Washington, DC – Less than 24 hours after President Biden’s State of the Union address—in which he called on Congress to pass bipartisan immigration reform and work with him to “finish the job” on several pressing issues facing the nation—immigration advocates learned about a court filing from the Biden administration to the Supreme Court that confirms the administration is moving forward with its intention to recreate the Trump-era asylum transit ban. The Interfaith Immigration Coalition responds with outrage and profound disappointment in the president’s criminalizing and border-militarizing approach towards asylum and forced migration.
This news comes just weeks after 165 faith-based organizations sent a letter to the president boldly rejecting his proposed plans to issue the asylum ban now being moved forward.
In President Biden’s State of the Union address last night, he praised the successes of his new border plans launched last month. While faith communities support humanitarian parole for certain asylum-seeking Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, it falls short of rebuilding an accessible asylum system. Most asylum-seekers traveling to the US are not able to apply for parole due to lack of financial resources, personal connections in the US, language access, qualifying nationality, and adequate technology—and now will be barred from protections based on where and how they’ve traveled under the new transit ban.
Faith groups respond to the president’s address, transit ban announcement, and Vice President Harris’s “Central America Forward” initiatives urging them to put an immediate end to the asylum ban and Title 42 expulsions, and to fortify resettlement pathways and build up from humanitarian parole to fully restore access to asylum and create more holistic, equitable plans to respond to forced migration from a human rights affirming perspective. This includes offering protection for Central Americans that are already in the US by expanding and redesignating TPS for Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua.
Additionally, faith groups call on President Biden to uphold his commitments to work with Congress to deliver on creating a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients, ‘Dreamers,’ TPS holders, farmworkers, and other essential workers that have contributed to the economic progress President Biden celebrated in his address.
Interfaith Immigration Coalition members issued the following statements:
“After the urging and exhortation of advocacy and faith groups across the country, the Biden administration’s decision to move forward with their proposed transit ban is a moral outrage,” said Katie Adams, co-chair of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition and Policy Advocate for the United Church of Christ. “It flies in the face of any statements of welcome offered by the administration and instead relies heavily on the failed strategies of deterrence and detention. Faith reminds us that how we treat the most vulnerable among us is the mark of our character- which begs the question of what is our national character that slams the door shut on those seeking asylum? By narrowing access with prohibitive hoops to jump through asylum becomes one more means test and privilege as opposed to the moral and legal right of those who would seek safety from harm. Faith groups like ours will continue to stand with our immigrant siblings and we urge the Biden administration to change course and do the same.
“While many of the initiatives and efforts mentioned last night by President Biden are welcome, the larger issues of anti-asylum policies and an under-served resettlement system still remain.” said Meredith Owen, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Church World Service. “Over the past three years, we watched the Biden administration not only break promises to asylum-seekers through the implementation of anti-asylum processes and to refugees by insufficiently addressing the lack of support to our long-standing resettlement program, but also to the American voters who elected him to address these issues. As it stands, President Biden’s legacy on asylum will be one of negligence and cruelty. We implore President Biden to change course, by keeping his promise to those seeking safety through expanding access to permanent protections, rolling back asylum bans, and committing to the implementation of a fair and humane asylum process.”
“The Biden administration has chosen fear over hope at our southern border by criminalizing and preventing the most vulnerable and persecuted communities from seeking asylum. As people of faith, we condemn this action and hope that God will open the hearts of policy makers to see asylum seekers as human beings and not threats,” said Ronnate Asirwatham, Director, Government Relations, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice. “In court filings yesterday, the administration said, ‘The proposed rule would adopt a presumption against asylum eligibility,’ which means even before one could present one’s case, an asylum seeker would be deemed ineligible for asylum, simply because of the manner of arrival. This is against the law and is contrary to our values to love and treat others as ourselves.”
“President Biden’s State of the Union recognized the importance of passing comprehensive immigration reform, yet it was a missed opportunity to address his administration’s approach to meeting the challenges faced by the U.S. asylum system,” said Joan Rosenhauer, Executive Director, JRS/USA. “While the administration has expanded its use of humanitarian parole, the program excludes the most vulnerable from applying and is a short-term solution that will leave even those accepted in legal limbo—and now they’ll also face the transit ban. We urge the administration to work with Congress to develop a more sustainable approach to reforming the U.S. asylum system so that anyone with a protection need can safely petition for asylum in the U.S. with the dignity they deserve.”
