Today the Biden administration took another important step to dismantle the cruel Remain in Mexico or MPP program created by Trump. Good on Biden, but we this is merely the 1st mile in a marathon that the administration needs to run to restore humanity to our asylum system. 1/9
Today’s news 📰 will allow folks outside of the U.S. who had their MPP case terminated or who were ordered deported in absentia to register & apply for processing into the U.S. More info here: dhs.gov/migrant-protec… 2/9
So, who could this benefit? Immigrants can be ordered removed “in absentia” when they do not attend their immigration court hearing. And such an order does not say they did not qualify for asylum—just that they didn’t show up to court. 3/9
MPP in absentia orders of removal were particularly horrific due to the dangerous conditions immigrants were forced to endure in Mexico while waiting for their court hearings. Many immigrants missed their court dates because they had been kidnapped. washingtonpost.com/world/2021/04/… 4/9
Today’s news is nothing more than a pyrrhic victory unless and until the Biden administration continues to take meaningful steps to create an asylum system that matches our values. Here are a few essential steps to such a reimagining. 5/9
1st, the administration must make whole people now in the U.S. who were once in MPP. They should start w/ unaccompanied kids. We joined forces w/ @immdef & others to sue to ensure that kids who were once in MPP get their full congressional rights. A suit shouldn't be needed. 6/9
2nd, the Biden administration must end the shameful Title 42 program that is expelling immigrants to kidnapping and attacks—at least 492 of them since Biden took office as documented by @humanrights1st 7/9
3rd, it is NOT enough to restore our asylum system to where it was before Trump took office. Let’s be clear: that system was flawed. We need the administration to do the hard work of imagining & creating a functioning and fair asylum system that is in line with our values. 8/9
We can and should have an asylum system that is fair regardless of what country you come from or what your family looks like. That is what it would mean to truly #WelcomeWithDignity /end.
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