Serve, Work and Transform: Presbyterian Peace Fellowship

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No to Biden's Asylum Ban

The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship opposes the Biden Administration’s proposed rule change that would make asylum claims much more difficult for certain asylum seekers.

The proposed change would take effect when the CDC’s Title 42 Public Health Order related to Covid ends.

The new rules, which could take effect as early as mid-May, only apply to asylum seekers attempting to enter the U.S. along the U.S.-Mexico border, and thus target those coming from and through Central and South America.

As a community dedicated to transforming cultures of domination that normalize racism, we adamantly oppose this blatant attack on a particular group of marginalized people.

We encourage friends of PPF to submit public comments stating your own opposition to this rule change before March 27.

TAKE ACTION: here are two ways to comment:

1. Directly through the Federal Registry at this link.

2. Through an immigration justice comment portal at this link.

Not only does the proposed change violate the deepest values of the Peace Fellowship, but it also violates both international and U.S. law. Under the United Nations Refugee Convention of 1951 asylum seekers cannot be returned to states where their lives are threatened. Under the U.S. Refugee Act of 1980 asylum seekers cannot be turned away due to lack of immigration documentation.

The proposed rule change would violate both of those guarantees.

PPF has a long history of accompanying and supporting people seeking sanctuary from violence including along the southwest border. Welcoming the stranger, standing with the vulnerable, and providing sanctuary to those under threat of violence are central commitments of our faith.

The proposed rule change violates those commitments and exposes the most vulnerable people to direct threats of violence.

We call on the Biden Administration to rescind this proposed rule change.

Thanks for taking action -

Marilyn White & The Peace Church Working Group