“We appreciate the Biden administration’s efforts to address our broken immigration system, including expanding humanitarian parole programs and refugee resettlement for certain migrants fleeing persecution. However, we are extremely concerned that the White House’s new plans include an expansion of Title 42 and other restrictive policies, including the ‘Travel Ban’,” said Barbara Weinstein, Director of the Reform Jewish Movement’s Commission on Social Action. “Time and again, the Jewish people have experienced the consequences of harsh migration policies. Today, we are deeply pained by and committed to addressing the suffering of the world’s most vulnerable people seeking safety and security within our borders. It is long past time for the Biden administration to restore asylum for all; and it is time for Congress to work with the White House on a comprehensive, just, and compassionate immigration policy—rather than responding crisis by crisis, with temporary protections, one nationality at a time. Until then, we strongly urge the White House to end Title 42, reverse its plans to effectively ban asylum, and enact solutions to create a humane asylum system for all who seek refuge.”
“In his State of the Union address, President Biden referenced DACA and the need for comprehensive immigration reform, which we welcome,” said Sister Marie Lucey, Associate Director of Franciscan Action Network. “But we continue to be concerned about the administration’s plans that expanded Title 42 and today issued an asylum ‘transit ban.’ We urge the Biden administration to end Title 42 expulsions, to dispel the false narrative that migrant families and individuals bring drugs into this country, and to work with Congress to create effective, equitable, and humane responses to the arrival of thousands of migrant sisters and brothers seeking protection in the United States.”
“We are disappointed to hear that the Biden administration is still committed to putting in place an inhumane asylum transit ban,” said Dylan Corbett, Executive Director, Hope Border Institute. “As a border community, we urge the administration to make good on its commitment to restoring asylum protection to all those seeking safety and to no longer rely upon cruel policies that will continue to place vulnerable individuals at risk of harm. Policy proposals such as this transit ban continue to move us farther away from a humane, compassionate, and safe immigration system—but we know such a world is possible.”
“I see the faces of children, of farmworkers, of survivors, of dreamers. While we advocate for a rebuild of the asylum program, an expansion of those covered under the Temporary Protected Status program, a final permanent pathway for Dreamers, I see the faces. I pray that recognizing the human dignity in these faces will bring people together – bring the House and the Senate, Democrats and Republicans – together so that these children, farmworkers, survivors, and dreamers receive welcome, comfort, safety and the chance to live fully and with dignity in the United States,” said Fran Eskin-Royer, Executive Director of the National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.
“We applaud that the President addressed immigration reform and urged Congress to take formidable action toward creating a humane response to our broken immigration system during last night’s State of the Union address. However, we are disappointed that the administration has expanded Title 42 and introduced other harmful asylum-blocking policies such as today’s transit ban,” said Rev. Kendal L. McBroom, Director of Civil and Human Rights, General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church. “We call on Congress and this administration to put an end to Title 42, reverse course on asylum bans, and instead expand asylum access—particularly for those who are seeking protection from violence and persecution—and to stop the criminalization of those seeking protection in the U.S.”
“Immigrants are an essential part of our communities. They are our neighbors, friends, doctors, artists, business owners, teachers, and so much more,” said Imani Cruz, Policy Advocacy Coordinator for American Friends Service Committee. “We should be dedicating efforts, time, and resources to strengthening and expanding safe pathways for people to come to the U.S. for refuge, to work, and to be reunited with loved ones without putting others at risk of detention or denial of their right to seek asylum. Communities and organizations on the border and throughout the country are welcoming migrants – but the U.S. government continues to neglect and abuse them.”
“The Interfaith Welcome Coalition – San Antonio opposes ongoing efforts by this administration to violate current immigration law as it pertains to people seeking asylum who are being denied entry at, and in between, ports of entry,” said Matt Lohmeier of Interfaith Welcome Coalition of San Antonio. “The people we serve—many of whom have been through journeys average Americans could not fathom—cross our borders legally in search of safety and with the same dreams of prosperity that have accompanied all migrants to this land. They have an optimism rooted in survival and they will make this country stronger as generations of immigrants and asylum seekers before them. Our faith compels us to remind the administration of their promises to the most vulnerable and of the obligation to make the idea of America a reality for all people—especially those forced to risk everything in hopes of being welcomed by the Mother of Exiles.”
The Interfaith Immigration Coalition is made up of over 55 national, faith-based organizations brought together across many theological traditions with a common call to seek just policies that lift up the God-given dignity of every individual. In partnership, we work to protect the rights, dignity, and safety of all refugees and migrants. Follow us on Twitter @interfaithimm
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