FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 25, 2026 -- # -- Roberts Court Steps Away From Welcome In Cruel Ways Judges have once again done the Executive’s bidding rather than side with justice. Washington, DC - Yesterday, on June 25, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued decisions in the asylum case (Mullins v. Al Otro Lado), allowing the "turnback policy," also known as "metering," of asylum seekers. Simultaneously, SCOTUS took away safeguards for newcomers to the United States, known as Temporary Protected Status (TPS), thereby allowing major changes to go forward (Mullins v. Doe), perhaps precipitating the end of TPS. The TPS ruling impacts potentially millions of residents in the U.S., from countries like Haiti, Syria, and others, who have endured war, natural disasters, and other similar systemic failures and crises. The Asylum ruling is estimated to impact hundreds of thousands, many asylum seekers fleeing political persecution, transnational gang violence, and persistent physical and sexual assault due to gender affirming needs. In response, Pablo DeJesús, Executive Director, UUSJ, made the following statement: "With these decisions, the Roberts Court has stepped away from welcoming in cruel ways. They stripped legal protections for people from Haiti and Syria who bravely built their lives here, placing hundreds of thousands in renewed jeopardy, perhaps millions if TPS is ended altogether. They simultaneously endorsed turning away asylum seekers fleeing danger, thus showcasing a profound and disturbing aloofness. Most of us would face any challenge for our families. We would take on grave threats, dangers, and uncertainties to guarantee survival and pursue even a slim chance to flourish. That includes packing up everything and moving to a new, safer place, as these people have done or tried to do. Rather than offering a sense of welcome, security, and belonging, the Roberts Court has gifted them crisis and chaos. In our opinion, that is a profound betrayal of our American ethos. One that, in our view, celebrates the daring and persevering human spirit with gifts of charity, solidarity, mercy, compassion, shelter, mutual aid, community caring, and therefore the opportunity to thrive. These rulings do not align with our Unitarian Universalist tradition, nor with our teachings of putting faith into action by welcoming the stranger and offering assistance to those in need, especially those fleeing danger, war, and persecution. We can not help but see the othering, scapegoating, and vilification of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color and global-majority populations, being implemented by the Executive, now sanctioned and sanctified by the court majority. With these rulings, they have endorsed practices that treat nonwhite immigrants with indifference for their basic humanity, dignity, and rights. This is a terrible outcome, but we have faith, we shall overcome. We will pursue the necessary legislative remedies. We will contribute to building the change of moral conscience demanded by this moment, and season. As people of faith, we once again commit to transforming our body politic toward mercy, compassion, and inclusion. We cultivate hope as a spiritual practice, knowing the fight for migration justice is part of our struggle for universal human dignity and right relations, and thus for justice. Justice for all! We will join other people of good and moral conscience to demand that our elected leaders pass permanent protections for people who have come to the U.S. seeking safety. We will remind the court that they serve to protect our freedoms, our families, and our futures. If they can not, or will not do that job, then we shall turn to a higher power, the Spirit of LOVE, and embolden the highest authority in our democracy, we the people; the vast, compassionate, and caring majority of Americans we can be. We shall begin again in love." -- # - # -- |
