New York, NY—Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it will be expanding its use of Title 42, and returning Venezuelans claiming asylum at the Southern border to Mexico. DHS will also be creating a new parole program, requiring that Venezuelans entering the country will need to have a sponsor living in the United States.
Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition:
“It is fundamental to the very concept of this country that all people escaping persecution be given the opportunity to make their case for seeking asylum in the United States. Yet, today’s announcement from the Biden Administration makes an end run around our humanitarian obligations. By bending to the callous whims of Republican governors in Texas, Arizona and Florida as this country gears up for midterm elections, the Biden Administration has taken multiple steps backwards in time to the cruel immigration policies of Donald Trump. Americans looked forward to turning the page on our anti-immigrant past when they voted President Biden into office. Ordinary New Yorkers proved that fact when they started welcoming asylum seekers bused from the border with food, transportation, medical care, clothing and help navigating social services. We’ve seen similar responses of folks stepping up to treat asylum seekers with dignity in Washington, D.C. and Chicago. But instead of offering hope, our Federal government has turned its back on vulnerable people who want nothing more than safety for their families. America must uphold an asylum system that is fair, humane, and orderly for all people regardless of nationality, race, ethnicity or having U.S. ties. It is time for Title 42 to be ended once and for all. It is time for the Biden Administration to make good on its promises and return America to being a beacon of hope.”
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