January 8, 2024

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San Diego, CA –  While the Haitian Bridge Alliance strongly condemns the murder of Laken Riley, it believes the passage of the Laken Riley Act (H.R. 29) by the United States House of Representatives constitutes an overreach. The bill is a draconian piece of legislation that undermines America’s commitment to human rights, criminalizes the most vulnerable, and dismantles critical asylum protections.

The Laken Riley Act is a devastating attack on those who are fleeing violence, political persecution, and extreme poverty. Instead of addressing the root causes of migration, this bill seeks to close doors, weaponize bureaucracy, and strip away the legal and humanitarian safeguards that define our nation’s values.

“This legislation is a direct affront to America’s longstanding tradition of offering refuge to the oppressed,” said Guerline Jozef, Executive Director of Haitian Bridge Alliance. “The Laken Riley Act does not enhance security or fairness—it institutionalizes cruelty, targets asylum seekers, and denies safety to those who need it most, including Haitians escaping political violence and insecurity.”

At a time when Haitians and other marginalized groups face unprecedented crises, the passage of this act sends a clear and chilling message: the lives of Black and Brown migrants are disposable. This law represents a calculated effort to dehumanize migrants and perpetuate racial discrimination in our immigration system and in the Black community. The Laken Riley Act has the potential to exacerbate racial profiling and disproportionately target Black communities, which are already subjected to over-policing and over-criminalization.

Haitian Bridge Alliance urges the Senate to reject this legislation and calls on all Americans to stand in solidarity with migrants and asylum seekers. Together, we must uphold the principles of compassion, fairness, and justice that this nation was built upon.