Urge Congress To Denounce The Biden Administration's Proposed Asylum Ban

Let's Get Our Legislators Working
To Stop The Asylum Ban

UUSJ is participating in a push to denounce and reject the Administration's proposal (Circumvention of Lawful Pathways), as it amounts to a ban on asylum. Instead, we are asking for a welcoming asylum system.

• See UUSC's Public Comment page for guidance on how you can share concerns about the proposal. We need as many public comments as possible through March 27 at 12:00pm-Midnight -ET (11pmCT, 10pmMT, 9pmPT).  

Yet, UUSJ is also engaging Congress. Members of Congress play an important but informal role in the public comment process. What they write as their own public comments, say in public statements, and tell administration representatives in private meetings matters a great deal even if the specific rule is being processed by the Executive Branch, in this case, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice (DOJ).

Federal legislators need to hear that we oppose the administration’s proposed asylum ban, and want them to call for a welcoming asylum system. 

Contact your two Senators and your specific Representative. Send them a simple and direct message about this matter. They can have an influence on the process. Let us urge them to speak out.

Related Information

In late February, the Biden administration, specifically the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a proposed administrative rule (DHS Fact Sheet) that will effectively bar from asylum most of the migrants who arrive at our southern border (U.S.-Mexico).

• The rule means, any migrant that crossed the border without authorization and who did not seek asylum in a third country that they traveled through on the way to the U.S. will be presumed ineligible for asylum. This would place an extra burden on vulnerable migrants, especially those fleeing danger and harm.
• The new rule is viewed as a violation of Biden’s campaign promise for a just asylum system.  It seems to draw inspiration from policies of the prior administration (Human Rights First)(The Guardian)(Politico)(Religion News Service). 
• The proposal includes two asylum restrictions (an asylum “transit ban” and an asylum “entry ban”) that were repeatedly struck down by federal courts for denying the fundamental right to seek protection.
• The rule would make it nearly impossible for non-Mexican migrants who arrive at the border to access asylum, finding a process tilted against them, away from compassion and dignity, designed to send them back. Often to danger.
• U.S. and international law explicitly guarantee the right to seek asylum. That is the right to make the case for protection from persecution. The proposed rule violates that basic legal tenet and sets a horrific global standard led by the U.S.