Press Release
Published on March 15, 2010
Washington, DC Human Rights First today praised Senators Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT) and Carl Levin (D-MI) for their introduction of the Refugee Protection Act of 2010, legislation designed to strengthen America’s commitment to providing refuge to victims of religious, political, ethnic and other forms of persecution by repairing many of the most severe problems in the U.S. refugee and asylum systems.
“Thirty years ago this week, Congress passed landmark legislation that created important standards for America’s response to refugees seeking our protection,” said Human Rights First’s Eleanor Acer. “In the decades since then, America has faltered in its commitment to the persecuted. Today, Senators Leahy and Levin have introduced legislation that will put our nation back on track and strengthen U.S. refugee protection laws so that they can once again reflect our values and commitments.”
Today’s introduction of the Refugee Protection Act of 2010 coincides with the commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1980, a bipartisan bill championed by the late Senator Kennedy (D-MA). When Congress passed that bill, it affirmed not only its commitment to the Refugee Convention and Protocol, but also affirmed its commitment to help lead the global community in addressing the plight of the world’s persecuted and displaced people. In the intervening years, however, a barrage of new laws and policies have undermined the institution of asylum in the United States, leading this country to deny asylum or other protection to victims of persecution. According to Human Rights First, the time is now ripe to reform the provisions of law, policies and practices that are undermining U.S. values and its commitments to refugees.
The Refugee Protection Act addresses these concerns and includes provisions that would:
