FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 20, 2021
CONTACT:
Kelsey Parsons | (347) 527-0969 | [email protected]
Damaging Parliamentarian Decision And Haitian Response Are A Setback But Not The End Of The Hope For A Pathway To Citizenship Or Improved Immigration Policies
In response to the decision by the Senate parliamentarian stating that the reconciliation package should not include the adjustment of status for undocumented immigrants, as well as the announcement that the Biden administration will respond to the influx of Haitian migrants with mass deportations, Basma Alawee, national campaign manager for We Are All America, released the following statement:
“The recent announcements around immigration in the U.S. are devastating for thousands of people in need. We urgently need change, and these setbacks will not stop our work to make a more welcoming America.
The Senate parliamentarian’s decision is one that is disastrous for many families across the country who only want to be recognized as the integral members of the American community they are. The false hope created by this process is both cruel and damaging to the future of the U.S. immigration program. We will not stop working to ensure a pathway to citizenship for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, farmworkers and other essential workers who have helped our country run throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
At the same time, thousands of migrants from Haiti and elsewhere are currently camped under a bridge that divides the country from Mexico in Del Rio, Texas. The Biden administration has decided to respond to the crisis with mass deportations of Haitians beginning yesterday, in spite of the devastation and humanitarian crisis in Haiti. We call on the Biden administration and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to immediately halt expulsions to Haiti due to the ongoing crisis there.
Overall, we need our government to recognize the contributions and humanity of migrants to America by treating them with respect, no matter where they are in their journey. We need the procedures and funding to secure a pathway to citizenship for undocumented people, and halt the unfair deportations of Haitians in need.”
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We Are All America is a refugee organizing alliance housed under the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA). We Are All America works to uphold and strengthen our nation’s commitment to welcome and protect those seeking freedom, safety and refuge in the United States. We organize people across religious and cultural differences to build inclusive communities where we all belong. In addition to NPNA, We Are All America’s national partners include Alianza Americas, Church World Service, Human Rights First, Refugee Congress, the Refugee Advocacy Lab, Refugee Council USA, International Rescue Committee and Welcoming America.
