Chicago City Wire

Washington, DC – On May 12, Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Vice Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee, released the following statement after the official lift of the Trump-era policy, Title 42.

“Title 42 was a dehumanizing and cruel Trump-era policy instituted under the guise of public health by expediting removals of migrants at the border due to COVID-19 despite there being no evidence that migrants crossing the border contributed to the spread of the pandemic. It was never a genuine public health intervention, but a dangerous policy that diminished the constitutional right to seek asylum. This policy has finally come to an end, as had been called for by several community leaders and elected officials from the start. This should have marked a long overdue opportunity for our nation to finally and fully live into our founding values. 

“In this moment, President Biden can use his executive authority to humanely address the migrant crisis, deliver long overdue relief to the broader undocumented immigrant community, and strengthen our economy in the face of nationwide labor shortages with the following: 

• Grant parole to keep families and communities together; 
• Issue expedited work permits so that employers can fill open roles and people without status can attain independence and stability beyond emergency food and shelter services, which have still been woefully underfunded at the federal level.

“Neither of these actions has happened. The new policy replacing Title 42 only further entrenches our militarization of the border and narrows the constitutional right to seek asylum even more. Sending troops with guns and riot gear to the border, as we have seen Governor Abbot do, will only traumatize children, pregnant people, and people of all ages who left their homes and everything they ever knew for a chance at a better life. This is fundamentally wrong and an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars. 

 “That’s why I am outraged that our Republican colleagues have plowed forward with the most anti-immigrant border enforcement legislation we have seen at a time when we need to work together to deliver comprehensive, humane immigration reform that has been on hold for decades. 

“If we are genuinely invested in addressing the humanitarian crisis at our border, we would deliver resources that help migrants and our communities and strengthen our economy. We would own our shared responsibility to understand the root causes of migration that push people to leave their homes and communities, risking even death to come to the U.S.  

 “Before all else, we must stop this war against the constitutional right to seek asylum.”

Original source can be found here.