We are extremely disappointed in the Biden Administration's decision to appeal the federal court ruling that would block #Title42. @POTUS has a moral obligation to stop using T42 to harm families and children seeking asylum.
It is immoral and inhumane.
Here's our statement:
We at RAICES have a front row seat to the horrors of Title 42. Our clients are stuck in Mexico. Families fleeing violence are turned away. U.S. and international Asylum law is flouted.
We sought an immediate halt to the policy, and yesterday a federal court issued a preliminary injunction blocking Title 42 expulsions, granting the families we serve a temporary victory.
But this victory is indeed temporary - due to the Biden Admin's rash decision to appeal.
The Senate parliamentarian just recommended that a path to citizenship for Dreamers, TPS holders, and Essential Workers should not be included in the budget reconciliation bill. We are disappointed to hear the news, but we know that this fight is far from over. 🧵👇🏾
We have spent decades fighting for a path to legalization for all undocumented immigrants in this country. We are not giving up now. Democrats in Congress can still keep their promise, without compromising on increased enforcement.
We expect them to use all the tools to get this done. They can do the following:
✅Dems can rework the legalization language and resubmit to the Parliamentarian;
✅Vice President Harris can overrule the parliamentarian;
On the 20th anniversary of 9/11, we honor the lives lost in the attack, but we also acknowledge the thousands of lives, especially immigrants, who have been affected since.
In addition to the nearly 3,000 people who died on Sept. 11, approximately 801,000 people have been killed directly in the violence of the subsequent wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and elsewhere.
In the US, the violent backlash against anyone perceived as Muslim —whether actually Muslim, Sikh, South Asian, or Arab —has driven not only a string of attacks against these communities, but also paved way for the deplorable Muslim ban enacted in 2017.
Late last night, the 5th Circuit issued a 3-0 ruling denying the DOJ’s request for a stay. This ruling allows the Remain in Mexico Program known as the Migrant Protection Protocols, to go back into effect as early as tomorrow, Saturday.
MPP is a an abhorrent policy meant to cause the highest levels of suffering on people seeking asylum and safety for themselves and their families.
The program essentially destroyed the asylum process under the Trump administration, and now Judges that were appointed by that same administration are bringing it back.
We have a moral obligation to protect, evacuate, and resettle Afghan allies who served our nation as special contractors before it is too late. They and their families face the very real threat of torture and even death at the hands of the Taliban for their support of our troops.
More than 90% of RAICES refugee resettlement service recipients are Afghan SIV holders. Our team works with them to find housing, identify employment pathways, secure public benefits, and register their children in school and recently launched in-house mental health services.
RAICES has welcomed and resettled 116 Afghans –– including 79 children –– in the U.S. this year alone, and we are prepared to meet the current moment with deepened and expanded trauma-informed legal and social services.
BREAKING: We've been working inside Pecos for the past few months and the conditions are some of the worst we've ever seen. Children are kept in cage-like conditions. Where is the accountability & oversight from @SecBecerra? It's time to #ShutDownPecos. nytimes.com/2021/08/06/us/…
A few weeks ago we learned about horrific conditions at Fort Bliss. Pecos is the breaking point. Children are desperate. Some have been held for over 90 days. Uncooked food is making them sick. They’re not given adequate undergarments to stay clean.
Children at Pecos who are dealing with severe injuries are not receiving proper medical attention. One child’s nose broke and they refused to take him to the hospital.
RAICES is proud to announce the launch of our Rural Legal Services team to assist migrants fleeing abusive and dangerous situations. In the first six months, our team is already at capacity - with over 130 active cases - proof that there is an urgent need for these services.
The Rural Legal Services Team connects with migrants living in 80 small counties throughout Texas. The team addresses the legal needs & protection of migrants, many of whom are survivors of sexual and domestic violence both in their home countries and in the U.S.
RAICES is committed to expanding our services, but we need you. We invite you to become a founding member of our Rural Legal Services Team. Your donation can help us expand trauma-informed case management & legal representation to all migrants living in Texas.