Poder Latinx Condemns Louisiana Judge’s Decision, Calls on Biden Administration and the Senate to End Title 42 Once and For All
WASHINGTON – Poder Latinx condemns the U.S. District Judge Robert Summerhays’ decision today, which ruled to prevent the Biden administration from ending Title 42 by May 23. With the current attempts to codify Title 42 into law, Poder Latinx strongly urges the Biden administration and the Senate to end Title 42 immediately and refrain from voting on any amendment that will keep Title 42 in place.
Yadira Sanchez, executive director of Poder Latinx, delivered the following statement:
“Today, Judge Summerhays denied vulnerable people, who flee for their lives and leave everything behind to find safety, their legal right to asylum at our borders. Refugees and asylum seekers have continued to come to our country simply because it is their last chance of survival, despite having Title 42. This policy has been a complete failure as a COVID-19 control policy, a humanitarian policy, and a border control policy. Closing the ports of entry only forced asylum seekers to undertake more dangerous routes at the border, and those expelled have tried to cross multiple times. These expulsions put vulnerable families, children, and adults in the hands of violent cartels, risking severe injuries, kidnappings, and even death. Our government found a way to grant waivers from Title 42 to Ukrainian refugees but continues to deny humanitarian refuge to nationals from Black and brown majority countries suffering from similar crises. We have already opened our border for tourists and other travelers, so what are we waiting for? To continue attributing the spread of COVID-19 to asylum seekers coming across the border is racist and xenophobic.
The future of our asylum system is at stake. If Title 42 is codified into law, it could end our asylum system for the foreseeable future and allow the government to choose the asylum seekers it wants to help without establishing a fair and humane system, as we have seen in the case of Ukraine. This goes against our national values. Our government must grant meaningful and equal protections to all migrants and refugees. Latinx organizations stand ready to work with the United States Senate and the Biden administration to ensure the safety of all migrants. We have put families, children, and adults in danger for too long now; we must end Title 42 immediately.”
Written By PODER
Artwork By La Prensa Austin
