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Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal condemns Joe Biden’s US-Mexico border order
Under the new measure, migrants caught crossing illegally could be quickly deported or turned back to Mexico.
Pramila Jayapal serves as the Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee. / Pramila for Congress
Hours after US President Joe Biden on June.4 implemented a comprehensive asylum ban targeting migrants caught unlawfully crossing the US-Mexico border, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal has expressed her “profound disappointment”.
The Indian-American Democrat, who serves as the Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, also issued a statement in this regard.
“Seeking asylum is legal under this country’s immigration laws and international treaty obligations. It is extremely disappointing to see the Biden administration severely restricting access to asylum using section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act,” she said in a statement.
“This attempt to shut down the border to asylum seekers uses the same section of US immigration laws that convicted felon Donald Trump used to implement the Muslim Ban and in attempts to cut off all access to asylum. While there are some differences from Trump’s actions, the reality is that this utilizes the same failed enforcement-only approach, penalizes asylum seekers, and furthers a false narrative that these actions will ‘fix’ the border.”
Under the new measure, migrants caught crossing the US-Mexico border illegally could face rapid deportation or be returned to Mexico. This policy includes exemptions for certain groups such as unaccompanied minors, individuals facing significant medical or safety risks, and victims of trafficking.
Rep. Jayapal emphasized that the fundamental solution to border challenges lies in the overhaul of an outdated immigration system. She pointed out that the system's antiquation has led to a reduction in legal immigration pathways and insufficient resources for processing immigrants.
Furthermore, Jayapal criticized Senate Republicans for utilizing the filibuster, a legacy of the Jim Crow era, to obstruct bipartisan legislation passed in the House, such as the Farm Workforce Modernization Act or the Dream and Promise Act, from advancing in the Senate. She highlighted the failure of even a bipartisan bill, authored by one of the Senate's most conservative Republicans, to progress due to political motivations.
Jayapal attributed this obstructionism to former President Donald Trump and far-right factions within the Republican Party, who, she argued, exploit immigrants for political gain, particularly during election cycles.
Pushing for improving the immigration system, she said, “The American people want and deserve an orderly immigration system that is humane and focuses on real solutions rather than harsh enforcement. Our country desperately needs reforms to the legal immigration system that bring the United States into the 21st century, including ensuring families are reunited, that migrants have the opportunity to be quickly processed and given work permits that help address our own economic needs and that asylum claims are adjudicated in a fair and efficient manner.”
Jayapal expressed disappointment with the Biden administration's adoption of an enforcement-only approach, emphasizing that such strategies have historically proven ineffective. She underscored the interconnectedness between border policies and the functionality of the legal immigration system, suggesting that addressing broader immigration issues is essential for achieving lasting solutions.
“We should be looking to manage the border, expand lawful pathways, provide a roadmap to citizenship and celebrate the contributions of immigrants by prioritizing a fair, orderly, and humane system. Today’s actions are a dangerous step in the wrong direction,” she concluded.
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