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John, Hours after he was inaugurated, President Biden officially ordered U.S. Customs and Border Protection to stop placing people into the so-called “Migrant Protection Protocols”—but stopped short of fully rescinding it. The American Immigration Council’s latest fact sheet explains the detrimental impact of MPP on the U.S. asylum system and why it must end if our nation wants to build an immigration system that represents our values and restores our role as a beacon of hope.
Beginning in December 2018, many people who asked for asylum at the southern U.S. border were given notices to appear in immigration court and were then sent back to Mexico. Since then, over 70,000 people have been subjected to the program, and many of them have been forced to live in makeshift tent camps along the border without running water or electricity. What was the impact of MPP? MPP has led to untold harm. 1 in 70 people subjected to MPP reported being victims of rape, kidnapping, assault, and other crimes —and that is only what has been publicly documented. MPP also put asylum seekers in legal limbo. Many people have been forced to wait months to have their asylum case decided or even receive an initial hearing. Additionally, only 7.5% of individuals subject to MPP managed to hire a lawyer. What is the alternative? MPP must end. Here’s what the Biden administration should do instead:
MPP is just one of the devastating programs implemented over the past four years that struck at the chord of America’s welcoming tradition. Immediate action must be taken to restore our proud legacy as a safe haven for people yearning to breathe free. Sincerely, |
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