December 8, 2023
Washington, D.C.– The We Are All America (WAAA) Coalition is shocked at the reports that President Biden is willing to make “significant compromises on the border” to secure aid for Ukraine and Israel in a supplemental funding bill. The anti-asylum measures proposed by a Republican-led group of senators include implementing a transit ban or third-country agreement, imposing arbitrary caps on asylum, and subjecting immigrants to expedited removal processes without due process.
“The attempt to use asylum policies as bargaining tools in unrelated negotiations not only jeopardizes the integrity of the asylum process but also contradicts the core values of empathy and justice,” says Fatima Saidi, We Are All America Campaign Director. “These proposals would be devastating for families and children in their pursuit of safety from violence and persecution–a right protected under both U.S. and international law.”
“No one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark,” says Sara Louis-Ayo, Policy/Advocacy Organizer and Legal Assistant with the Louisiana Organization for Refugees and WAAA organizer. “We come to this side of shores for safety, protection, and a place to call home! Asylum seekers make tremendous contributions to their communities. I see it every day, surrounded by friends who sacrificed everything for safety and, in turn, created something impactful for this nation.”
We Are All America urges Congress to reject proposals that undermine the rights of asylum seekers, emphasizing that asylum is not a commodity to be traded away for political gains. We call for unwavering commitment to our nation’s legal and ethical responsibilities, prioritizing humanity and empathy above short-term political maneuvering.
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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.
