In response to the Senate’s proposed border deal that would gut asylum in exchange for foreign military spending, Local Progress released the following statement:
“All human beings have inherent dignity and the right to seek safety. This bill would strip that right from vulnerable people worldwide – sending a clear message that our federal government’s top priority is keeping people out, not keeping people safe. We’re disappointed to see this administration and members of Congress adopt the same anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies that we know fail to keep us safe. This is unacceptable.
As a network of more than 1,400 local elected officials across 48 states – many of whom represent cities like New York, Chicago, and Denver that are welcoming many new arrivals – we are extremely concerned about the irreparable damage this deal would cause to our communities nationwide. Although additional assistance to localities is needed, the bill’s inhumane approach to asylum overall undermines our work at the local level.
Local elected officials and community members across the country are showing us what it means to welcome people with dignity. Each and every day, our communities are filling the role of the federal government and ensuring new arrivals have a safe place to sleep, enough food to eat, legal support, and help finding good jobs. What we need right now is a humane and effective immigration system that meets people’s needs and helps resettle new arrivals across the country.”
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