The Honorable Joseph R. Biden
President
The White Property
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
The Honorable Kamala D. Harris
Vice President
The White Home
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
The Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas
Secretary
U.S. Section of Homeland Safety
3801 Nebraska Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20016
The Honorable Merrick B. Garland
Attorney Normal of the United States
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530
Cc: Ambassador Susan Rice, Domestic Coverage Council Advisor
Jake Sullivan, Nationwide Stability Council
October 19, 2021
Re: Legal Services Providers Refuse to Be Complicit in the Biden Administration’s Restart of the Keep on being in Mexico Policy (Migrant Protection Protocols)
Pricey President Biden, Vice President Harris, Secretary Mayorkas, and Legal professional Standard Garland:
The undersigned 73 lawful solutions vendors, regulation college clinics, and legislation companies, generate to decry the Biden administration’s conclusion to restart the Continue being in Mexico system (formally termed the Migrant Safety Protocols or “MPP”) and make clear, there is no way to make this system harmless, humane, or lawful. No measure of involvement from civil societies will mitigate the harms of this horrific, racist, and illegal program. Nor is it just for this administration to continue on to drive U.S. legal professionals and humanitarian staff to possibility their protection because of to the failure of this administration to just take swift motion to uphold U.S. refugee legislation and treaties. We refuse to be complicit in a software that facilitates the rape, torture, death, and spouse and children separations of individuals seeking defense by committing to give legal providers.
Representing men and women returned underneath MPP or expelled to Mexico beneath the illegal Title 42 plan has also endangered attorneys and humanitarian teams, together with staff members of some of the undersigned corporations. In truth, during the two several years it was operated beneath the Trump administration, U.S. dependent lawyers were being threatened with kidnapping and violence in link with their representation of individuals in MPP. Disorders have worsened since the application was first started out, rendering it significantly a lot more hazardous for equally the folks and households making an attempt to seek out safety, as effectively as any who would request to aid them. Since the Biden administration took office environment, there have been yet another 6,356 reviews of kidnapping, rape, torture, and other assaults in opposition to migrants blocked at ports of entry or expelled to Mexico by the U.S. federal government.
Considerable territorial handle by cartels and complicity by Mexican governing administration agents in violent assaults and kidnappings towards susceptible asylum seekers and migrants will make very clear that the U.S. govt are unable to re-implement MPP devoid of subjecting susceptible people to pervasive violence.
We urge the administration to do every thing in its power to prevent a return to MPP.
- Quickly issue a new memorandum that delivers a a lot more thorough clarification for the choice to terminate MPP and that resolves any Administrative Course of action Act difficulties identified by the district court docket.
- Promptly inform the Federal government of Mexico that the United States are unable to warranty improved entry to counsel less than a reinstated MPP, nor can the United States assurance that court docket hearings will normally conclude within 6 months. DHS must not stand for to Mexico that nonprofit lawful assistance vendors will boost entry to counsel beneath a reinstated MPP.
- Preserve the MPP wind down and continue on processing folks earlier subjected to MPP into the U.S.
- Take quick techniques to conclusion the cruel and unlawful Title 42 expulsions and right away restore access to asylum at the border, such as at ports of entry.
We stand ready to provide authorized providers to asylum seekers, ended up your administration to stick to U.S. and intercontinental regulation. But there is no defense in the Migrant Security Protocols.
Sincerely,
Al Otro Lado
Alonso & de Leef, PLLC
People in america for Immigrant Justice
Angry Tias and Abuelas of the RGV
Asylum Entry
Asylum Accessibility México (AAMX), A.C.
Border Angels
Border Kindness
Border Organizing Challenge
Bridges Faith Initiative
CA Collaborative for Immigrant Justice
Money Space Immigrants’ Legal rights Coalition
Casa del Migrante en Tijuana, A.C.
Catholic Authorized Immigration Community, Inc.
Church Environment Assistance
Civil Legal rights Schooling and Enforcement Heart (CREEC Regulation)
Columbia Legislation Faculty Immigrants’ Rights Clinic
Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Solutions, Inc.
Esperanza Immigrant Legal rights Undertaking
Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Venture
Government Accountability Undertaking
Haitian Bridge Alliance
Harvard Immigration and Refugee Scientific Plan
HIAS
Houston Immigration Legal Solutions Collaborative
Human Legal rights Initial
Human Legal rights Initiative of North Texas
Immigrant Defenders Legislation Middle
Immigration Equality
Instituto para las Mujeres en la Migración (IMUMI)
International Mayan League
Intercontinental Refugee Help Undertaking (IRAP)
International Rescue Committee
Jesuit Refugee Support/United states
Jewish Family Company of San Diego
Justice for Our Neighbors El Paso
La Raza Community Source Middle
Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Middle
Regulation Office of Alexandra Bachan
Law Office of Amy Maldonado
Legislation Office environment of Elket Rodriguez
Lawful Assist Justice Centre
Mariposa Authorized
Migrant and Immigrant Group Action Venture
Migrant Heart for Human Legal rights
Miles Immigration Law
Mississippi Center for Justice
Countrywide Immigrant Justice Middle
Nationwide Immigration Venture (NIPNLG)
Community Lobby For Catholic Social Justice
Northwest Immigrant Legal rights Job
Oasis Authorized Products and services
Pangea Authorized Providers
Pennsylvania Immigration Useful resource Heart (PIRC)
Undertaking Corazon-Lawyer’s for Fantastic Governing administration
Project Lifeline
Proyecto de Ayuda para Solicitantes de Asilo (PASA)
General public Counsel
RAICES
Refugee and Human Rights Clinic, UC Hastings
Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network
Santanna Legislation Offices
Tahirih Justice Middle
Taylor Levy Legislation
Crew Brownsville
Texas Civil Legal rights Undertaking
The Advocates for Human Rights
The Sidewalk College
Transgender Regulation Center
UC Davis Immigration Regulation Clinic
UCLA Immigrant Family members Lawful Clinic
University of Texas University of Legislation Immigration Clinic
VECINA