FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2020
PRESS CONTACT
Henrike Dessaules
hdessaules@refugeerights.org
516.838.1269
IRAP STRONGLY OPPOSES TRUMP’S NEW RULES THAT WOULD PREVENT ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM WORKING
(New York, NY) – This week, the Trump Administration announced new rules that would prevent some asylum seekers from working in the United States. The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) strongly opposes these new rules.
People waiting for their asylum applications to be decided have historically been granted authorization to work so that they can support themselves and their families during the application process. The new rules, among other things, drastically reduce work authorization eligibility and significantly increase the processing times of work authorization applications at great cost to asylum seekers, their families, and their communities.
“The new rules are simply designed to punish asylum seekers and deter people from seeking refuge in the United States,” said IRAP’s Policy Director, Sunil Varghese.
“At worst, they will leave asylum seekers destitute and at great risk of exploitation, or even force them to return to their country of origin, regardless of the terrible circumstances that made them flee in the first place,” he added.
The rules were first proposed in September and November of last year and will go into effect in August. IRAP previously submitted comments for each of the proposed rules, highlighting their harmful consequences. The final rules failed to adequately consider these comments. Thus, IRAP calls on the Administration to rescind the rules immediately and instead focus on efforts that protect asylum seekers and enhance access to protection from persecution.
IRAP’s comments on the rules can be found here and here.
To view the press release, click here.