Las Americas Reacts to Anti-Immigrant Provisions Tied to Foreign Military Aid Bill, Turned Migrant Death Trap

For Immediate Release: February 4, 2024

Media Contact: media@las-americas.org

Las Americas IAC Reacts to Anti-Immigrant Provisions Tied to Foreign Military Aid Bill, Turned Migrant Death Trap 

EL PASO, TEXAS – After weeks of back-door negotiation, a group of lawmakers, backed by President Biden, released legislation bundling one-time aid for foreign wars with anti-immigrant provisions that would gut the asylum system and create longstanding harm across border communities. In response, Marisa Limón Garza, Executive Director of Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center in El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua shared the following statement:

“Closing the border, creating a new ‘metering’ system, and debilitating our asylum laws will do nothing to address the underlying issues that force vulnerable children and families to flee their homes, seeking safety and a better life. Although the bill contains small silver-linings, they come at too high a cost. This deal will ultimately subject more families to an unsafe migratory journey. They will be forced to wait on the other side of the border for days or even weeks, which will further expose them to those who would prey upon them as they try to navigate these impossible policies.

“A humane immigration system should prioritize human lives and outcomes over performatively turning people away. Every person deserves a fair chance to have their case heard, regardless of their position in line. Deterrence and enforcement haven’t brought order to the border in 35 years and they will not do so because of this package.

“We have nothing to fear from families and children looking for safety. The real threat comes from President Biden and Senators’ cowardice in caving in to selling out people’s lives and our values to indulge a false politics of fear. We need long-term and sustainable solutions, including pathways to citizenship for DACA recipients, their loved ones, and immigrant families. We urge Congress and the Biden Administration to reject this mistaken approach and use this opportunity to uplift their promise to restore humanity to our asylum system instead.”