June 5 :
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal has conveyed her "deep disappointment" in the US government's response to the asylum restriction that US President Joe Biden enacted on June 4th, which targets migrants apprehended while crossing the federal border illegally with Mexico.
Additionally, the Democratic lawmaker from India-America who is the head of the subcommittee that deals with immigration security, integrity, and enforcement made a statement on the matter.
According to our immigration rules and our commitments under international treaties, it is lawful to seek refuge in our country. The Biden administration's decision to significantly limit asylum eligibility under Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act is deeply troubling, she expressed in a statement.
This effort to ban all asylum applicants and close the border to them makes use of the same provision of US immigration law that Trump, a convicted felon, used to impose the Muslim ban and try to close the border altogether. Despite minor variations from Trump's policies, this nevertheless punishes asylum seekers, uses the same ineffective enforcement-only strategy, and promotes the misleading notion that these measures will "fix" the border.
The new policy calls for the expedited deportation or repatriation to Mexico of any migrant found crossing the US-Mexico border illegally. Unaccompanied children, those in grave danger due to illness or injury, and victims of human trafficking are exempt from this policy's requirements.
Rep. Jayapal stressed that modernising the immigration system is the first step in resolving border issues. She brought out the fact that there are fewer legal immigration pathways and not enough resources to process applicants because of the system's antiquated nature.
Moreover, Jayapal slammed Senate Republicans for continuing Jim Crow-era practices by using the filibuster to block the advancement of bipartisan measures that had already been enacted in the House, including the Farm Workforce Modernization Act and the Dream and Promise Act. The fact that even a bipartisan bill written by a Republican senator with strong conservative leanings failed to advance owing to political considerations was brought to her attention.
Former President Trump and far-right Republican groups, according to Jayapal, take advantage of immigrants for political benefit, especially during election seasons. This, she said, is the root cause of their obstructionism.
The American people desire and merit a humane and orderly immigration system that prioritises practical solutions above strict enforcement, she argued, urging reform of the current system. Reuniting separated families, expediting the processing of migrants' applications for work permits so that we can meet our own economic needs, and improving the efficiency and fairness of the adjudication of asylum claims are all critical components of a modernised legal immigration system that our nation sorely needs.
The Biden administration's focus on enforcement alone has been a source of disappointment for Jayapal, who pointed out that this strategy has never worked before. Addressing larger immigration concerns is crucial for obtaining long-term solutions, she emphasised, since border rules affect the efficiency of the legal immigration system. As a nation, we should prioritise a just, orderly, and humane system in order to manage the border, expand legal channels, give a path to citizenship, and honour the contributions of immigrants.
