John,

Yesterday, we joined our immigrant justice partners for a protest against the Biden administration’s proposed asylum ban. The proposed ban would be a massive restriction on people’s rights to seek refuge in the United States from persecution abroad and would deny the vast majority of asylum seekers their right to apply for asylum based on their manner of entry or transit through other countries. This is unlawful and inhumane.

Right now, the administration is accepting comments on their proposed asylum ban. The proposed ban is a historic reversal of the basic protections established after WWII regarding displaced people, asylum, and refugees. Click here to leave a comment in the Federal Register in opposition to this ban.

The Biden administration is proposing a policy that would unlawfully deny asylum to people at the southern border by forcing them to seek asylum in Mexico, or another country they passed through, unless they are granted a date and time to apply through the flawed Customs and Border Patrol One mobile application.

As a Presidential candidate, President Biden, members of Congress, and the American public decried the unlawful asylum bans issued by then-President Donald Trump.

The proposed asylum ban was published in the Federal Register on February 23rd and is subject to an open public comment period of 30 days. This official public comment period is a critical opportunity to ensure our voices are heard and to amplify the needs of people seeking asylum. We are joining organizations across the country to ensure this immoral and dangerous policy change is understood and the public uses this opportunity to register opposition. This is an important opportunity to stand with people seeking refuge -- to stand on the side of basic justice and law.

President Biden’s proposed asylum ban would massively restrict people’s rights to seek refuge from persecution abroad. Urge the Biden administration to abandon all plans for an asylum ban by submitting a comment on the Federal Register today.

The proposed asylum ban from the Biden administration will endanger most people seeking safety, especially Black, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities, along with pregnant people and children fleeing for their lives. Human Rights First has now tracked at least 10,250 reports of murder, kidnapping, rape, torture, and other violent attacks against migrants and asylum seekers blocked in or expelled to Mexico due to Title 42 since the Biden administration took office.¹

The Biden administration must listen to border residents who call the U.S./Mexico border their home and partner with direct service providers, and religious and human rights organizations to build a humane, orderly process to allow asylum seekers a fair shot at safety.

Thank you for all you do to support humane immigration policies,

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs

¹ EXTENDING TITLE 42 WOULD ESCALATE DANGERS, EXACERBATE DISORDER, AND MAGNIFY DISCRIMINATION