Migrant advocates reject Senate border deal

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – It’s not just House Republicans opposing the Senate’s new compromise bill on immigration in exchange for military aid to foreign allies. Several immigrant advocacy organizations have come up against proposed legislation that would allow President Biden to shut down asylum between ports of entry when illegal crossings reach a critical threshold. “We are outraged the Senate is advancing such harmful, anti-immigrant legislation,” said Sirine Shebaya, executive director of the National Immigration Project, a Washington, D.C., coalition of immigration advocates and lawyers. “Senate leaders have decided to sell out immigrant communities in exchange for foreign aid. The proposals would subject people to expulsion without due process, expand this country’s inhumane detention apparatus and exacerbate human rights abuses at the border.” The bill authorizes the president to expel asylum-seekers crossing between ports of entry when daily encounters top an average of 4,000 in a week, or immediately if they reach 8,500 in a day. It also toughens the initial make-or-break credible fear interview and closes loopholes on humanitarian parole, which some conservative lawmakers have derisively called “catch and release.” The deal includes billions in aid to Ukraine, Israel and other allies facing major security challenges. Opposition to Senate border bill jeopardizes help for Afghans who aided US troops House Republicans like Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, have said the Senate bill is “dead on arrival” in the lower chamber. Ayuda, another D.C.-based migrant advocacy group, also condemned the Senate proposal. “Amongst many of the draconian changes proposed, this legislation would create a new authority, with narrow exceptions, allowing officials to summarily expel asylum seekers. It would also restrict screening standards and expedite asylum claims to the extent that many will not be able to access counsel or adequately represent themselves,” the group said in a statement. “We call on the Senate to reject this framework […] and recommit themselves to building a compassionate and humane immigration system.” Here’s what’s in the Senate’s border security deal Some advocates said the proposal is but another failed enforcement-only approach to a humanitarian crisis. “The ‘Border Act’ is the latest attempt to gut the asylum system as we know it in the United States, a proposal that would do nothing to address the root causes of migration, or expand safe and legal pathways, or protect the human or civil rights of those arriving at our border,” said Fernando Garcia, executive director of Border Network for Human Rights. The El Paso-based organization continues to push for comprehensive immigration reform and stands against federal and state governments – like Texas – trying to turn away lawful asylum seekers. “It is deeply disappointing that President Biden and Congress have chosen to follow this same path (Texas’). If we are to live up to our nation’s values, Congress must reject this proposal and instead work to advance legislation that centers on the demands of border communities,” Garcia said. Scalise: No vote for Senate border bill in House Another advocate, Vanessa Cardenas, executive director of America’s Voice, would rather see a complete overhaul of the U.S. immigration system. “Details matter and we’ll be examining the new bill closely. But here’s our bottom line: A bill that prevents asylum seekers from seeking refuge and does not include affirmative legislation for Dreamers and the undocumented is harmful and incomplete,” she said. Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border Some advocates, however, say the bill could be a starting point toward true comprehensive immigration reform. “Thanks to the committed advocacy of individuals and organizations across the country, this legislation steers away from some of the most egregious, Trump-era policies initially considered including family detention, nationwide expansion of expedited deportations and a full asylum ban,” said Kerri Talbot, executive director of Immigration Hub. “We urgently hope bipartisan conversations will continue toward more comprehensive reform in the near future.” For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.