More than 100 immigration and civil rights organizations are urging Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.) to abandon his plans to bring a bipartisan immigration deal to the floor in the Senate after it was rejected by the Party. Republican earlier this year.
In a Thursday letter, the groups said the bill “constitutes a profound betrayal of immigrant communities.”
The Senate GOP blocked the package from moving forward in February after former President Trump criticized it as something only a “fool” would support. It was negotiated by Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) alongside Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.).
But it was also opposed by several immigration allies because it would drastically reduce asylum rights for those fleeing danger and persecution.
The package would raise the “credible fear” standard that those seeking asylum would have to meet to continue pursuing their claim.
It would also only allow migrants to seek asylum if they cross at a port of entry, but that option would also cease if certain border crossing limits were triggered.
“Among many concerns, this bill would, for the first time, allow the U.S. government to deny people the opportunity to seek asylum at our border simply based on border apprehension numbers,” the groups write in a letter, led by Rights Humans. First.
“Rather than supporting a proposal that would exacerbate challenges at the border, we need Congressional leaders to invest in increasing processing capacity to meet humanitarian and operational needs,” the letter added, arguing that Schumer had been critical of efforts to restrict immigration during the Trump administration. administration.
Schumer told colleagues he plans to bring the legislation to a vote next week.
And on the Senate floor this week, he called on Republicans to join Democrats in supporting it.
“We are not going to give up trying to solve the problems at the border. We hope Republicans change course and join us. Instead of just making lots of speeches, pointing lots of fingers, blaming, blaming, blaming, let’s do something. A bipartisan bill is within reach that, when shown to many Republicans, they said, ‘Wow,’” Schumer said.
“Only when Donald Trump said, ‘I want the border to remain in chaos so I can win reelection’ did Republicans back down. Well, what a shame.
The American Civil Liberties Union, the Immigration Center, the International Refugee Assistance Project and the National Immigrant Justice Center were among the groups that urged Schumer to keep the bill on file.
Schumer’s initial consideration of the bill followed Republican demands that aid to Ukraine would only be considered if it was combined with immigration reform.
However, the Republican Party later changed that requirement, passing an aid bill for Ukraine and other allies last month.
“Now aid to Ukraine is not a problem. Sending this harmful and counterproductive bill to a vote once again constitutes a profound betrayal of immigrant communities,” the groups wrote.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
