John,
These days, there is a lot of uncertainty and a lot at stake.
From conversations of pathways to citizenship for Dreamers, farmworkers, and Temporary Protected Status holders; to tens of thousands of Afghans fleeing repression; to influxes of Central American, Haitian, and Cuban migrants – the immigration stories and issues are overwhelming.
Every piece is connected by one crucial thread: how will America react? How will we show that we are a country of welcome and refuge? How can we truly become a nation of laws and a nation of grace?
Over the past 11 months, more than 29,000 Haitians have arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border – and that number doesn’t include the tens of thousands stranded in Tapachula, Mexico. Haitian migrants have faced tense encounters with Border Patrol agents as they hope to find safety in the U.S. For many, the journey to the border has ended with a flight
back to Haiti, a country many left after the 2010 earthquake.
The fact is that the government should have a process in place to manage migration and treat people humanely. And those who failed their mission in Del Rio should be held accountable.
Whether it is the crisis facing Afghan evacuees or the culmination of over a decade of Haitian migration following natural disasters and political upheaval, this is about people hoping to cross borders and build better lives for themselves. Congress must move forward with
solutions to modernize our immigration system and extend a hand to people seeking refuge, re-establishing the United States as a country of welcome.
Thanks for all you do for immigrants and refugees in your community,
Ali Noorani
President & CEO
National Immigration Forum
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