The People Have Spoken!
After four years of xenophobia, racism, and indefensible anti-immigrant policies by the federal government, the people have spoken.
Joe Biden has been elected 46th President of the United States and Kamala Harris, daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, will serve as the nation’s first female Vice President.
While we are relieved by this result we are also disappointed that the margins were so tight. Communities of color in battleground states organized tirelessly and carried this election to victory, despite institutional and individual opposition rooted in white supremacist ideals. We must collectively thank the poll and ballot counting workers who made sure that no one was disenfranchised.
In the first 100 days, the Biden-Harris Administration has promised to reverse many of the Trump Administration’s policies on immigration including the separation of parents from their children at the border, ending the Migrant Protection Protocols program, rescinding travel and visa bans, and restoring asylum laws. We are eager to see these promises fulfilled but we know in reality it will take years to undo all the damage caused by the Trump administration.
We will not settle for a return to pre-2016 immigration policy. The U.S. immigration system must ensure freedom and dignity to all immigrants. We demand a future that dismantles institutional racism, structural oppression, ends for-profit civil immigration detention, and abolishes carceral threats to our immigrant communities. Together with our partners and allies we will demand a clear roadmap to lawful status and citizenship for all our DACAmented and undocumented brothers and sisters.
Access to representation is absolutely necessary as we advocate for a new immigration system. Make no mistake, there is a long road ahead of us. Each step of the way we must ensure every immigrant has access to quality legal counsel and zealous advocacy.
This has been a painful four years and a nerve wracking week. Let’s take this moment to celebrate and then get ready for the work ahead.
Onward,
Jojo Annobil
Executive Director
