Washington, DC – Yesterday, people of faith joined border organizations and directly-impacted groups in lamenting the day that was to mark the end of the asylum-blocking Title 42 expulsion policy. Instead, May 23rd was another day of a broken and harmful asylum system following a federal judge’s ruling on Friday that blocked the Biden administration from putting an end to Title 42.
Interfaith Immigration Coalition (IIC) Interim Chair, Katie Adams, Domestic Policy Advocate, United Church of Christ, issued the following statement:
“With no public health justification, we see over and over that Title 42 has only served to implement a xenophobic agenda by blocking predominantly Black and brown migrants from seeking asylum in the United States. Just this weekend, the Department of Homeland Security expelled 522 Haitians–including children and infants–on four Title 42 flights. These flights continue nearly daily, in spite of our government’s recognition that Haiti is not a safe place to return to.
Every day that Title 42 is carried out is another day of the United States turning its back on vulnerable people and its obligation to provide refuge to those fleeing persecution. Our faith traditions call us to welcome and offer hospitality to those in need–particularly to those most excluded by society and most targeted by systems of oppression. You need no clearer example of racist exclusion and oppression than Title 42. This egregious policy must be stopped.
As the member organizations of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition, we continue to condemn the use of Title 42 to expel vulnerable people and urge members of Congress to reject any and all legislative efforts to keep Title 42 in place. We algo urge President Biden to do everything in his power to keep to his plan and put an end to this inhumane policy once and for all.”
The Interfaith Immigration Coalition is made up of over 55 national, faith-based organizations brought together across many theological traditions with a common call to seek just policies that lift up the God-given dignity of every individual. In partnership, we work to protect the rights, dignity, and safety of all refugees and migrants. Follow us on Twitter @interfaithimm
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