Statement from IJC about newest asylum ban

This week the Trump administration announced its latest egregious assault against asylum seekers in the form of a new rule making people ineligible for asylum in the United States if they have transited through a third country and not sought asylum there. The asserted justifications for this rule are a thin veil over the real goal: to prevent the vast majority of asylum seekers from obtaining protection in our country. It is unconscionable to demand that people fleeing persecution must first seek asylum in a country where they may not feel safe. This new rule further demonstrates the administration’s malicious disregard of the humanitarian crises that propel asylum seekers to the United States in the first place.

“Lawsuits have already been swiftly filed against this new rule and Immigrant Justice Corps supports these litigation efforts,” says Jojo Annobil, IJC Executive Director. “We will not stand for this administration’s flagrant disregard of asylum seekers’ rights.”