FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Renee Garcia, rgarcia@immdef.org, 213-634-2186 ext. 8128
Biden-Harris' New Asylum Restrictions Endanger Lives
Los Angeles (9/30/24) – On Monday, September 30, President Biden issued a joint final rule, effectively cementing the unjust asylum ban and border shutdown for an indefinite period. This announcement follows Biden’s Presidential Proclamation from June, which essentially eliminated the ability to seek safety in the United States, as triggered by an arbitrary apprehension number. Today’s new rule stipulates that those asylum restrictions will only be deactivated if the seven-day average of apprehensions remains below 1,500 for 28 days. The final rule also includes unaccompanied children in determining the total, making it likely impossible the 1,500 trigger will ever be reached. Additionally, the rule imposes a five-year ban on reentry and potential criminal prosecution for a subsequent reentry.
In response to today’s announcement, ImmDef President & CEO, Lindsay Toczylowski, stated, “This rule reinforces racist, anti-immigrant fearmongering that is destroying communities and endangering lives. ImmDef has represented countless individuals and families with valid claims of persecution who have been systematically separated and sent back to danger while this rule makes a mockery of our asylum system. We need leaders that have the political courage to move the debate away from doomed-to-fail policies like this one and towards safe, lawful pathways to asylum for those fleeing persecution and danger.”
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The Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef) is a next-generation social justice law firm that defends immigrant communities against injustices in the immigration system. Our programs are a first step towards realizing the long-term goal of providing universal representation to all immigrants facing deportation. ImmDef is now the largest non‐profit, pro bono provider of deportation defense in California, with offices in Los Angeles, Riverside, Santa Ana, and San Diego.
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