WASHINGTON, D.C. – On January 5, 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration announced its new border enforcement actions, which effectively expand Title 42 while the Administration’s moratorium on the policy is under judicial review. In a purported effort to improve legal pathways for migration and alleviate the conditions at the Southwestern border, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will now remove up to 30,000 migrants and asylum seekers from Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to Mexico on a monthly basis if they fail to comply with the new pathways put forth by the Biden-Harris Administration. In response to the Administration’s announcement, Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Steven Horsford issued the following statement:
“America is a nation of immigrants, and access to asylum is, in many instances, a lifesaving right. While the new parole program seeks to fast-track the processing of asylum cases, the reality is that the Administration’s actions have the potential to threaten migrants’ safety and humanity.
“Following the announcement, members of the CBC, who collectively represent more than 18 million Black Americans, including significant immigrant populations, met with DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for an open and honest dialogue in which they expressed Member concerns, particularly regarding Haitian migrants. Members expressed their constituents’ lived experiences with migration and unease about the continuation of Title 42, while reiterating the urgency of providing fair and equitable access to asylum and other methods of migration.
“The CBC and Secretary Mayorkas took a step in the right direction by working together to begin to develop a whole-of-government approach to addressing migration at our ports of entry. The CBC looks forward to working with the Biden-Harris Administration to identify and provide humanitarian-focused solutions in the fortification of our nation’s immigration policies, as we recognize the urgency of this matter and remain committed to comprehensive immigration reform.”
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