"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…" Those are just some of the welcoming words, emblazoned on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. But under our new president, it is as if those words mean nothing.
According to U.S. law, migrants who present themselves to immigration officials and announce that they are fleeing their country must be processed and held until officials can determine if their claims are valid.
Yet, last week,
when a group of around 50 asylum-seekers reached the California border and announced their desire for asylum, they were all but turned away by Customs and Border Patrol (CPB) because they were "at capacity." Instead, they were given the option to wait on the other side of the border in Mexico until CPB could see them.
The group of 50 is part of a caravan of Central Americans fleeing violence, political oppression and the threat of rape and murder in their homelands. In total around 1500 — mainly women and children — are heading towards the U.S. They hope that the Trump Administration will show compassion, follow the law and allow the immigrants to cross — giving them an opportunity to make their case for refuge.
But if the administration's actions live up to their rhetoric, it might be easier said than done. Trump and Attorney General Sessions along with others have called the caravan a threat to national security. It is still unclear what that threat is.
Our government has known for over a month that these refugees were making their way towards the U.S. and seeking a way to escape the violence back home. Yet, they have dragged their feet and frustrated the migrant's efforts to get to safety.
This is unacceptable. Officials should follow the law and ensure that each and every member of the caravan has the chance to apply for refuge, and they should do it now.
Help ensure that the caravan members get to safety. Sign the petition and demand that CPB give each person the chance to apply for asylum. 