Currently, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators is negotiating a deal to pass funding for Ukraine and Israel in exchange for extreme, permanent changes to U.S. immigration and asylum systems. This tradeoff would drastically reduce asylum protections for people seeking safety and increase chaos at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Take action now: Tell your Senators “Do not trade asylum for emergency funding.”
In a press release on Nov. 30, Susan Gunn, director of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, said:
“Some of the proposals in the Senate that seem to narrow access to asylum as a political tradeoff for support for foreign aid are shocking. Let’s be clear that this is a life issue. People who seek asylum do so because they fear for their lives. Our Catholic faith teaches that anyone whose life is threatened has the right to protection. Because we value the sanctity of life, seeking asylum is a human right protected under our laws. We know that the United States has the capacity and resources to manage migration in a humane, lawful, and life-affirming manner, and to ensure a just and orderly asylum process at the border. We need Congress to build up the U.S. asylum system, not tear it down.”
Senators Schumer (NY), Bennet (CO), and Murphy (CT) in particular need outreach, but ALL Senators need to hear our support for safeguarding U.S. asylum law!
We are grateful for the members of Congress who have spoken up in defense of asylum, including Senators Padilla (CA), Durbin (IL), Booker (NJ), Hirono (HI), Lujan (NM), Markey (MA), Menendez (NJ), Merkley (MA), Warren (MA), Whitehouse (RI), and Wyden (OR).
Use the form below to send a letter to your Senators now.
Photo of mural of immigrants crossing the border by Jeanne Menjoulet, via Flickr.