FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2020
PRESS CONTACT
Henrike Dessaules
hdessaules@refugeerights.org
516.838.1269
IRAP URGES CDC TO MAINTAIN THE RIGHT TO SEEK ASYLUM AT U.S. BORDERS
(New York, NY) – Yesterday, the Trump Administration indefinitely extended its ban of all nonessential travel into the United States across the border from Mexico and Canada, effectively eliminating the ability of people to seek refugee protection at our borders and turning back unaccompanied children, in violation of domestic and international law. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus led to the first border restrictions, thousands of asylum seekers and unaccompanied children have been sent back to dangerous and violent conditions in Mexico.
“Turning a temporary restriction to deal with an urgent and ill-understood situation into an indefinite ban on asylum seekers is a clear sign that the Administration is not concerned with public health, but rather looks to implement further bans on immigrants,” said Nisha Agarwal, Deputy Executive Director of the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP). “Seeking asylum is an international human right and the Administration may not use the threat of a disease to suspend its international obligations. Thousands are at risk of being returned to life-threatening conditions.”
IRAP calls on the Trump Administration to immediately restart processing the urgent requests of those fleeing violence and persecution.
To view the press release, click here.