Members Of Congress Go to Migrants At The Border

1000’s of Black migrants from across the globe in search of new lives in America are as a substitute caught in limbo in Mexico. Amid studies of their mistreatment and an African migrant’s loss of life, a number of members of Congress just lately traveled throughout the U.S.-Mexico border to satisfy the asylum seekers.

Reps. Karen Bass (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Yvette Clarke (D-NY) of the Congressional Black Caucus visited Tijuana, Mexico, on Friday. Additionally making the journey was Rep. Juan Vargas (D-CA), a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus whose California district contains the border.

The Congresswomen advised BET they heard “horrific” tales from about 50 “principally younger women and men” hailing from Africa, the Caribbean and past. All have been impacted by the Migrant Safety Protocols, recognized informally because the “Stay In Mexico” coverage. Applied in January 2019 by the Trump Administration, the U.S. now returns non-Mexican migrants to Mexico to await immigration court docket choices. 

Immigration advocates advised the visiting members of Congress there are not less than 5,000 Black asylum seekers presently in Tapachula, Mexico — a part of an estimated 15,000 Black migrants all through Mexico. They hail from throughout the Black Diaspora, with most from Cameroon, the Congo, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Haiti, in line with advocates. Black migrants say they’ve confronted racism, bodily and sexual violence, language obstacles and different trauma.

“African and Caribbean immigrants who immigrate to america of America are handled as if they’re invisible,” stated Bass, chairwoman of the 55-member CBC. “Many arrived in South America after which walked north, all to be dehumanized and mistreated at our southern border. We [went] to the border to listen to what they’ve been by means of. They’re an vital piece of this story.”

As we speak, extra folks than ever reside in international locations aside from the one in every of their start, both by alternative or necessity. In line with the United Nations, the variety of migrants globally in 2019 reached an estimated 272 million — 51 million greater than in 2010. Girls constituted 48 p.c of migrants, and about 38 million migrants are youngsters.

Pew Analysis Middle knowledge signifies four.2 million Black immigrants reside within the U.S. The explanations for his or her arrival differ; some are fleeing struggle and battle, financial insecurity, or gender-based bias and violence. Local weather change is more and more a consider folks being displaced. Many envision new lives in America the place the Statue of Liberty inscription notes partially: “Give me your drained, your poor/ Your huddled plenty craving to breathe free.”

But the story of immigration beneath Donald Trump’s presidency has been rife with controversy. On the marketing campaign path, Trump promised to cast off Deferred Motion for Childhood Arrivals, often known as DACA. Created in 2012 by President Barack Obama through government order, DACA enabled sure undocumented immigrants who’d arrived in America earlier than their 16th birthday to obtain work permits and exemption from deportation for 2 years. The Supreme Court docket is presently deciding whether or not DACA is lawful and may proceed; a ruling is predicted in 2020.

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The Trump administration has additionally put in place a journey ban impacting a number of majority Muslim international locations. There was additionally a “zero tolerance” coverage that resulted in 1000’s of households being forcibly separated on the southern U.S. border; infants have been torn from their moms, and youngsters and adults have been detained in cages. In the meantime, Trump’s reported `s**thole’ remark about Haiti and African nations (which he denied), and dedication to construct a border wall have led to protests from advocacy teams and authorized challenges. 

“Trump’s white nationalist agenda has been harming immigrants since Day 1 of his presidency,” stated Lee, a Senior Democratic Whip and senior member of the Home Appropriations Committee. “These merciless and bigoted insurance policies don’t have any place in a nation constructed by immigrants from all walks of life, and all of us should preserve pushing again in order that his xenophobic imaginative and prescient of America doesn’t turn into our America.”

After visiting Mexico, the CBC members and Rep. Vargas returned to San Ysidro, California, for a Congressional Subject Listening to hosted by the Home International Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, World Well being, World Human Rights and Worldwide Organizations. Bass, who additionally chairs that subcommittee, stated the aim was to look at the worldwide migrant surge from a humanitarian perspective and listen to testimony from consultants.

“How is it that a number of the poorest nations all over the world can absorb folks in disaster,” she requested. “What can we be taught from these international locations? What are the worldwide protocols, norms, requirements, and practices that ought to be adopted? I wish to know, what can we be taught from different international locations all over the world. However principally, I wish to perceive the place america is with regard to those practices, norms and requirements.”

The listening to included testimony from Doug Stephens, a lawyer and former U.S. asylum official who has challenged the legality of the Mexico coverage; Kate Clark, Senior Director of Immigration Companies for the Jewish Household Service of San Diego which is aiding migrants; Charanya Krishnaswami, Americas Advocacy Director for Amnesty Worldwide USA; and Nana Gyamfi, Government Director of the Black Alliance for Simply Immigration (BAJI).

