December 18, 2023

Contact: Paola Luisi, pluisi@haitianbridge.org 

San Diego, California— On International Migrants’ Day, the Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) stands firm in its commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of migrants. In light of recent negotiations between the President of the United States, Joseph Biden and the United States Senate surrounding potential changes to the asylum system in exchange for funding for foreign aid, the HBA has addressed a letter to the Biden Administration, the Congressional Black Caucus, and Senator Schumer, urging the reconsideration any actions that may compromise the integrity of the asylum process.

The proposed changes, such as transit bans, national expulsion and visa suspension authority, elimination of nearly all immigration parole authority, mandatory incarceration for asylum seekers, mass expansion of expedited removal, and numerical caps on asylum, are deeply troubling. These changes could lead to family separations, harm to children, and the return of vulnerable individuals to perilous situations.

In the letter, the Haitian Bridge Alliance highlights the need for a comprehensive and compassionate approach to immigration policies that upholds the principles of fairness, justice, and human rights. The organization acknowledges the challenges faced by the Biden Administration and the Congress in addressing the complex issues surrounding immigration but emphasizes the critical importance of maintaining a strong and accessible asylum system.

“Legislation that aims to create unlawful barriers to asylum and restrict the president’s authority on humanitarian parole pose a risk to the very foundations of our immigration system, which has long been a symbol of hope and opportunity for countless individuals seeking refuge and a better life in the United States,” stated Guerline Jozef, Founder and Executive Director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance. We ask President Joseph Biden to maintain his campaign promise that he would restore the soul of America and reject the proposals. “We further hope that the Congressional Black Caucus can amplify its voice on the matter to highlight that immigration is a Black issue and to center the realities of Black asylum seekers fleeing persecution from various countries including the Republic of Haiti, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea and Mauritania, at the border and Black immigrants in the U.S.”

It is imperative that this administration and the United States Senate stand against any racist, draconian, and inhumane measures that compromise the values of compassion, justice, and humanity—values that are the bedrock of our nation. HBA remains committed to working in close collaboration with the administration and members of Congress to ensure the passage of comprehensive, lawful, and humane immigration reform. We look forward to the passage of comprehensive immigration reform in the next Congress that would include a pathway to green card and citizenship for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and DACA recipients.