Immigrant ARC Responds to Inhumane Immigration Policy Negotiations

New York, NY; December 8, 2023 - Immigrant ARC is outraged over reports that the Biden administration is considering caving on cruel immigration policy changes in exchange for foreign aid to Ukraine and Israel. Among the many proposed changes, including nationwide authority to use expedited removal mechanisms, which effectively allows for the rounding up and mass expulsion of migrants. In a speech this week, the President went so far as to say that his administration is willing to make “significant compromises” to our immigration system, which is a complete reversal from his earlier promises to “restore” asylum and welcome immigrants.

In response to this news, Camille Mackler, Executive Director of Immigrant ARC, issued the following statement:

"Expedited removal and asylum claim caps are immoral and against the tenets of due process that we uphold in the U.S. Asylum seekers have experienced extreme hardship and have turned to the U.S. for safety and a better life, which is their right under our laws. It is not only unacceptable to use vulnerable migrants who are fleeing from horrific conditions as a bargaining chip––these changes will reverberate across our immigration system and cause irreparable harm. As lawyers, we are compelled to speak out on this attack on due process and fair play, which our justice system is supposed to be the embodiment of. We urge the Biden Administration to reverse course immediately, and call upon Senator Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to ensure our core beliefs as New Yorkers are not swept under the rug of inside-the-beltway politics."

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The Immigrant Advocates Response Collaborative (Immigrant ARC) is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.