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THREAD: Men, women, and children are fleeing violence and persecution to seek life-saving protection at our borders.
Yesterday President Trump announced that he wants to charge them a fee to apply for asylum and block them from employment.
Yesterday President Trump announced that he wants to charge them a fee to apply for asylum and block them from employment.
For decades, Human Rights First has represented refugees seeking asylum.
That's why we know that these proposals would further risk the health, safety, and very lives of our asylum-seeking clients, who depend on work authorizations to support themselves and their families.
That's why we know that these proposals would further risk the health, safety, and very lives of our asylum-seeking clients, who depend on work authorizations to support themselves and their families.
Our client Michele* fled after being tortured in the Central African Republic. But without a work authorization, he had no way to support himself and became homeless.
After receiving his work authorization, he found a job with a car service and was able to secure housing.
After receiving his work authorization, he found a job with a car service and was able to secure housing.
Without work authorization, asylum seekers cannot purchase health
insurance under the ACA or obtain a social security number, and often cannot apply for an identification card or driver’s license, which further limits access to transportation, banking, and support services.
insurance under the ACA or obtain a social security number, and often cannot apply for an identification card or driver’s license, which further limits access to transportation, banking, and support services.
Many become homeless, live in overcrowded or unsafe conditions, and lack basic needs like food and clothing.
Lack of income also hinders opportunities to find and retain competent legal counsel, further hindering their ability to be granted asylum.
Lack of income also hinders opportunities to find and retain competent legal counsel, further hindering their ability to be granted asylum.
Our client Francis*, a gay man who fled Jamaica, could not support himself without work authorization. He spent weeks without a permanent place to live, sleeping on the couches of acquaintances.
With work authorization, he is gainfully employed and living in his own apartment.
With work authorization, he is gainfully employed and living in his own apartment.
It is ludicrous and cruel to subject refugee families to homelessness and hunger simply to score political points.
These families are not asking for handouts, they are simply trying to make a living while their legal case moves through the court system.
nytimes.com/2019/04/29/us/…
These families are not asking for handouts, they are simply trying to make a living while their legal case moves through the court system.
nytimes.com/2019/04/29/us/…
The presidential memorandum also advances a plan to allow border patrol or other immigration officers to conduct credible fear interviews instead of trained asylum officers.
This is directly out of Stephen Miller's anti-immigrant playbook.
humanrightsfirst.org/resource/allow…
This is directly out of Stephen Miller's anti-immigrant playbook.
humanrightsfirst.org/resource/allow…
Just as a hospital would not assign security guards to triage incoming patients in the emergency ward, border officers should not make life-or-death decisions about refugees seeking protection at the border.
The simple truth is this: Asylum SAVES lives.
Instead of more cruelty and chaos, the Trump Administration needs to implement real solutions to address the Central American refugee crisis and STOP playing politics with people's lives.
humanrightsfirst.org/resource/real-…
Instead of more cruelty and chaos, the Trump Administration needs to implement real solutions to address the Central American refugee crisis and STOP playing politics with people's lives.
humanrightsfirst.org/resource/real-…
