Trump boasts that the troops he is deploying at our border will turn back any migrants who seek to cross it. This is not only morally reprehensible, it is illegal. Why? Because we have laws that require us to process and accept refugees who seek asylum here. A history: /1
During World War II (Yes, I was around then, but in an internment camp) the United States and many other nations turned away Jewish refugees who sought to escape the Holocaust. Those refugees perished in death camps. The horror of that led us to declare "Never Again." /2
Part of that pledge was for the nations of the world, including the United States, to agree to accept refugees who were fleeing persecution at home. We would never again turn away groups of people who were being subjected to violence and death in their own countries. /3
When a refugees presents his or herself for asylum, there is a process where the claim is evaluated. In most cases here in the U.S., the claim is rejected. But we're not hearing about that part of the story. Trump would have us believe that all these refugees get to stay. /4
The United States has been operating under this rule of law since 1967. Now Trump is trying to change the law unilaterally. This he cannot do, and that is why public advocacy groups are suing his administration for its unlawful intent to disregard the asylum laws. /5
If Trump wishes laws to be changed, there is a process for that, too. It's called Acts of Congress. The Republicans controlled both Houses for two years. Yet the laws went untouched. Now that it's election time, he is targeting migrants to stoke fear. /6
Around 50,000 refugees applied for asylum at our southern border in 2017. Most of those claims were rejected. There is a process already in place to deal with refugee migrants, in a caravan or otherwise. Perhaps instead of sending troops, we should send clerks and lawyers. /end
