On Monday, a conservative, Trump-appointed judge temporarily blocked President Biden’s repeal of Title 42. Title 42 is a racist and anti-immigrant policy used by the Trump administration to deny asylum seekers humanitarian entry into the U.S. under the pretext of  responding to a public health concern during the pandemic. Epidemiologists and public health experts have repeatedly called for it to end as it undermines public health and people’s right to safety. 

Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera, issued the following statement:

“All people fleeing dangerous conditions should be welcomed with dignity and given a safe, humane and orderly process to seek asylum. 

We strongly condemn Republicans who are exploiting the desperation of families seeking protection by defending the cruel and discriminatory Title 42, stoking racism and hatred against Black and Brown immigrants. Title 42 has no public health justification and is a violation of international and national human rights laws.  At a time when the United States is presenting itself as a global beacon of liberty and hope, these attempts to scapegoat immigrants is shameful and undemocratic.  

We join together with human rights organizations, public health officials and people across race and faith to demand a fair and safe immigration process for all families, regardless of immigration status. Whether they are asylum seekers or immigrant essential workers who have been here for decades, whether young or old, newcomer or native, or from a farm or city, we all deserve safety for ourselves and our families. The future is what we all in Wisconsin make together, and we can see through those who stoke fear for personal gain and to distract voters from their anti-worker, anti-union, pro-big business voting record. 

On the daily news, we are witnessing the heartbreaking desperation of Ukrainian families fleeing violent conditions. The Biden Administration is giving exceptions to Ukranians allowing them to immigrate. We support and welcome these immigrants but are compelled to ask why are immigrants from Latin America, Africa and Haiti who are also fleeing violence not given the same exceptions, visibility, or compassion? Is our morality confined to the borders of Europe?  

In the last two years, humanitarian groups have documented that Title 42 has resulted in violence,  kidnappings, rape,  torture, and deaths of thousands of people who are fleeing dangerous, traumatic conditions.  Instead of allowing our asylum process to function properly, Title 42 has empowered cartels to prey on these vulnerable communities that are trapped in tent encampments at the border, waiting for the opportunity to seek asylum. This is unacceptable.

We condemn those Democrats who are shamefully siding with Republicans and caving into the politics of hate and fear by defending Title 42.

We call on President Biden, elected officials and candidates for office to pledge their support for passing immigration reform with a path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants in our country. We also demand that they address the root causes of forced migration, instead of enforcement-only policies that have created havoc and harm.

We urge them to demand an end to Title 42 and support investing in the integration of refugees and immigrants into our communities and the reunification of families.   

We demand that President Biden use his executive power this year to provide protections for immigrant essential workers and their families, and expand Temporary Protected Status to people already living in this country. Immigrants have acted as heroes on the frontlines in the war against a global pandemic.  

We demand that President Biden fulfill his campaign pledge to dismantle harmful policies like Title 42, 287g and federal contracts with for-profit detention centers.  

In just a few days, immigrant essential workers, families and allies in Wisconsin will strike for two days on May 1 and May 2  to demand that politicians and corporations respect their humanity and demand an end to the shameless scapegoating of immigrants and refugees. This is a part of a national day of action on Sunday, May 1 taking place in 39 cities across 17 states organized through the national Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM). On May 1, thousands of Latinxs and immigrants are anticipated to march from Voces de la Frontera’s Milwaukee office on 8th and Mitchell St to U.S. Senator Ron Johnson’s office downtown.”