“It’s important to recognize that Black migrants face additional barriers when seeking asylum both at the Mexico-U.S. border and once in the United States,” says Leidy Perez, policy director at the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP).
The Congressional Black Caucus sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Monday demanding that he address biased immigration policies that disproportionately impact African and Caribbean migrants.
“It is imperative we prioritize comprehensive immigration reform, so we can address the inequities faced by Black immigrants within our immigration system,” CBC members said in the letter. “We must foster our immigration system, which upholds the values of justice, fairness, inclusiveness, and compassion.”
U.S. Rep. Yvette D. Clarke, D-N.Y., spearheaded the initiative where she and 59 of her colleagues called on the Biden-Harris administration to streamline the green card and work permit process for Caribbean and African countries, protect DACA recipients who face challenges in the court system and extend protection for Black migrants fleeing from adverse circumstances.
The letter to the president described immigrant communities from African and Caribbean diasporas as an “integral part of our society” and urged Biden to “heed our moral imperative to provide much-needed relief to these individuals, many of whom have resided in the United States for years and have made significant contributions to our communities.”
Black Congressional members said they are disheartened that the U.S. immigration system tends to be biased toward Black migrants and expect Biden to take action to promote fairness and equity.
In a previous interview, Clarke told theGrio, “[The U.S.] immigration system has historically been inequitable and is currently grinding up lives because of its brokenness. She added, “Black migrants deserve safety, respect and compassion.”
In a statement obtained by theGrio, Sergio Gonzales, executive director of Immigration Hub, said that due to “cruel policies” and “rhetorical tactics of extremist GOP politicians,” racist immigration policies still exist.
“Black immigrants – despite their strong ties to our communities and contributions to the economy – continue to face great uncertainty about their future in the country,” said Gonzales.
In a statement provided to theGrio, Leidy Perez, policy director at the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP), said that she is proud to join this initiative to address the Black migrant crisis.
“It’s important to recognize that Black migrants face additional barriers when seeking asylum both at the Mexico-U.S. border and once in the United States,” said Perez.
In their letter to the White House, Congressional leaders said, “diversity will always be our country’s strength,” adding, “Our willingness to accept newcomers into our nation is a key component of our global influence and soft power.”
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