New report confirms: IFR has eviscerated the remains of asylum access for most people.
The Biden Administration’s June 2024 asylum ban has led to severe violations of refugee law by eliminating a crucial safeguard that required immigration officers to ask asylum seekers about their fear of return. Without this protection, many asylum seekers, including survivors of gender-based violence, LGBTQI+ individuals, and those fleeing life-threatening dangers, are being summarily deported without the legally mandated credible fear interview. Reports from legal service organizations reveal that immigration officials are not only denying these interviews, but also silencing asylum seekers and separating families in the process. The August 2024 report, “Don’t Tell Me About Your Fear,” highlights these systematic abuses. We must restore access to the asylum process for people in need of protection!
Human rights groups band together to demand end of IFR.
KBI has joined with over 100 civil rights, immigrant rights, and faith-based organizations, along with more than 20 members of Congress, to urge the Biden Administration to rescind its Interim Final Rule (IFR). The IFR, issued under the guise of “securing the border,” effectively bars most asylum seekers who arrive between ports of entry. Advocacy groups have swiftly responded with detailed reports documenting the ban’s harmful consequences, including the denial of asylum screenings and legal representation. The overwhelming support for rescinding the rule, despite a constrained public comment period, highlights the urgency of defending asylum rights.
Responding to mounting obligations and pressure, CBP issues new policy barring agents from discarding some migrant belongings.
KBI and partners have been sounding the alarm about confiscation of migrants’ belongings for almost 10 years, and we’re glad to see that the U.S. Government Accountability Office has finally taken heed. The latest directive from U.S. Customs and Border Protection is a crucial step forward, but the fight is far from over. Despite new rules that stop agents from discarding migrants’ belongings, serious concerns remain. The confiscation of essential items like medicine, clothing, and legal documents has devastated countless lives. While some items must now be stored, the risk of them not being returned when migrants are released is alarming. As migrant advocates, we must continue to demand accountability and humane treatment, ensuring that personal belongings are not just stored but returned with dignity. The struggle for justice and humanity continues.
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