Act now to save asylum
Background: The Biden Administration and members of Congress are currently negotiating a deal that, if finalized, will make drastic changes to our asylum system. As part of a large supplemental funding package, lawmakers are trying to pair harsh immigration restrictions with foreign aid funding to appease a wide range of Democrats and Republicans. Recent reporting suggests that negotiators are considering the following provisions:
- Giving the president expanded authority to expel migrants without asylum screenings, similar to the “Title 42” policy.
- Raising the standard for deciding whether someone has a “credible fear” of returning to their home country. These changes will make it more difficult to claim asylum.
- Expanding expedited removal and mandating immigrant detention for arriving asylum seekers making it more difficult to consult with legal representation and resulting in the mistreatment and removal of vulnerable people, including families.
Faith reflection: Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. Ephesians 2:19 (NIV)
Action: Please encourage your members of Congress to reject the inclusion of harmful immigration measures in a supplemental funding package
Photo above: The sun shining through the tall, rusting border wall from Mexico into Douglas, Arizona. MCC Photo/Galen Fitzkee
