Press Release
Published on October 9, 2017
New York City—Last night the Trump Administration set forth a list of “Immigration Policy Priorities,” which come as lawmakers debate a deal to allow Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients to remain in the United States. In response to this set of immigration demands, Human Rights First’s Eleanor Acer released the following statement:
“The list of demands released by the Trump Administration is yet another attempt to demonize and dehumanize vulnerable individuals desperately seeking protection in the United States. This is a wish list of the far-right, and many elements proposed by the president have already been rejected in Congress as too extreme.
“In reality, these so-called principles aim to block access to U.S. refugee protection. They would limit refugee resettlement, block those fleeing persecution and violence from even applying for asylum, and punish those who seek protection by preventing their release from immigration detention facilities and jails.
“Furthermore, these principles are riddled with misstatements and divorced from reality. The administration conveniently failed to even mention the regional refugee and displacement crisis that has driven thousands from their homes and sparked sharp increases in asylum applications, which shows that this White House has no intention of basing their plan on facts. Instead, they employ falsehoods and a fantasy narrative to claim that there is chronic fraud in the asylum system, and that subpar legal standards are what has led to huge backlogs in immigration courts.
“Congress should pass the bipartisan DREAM Act and not give in to anti-refugee voices who want to abandon this country’s leadership and ideals. The Trump Administration should stop targeting refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable children for harsh treatment. President Trump’s policies and rhetoric harm U.S. interests globally and set a poor example for the countries that are hosting the overwhelming majority of the world’s refugees.”
For more information or to speak with Acer contact Corinne Duffy at DuffyC@humanrightsfirst.org or 202-370-3319