Gyamfi, devoted her remarks to the late Nebane Abienwi, a 37-year-old asylum seeker from Cameroon. He died on October 1, 2019, reportedly within the custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).  

Abienwi reportedly arrived on the San Ysidro Port of Entry on September 5, 2019, requesting asylum. About two weeks later, he was despatched to the Otay Mesa Detention Middle in San Diego. Reportedly, he skilled a hypertensive occasion in ICE custody, and was transported to a medical middle on September 26, 2019. After present process therapy for a mind hemorrhage, he was later taken off life help (reportedly in opposition to his household’s needs) and died.

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“I need us to take a second to consider why somebody would threat their lives and journey 1000’s of miles from dwelling to an odd land?” stated Gyamfi in testimony supplied to BET. “They’ve skilled bodily hurt, sexual assault, loss of life of their household and associates, lack of private gadgets together with documentation, household heirlooms, life’s financial savings and no matter little private security that that they had. The person and collective trauma that they maintain is unimaginable.”

Gyamfi testified that the asylum course of at Tapachula, Mexico, requires migrants to be taken into custody and held within the largest detention middle in Latin America, often known as Siglio XXI (Century 21). BAJI has been going to Tapachula since August of this 12 months, she stated. “Black migrants complain of racist maltreatment within the detention middle, together with being fed maggot-filled meals, being denied well being care and sanitary circumstances, being compelled to signal paperwork written in a language they don’t perceive, and being stripped of their nationality and declared ‘stateless.’”

Gyami added that U.S. overseas coverage — from the failed struggle on medication to commerce points — have exacerbated tenuous circumstances overseas, spurring migration throughout the globe.

Rep. Clarke is the daughter of Jamaican immigrants and chairs the CBC’s Activity Pressure on Immigration. The Congresswoman advised BET she believes the disaster on the Mexican border is a direct consequence of the Trump administration’s threats of punitive measures to Mexico. There’s additionally been strain on Central American international locations similar to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, often known as the Northern Triangle.

Advocates say migrants from the Northern Triangle journeying to the U.S. usually cross the border between Guatemala and Mexico. When that area noticed a rise in Black migrants earlier this 12 months, Mexico honored the migrants’ proper to asylum and allowed them transit, exit visas and journey to its northern border to use for asylum within the U.S.

Nevertheless, after President Trump threatened to impose harsh tariffs on Mexico if it didn’t stem the move of migrants to the border, the nation modified its immigration coverage to require migrants to use for asylum and residency in Mexico. “It’s a bullying tactic,” stated Clarke, “to convey the hammer down on nations which can be susceptible themselves.”

Trump and administration officers have countered criticism of its immigration insurance policies by saying they’re meant to safe U.S borders, stop criminals from coming into, and shield American employees and sources. In a November 14 press briefing, Mark Morgan, Appearing Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Safety, recommended Congress was responsible.

“In the event you recall, earlier this 12 months we sounded an alarm — really, fairly a bit — with respect to the border disaster and asking Congress repeatedly to behave to repair the loopholes in our damaged immigration system, and shut the gaps driving this disaster. Sadly, not a single piece of significant laws has been introduced ahead.”

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He continued, “And consequently, this nation stood by and watched because the disaster worsened, as we reached our peak in Could of over 140,000 apprehensions in a single month.  Nevertheless, within the continued absence of congressional motion, the President, alongside along with his administration, in addition to our hardworking women and men of the Customs and Border Safety and our accomplice businesses, has taken motion. By continued engagement with the federal government of Mexico and the Northern Triangle international locations, we’ve initiated a community of initiatives, insurance policies, and of laws to stem the move of the migration. Collectively, we’re approaching this because the regional disaster that it’s, and we’ve seen unimaginable success.”

Immigration has confirmed a partisan difficulty in Congress, however laws has been launched. Among the many newest is the Refugee Safety Act of 2019. U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) are among the many lawmakers who led the introduction of the measure. In a press launch, the measure is described as a “complete blueprint for restoring and reinvigorating U.S. refugee and asylum programs.” The Senate invoice is cosponsored by not less than 16 lawmakers, whereas a companion Home invoice is cosponsored by not less than 31 members.

“America should all the time be a spot the place refugees are welcomed and inspired to contribute to society,” stated Harris, who added that the measure would assist assure that refugees and asylum-seekers are welcomed and supported, and “that our immigration system respects the essential dignity of each human being.”