. Comments are due before 11:59pm ET on August 10th.

Take action now and submit your comment to stop the proposed rule and protect asylum seekers: www.immigrantjustice.org/asylumphcomment

Thank you for taking a stand against injustice and supporting asylum seekers.

-Azadeh Erfani
National Immigrant Justice Center