Asylum or Trespassing?
Victoria, Graduate Student (UM-Dearborn) For years individuals of all nationalities were able to come to the U.S border and seek asylum in hopes for a better life. Under the previous administration, however, the immigration system went left. Through executive orders, rule changes, and hiring, President Trump promoted immigration policies and practices that, among other things, excluded immigrants based on country of origin (e.g. the “Muslim Ban”), reduced refugee quotas, and increased roadblocks to legal immigration. In particular, the Trump administration dramatically altered U.S asylum policy and practice. As Sarah Pierce stresses, “the Trump administration waged an attack on the asylum system, rolling out a series of policies that effectively cut off access to asylum at the southern US border.” It should not be a hard process to enter into another county and seek asylum. Many around the world would do almost anything to live in the United States, desperate to escape the violence in their own country. Yet, not everyone has money to pay for a passport or visa to access another country—and that’s even if one meets entrance eligibility requirements. Migrants often travel thousands of miles to seek asylum in the United States just to be turned away with what seems like a total lack of consideration for the lives they have left behind and the pain that they have endured. The Border Patrol needs to be retrained on dealing with asylum seekers in a more humane way. As Doris Meissner points out, “The new reality is flows across the Southwest border that have changed from primarily Mexican young men seeking economic opportunity to more complex, mixed flows of predominantly Central Americans, especially families. Some are escaping poverty; others seek protection from violence that may make them eligible for asylum.” Individuals seeking asylum should not be treated like criminals, thrown in cages or forced into facilities that are overpacked to the point where people are forced to sleep on the floor because there are not enough beds. Asylum seekers should not be denied the opportunity to seek relief or be deported because there is “no room for them,” because there is room for anyone to live in this country. The United States should support safe and legal immigration policies that strengthen migrants’ ability to seek asylum. References: 1. Karas, T. and Campbell, M. 10 US immigration issues to watch in 2020. https://www.pri.org/stories/2020-01-03/10-us-immigration-issues-watch-2020 Accessed 13 February 2021. Published 03 January 2020. 2. Meissner, Doris. Asylum Reform, Not Troops, Is the Solution to Current Border Reality . https://www.migrationpolicy.org/news/asylum-reform-not-troops-solution-current-border -reality . Accessed 13 February 2021. Published November 2018.
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