NEW YORK, NY - Today, President Trump signed a proclamation denying migrants from claiming asylum between ports of entry at the United States Southern border. Yesterday, DHS Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen and Acting Attorney General Matthew G. Whitaker announced an interim final rule, setting the stage for these restrictions to take immediate effect.
Steven Choi, Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition, responded:
“Trump is tearing apart America's greatness by denying those in need of safety and shelter. Slamming the gate shut to those who have traveled thousands of miles to escape violence and death is unjustifiable– legally and morally. With this proclamation, it is clear that Trump is using asylum seekers as pawns in his ploy to further divide us as Americans– and we will not stand idly by as this happens. We have witnessed this Administration slam the door in the face of refugees before, history will not be kinder this time around.”
The President is invoking the same legal justification as the Muslim Ban, which currently bars immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations entry into the United States.
Background
Plans for the rule change were first leaked ahead of the midterm elections, indicating that President Trump plans to unilaterally reject refuge, safety, and entry into the United States for asylum seekers at the U.S. southern border between ports of entry.
The migrant caravan includes asylum seekers from Honduras and other Central American countries fleeing violence, political conflict, and death threats to themselves and loved ones. The administration has absurdly characterized them as a threat to national security. Trump already ordered 5,000 active duty military members troops from the U.S. Army to the border.