FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2021

CONTACT
Madison Allman, [email protected], 202-384-1279

NILC Statement on Supreme Court’s Decision to Deny Biden Administration’s Requested Pause of “Remain in Mexico” Policy

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court denied the Biden administration’s request to temporarily block the resumption of the Remain in Mexico policy, officially known at the Migrant Protection Protocols.

Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center and the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund, issued the following statement:

“We at the National Immigration Law Center are deeply disappointed that the Supreme Court failed to pause the lower court order. We are committed to doing everything we can to prevent this egregious policy from harming one more person and will use every tool at our disposal to oppose the Remain in Mexico policy, or any like it, and we urge the Biden administration to do the same.

“People have a fundamental human and legal right to seek safety and asylum in our country, as millions have done throughout our nation’s history. President Trump’s Remain in Mexico policy subjected thousands to unthinkable violence and deprived them of due process. This policy flies in the face of the values we aspire to as a nation.

“Last November, a diverse, multigenerational coalition of voters delivered the now-Biden administration a clear mandate to build a 21st century immigration system that centers the dignity and humanity of all people. We urge the Biden administration to refocus its efforts on restoring full access to asylum and delivering on the vision President Biden promised on the campaign trail. The Biden administration must vigorously pursue its appeal before the Fifth Circuit and do everything in its power to ensure this deadly program does not move forward.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2021

CONTACT
Madison Allman, [email protected], 202-384-1279

NILC Statement on House Passage of a Pathway to Citizenship in the Budget Resolution

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives approved a $3.5 trillion budget resolution that increases funding for health care, child and elder care, and education and climate action. It also includes more than $100 billion to create a pathway to U.S. citizenship for millions of immigrant youth, people with temporary protected status, immigrant essential workers, and farm workers.

Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center and the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund, issued the following statement:

“We at the National Immigration Law Center celebrate the House passage of this historic budget resolution, which puts us one step closer to addressing some of the most significant crises affecting working families in our country. This crucial development is undeniable proof of our collective power and momentum. This moment serves as a reminder that elections matter: Voters elected Democrats to power to deliver a more just and equitable vision for our country.

“Citizenship would provide long-overdue stability for millions of immigrants who are part of our families and communities. They are essential to our country and our continued recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and must finally be recognized. We urge Congress to pass the most inclusive bill possible and ensure that we are expanding safety-net protections so that we all have what we need to thrive.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2021

CONTACT
Madison Allman, [email protected], 202-384-1279

NILC Urges the Biden Administration to Fight the Return of the “Remain in Mexico” Policy

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide today whether to stay a lower court’s order requiring a restart to the Trump-era Remain in Mexico policy, officially known as the Migrant Protection Protocols. This policy forced thousands of people seeking asylum to wait in Mexico for their court hearing dates, often in dangerous conditions.

Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center and the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund, issued the following statement:

“Under the cruel Remain in Mexico policy, the U.S. slammed the door on people in need of refuge and subjected thousands of asylum-seekers to unthinkable violence and danger while depriving them of due process.

“Last November, a diverse, multigenerational coalition of voters delivered the now-Biden administration a clear mandate to build a 21st century immigration system that centers the dignity and humanity of all people. Voters resoundingly rejected the previous administration’s agenda, including its shameful and cruel border policies.

“Regardless of what the Supreme Court decides, the National Immigration Law Center will do everything in our power to ensure that this harmful policy comes to a decisive end and that no policy like it is ever instituted again. We urge the Biden administration to do the same and to exhaust every option to end Remain in Mexico. The administration should focus its efforts on delivering on Biden’s promise to reclaim the United States’ position as a beacon of hope for all who seek a safe and better life.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 11, 2021

CONTACT
Madison Allman, [email protected], 202-384-1279

NILC Statement on Senate Passage of a Pathway to Citizenship in the Budget Resolution

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate today approved a $3.5 trillion budget resolution that increases funding for health care, child and elder care, and education and climate change, and includes more than $100 billion to create a pathway to U.S. citizenship for millions of immigrant youth, people with temporary protected status, immigrant essential workers, and farm workers. The resolution now moves to the U.S House of Representatives.

Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center and the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund, issued the following statement:

“Today’s passage of the Senate’s historic budget resolution is a strong reminder that a broad multiracial and multigenerational coalition of voters gave Democrats a governing trifecta to respond boldly to the most pressing issues affecting our nation and to ensure that Republican intransigence doesn’t stand in the way of long-overdue progress. This budget resolution, which passed the Senate on a party line vote, represents a historic opportunity to expand the safety net so that everyone in our country has the freedom to thrive.

“It is also a momentous victory for immigrant communities and a critical step forward in addressing some of the most significant crises affecting working families in our country. We at the National Immigration Law Center have worked alongside our partners in the immigrant justice movement to bring about this moment.

“Making citizenship and inclusive relief a priority is long overdue for millions of immigrants who call the U.S. home. While today we celebrate meaningful progress, there is still work to be done to secure this historic victory. We urge Congress to take this critical bill across the finish line — without any harmful amendments — and ensure that we are creating an immigration system that is rooted in racial and economic equity and inclusion, so that we all have what we need to thrive.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 9, 2021

CONTACT
Madison Allman, [email protected], 202-384-1279

NILC Statement on the Inclusion of a Pathway to Citizenship in the Budget Reconciliation Package

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats today released a $3.5 trillion budget blueprint that would increase funding for health care, child and elder care, education and climate change, and includes more than $100 billion to provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrant youth, people with temporary protected status (TPS), farm workers, and essential workers.

Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center and the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund, issued the following statement:

“Democratic leadership unveiled a historic budget that would address some of the most significant crises affecting working families in our country, ranging from funding reducing childhood poverty and supporting a robust safety net to responding to the urgent needs of the climate crisis. It also includes funding to create a pathway to U.S. citizenship for millions of immigrants in our country, which is an important reminder that elections matter.

“We at the National Immigration Law Center and our partners in the immigrant justice movement have been advocating for a pathway to citizenship for decades, and we are thrilled by today’s events. An overwhelming majority of Americans — and voters — support a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who call the U.S. home. We commend Congress for responding to the will of the American people with this crucial step forward.

“Immigrants are an essential part of our communities, not only as our family members and neighbors but also as people who have continued to show up day after day during this pandemic to keep our country going. As we enter our recovery phase, we must also recognize that there is no recovery without immigrants — and passing a pathway to citizenship through reconciliation would provide urgently needed relief and stability for millions of DACA recipients, TPS holders, farm workers, essential workers, and their loved ones.”

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