President Biden Abandons Campaign Promises, Adopting Trump’s Deadly Border Policies

New York, NY (January 30, 2024) — Late Friday, President Biden issued a statement throwing his full support behind legislation that would eviscerate the U.S. asylum system. In response, Bridget Crawford, Immigration Equality’s Director of Law & Policy issued the following statement:

“President Biden is trying to deceive the American public about his border policies—the most radical changes to U.S. immigration law in decades. He claims they are the ‘toughest and fairest’ in U.S. history when, in reality, they are a death knell for our asylum system. And a death sentence for asylum seekers, including LGBTQ refugees escaping violent persecution.

“Let us be clear. These are virtually the same xenophobic Trump policies that President Biden campaigned against, including the authority to expel migrants at the southern border before they have an opportunity to request asylum. Now, the White House and Congress want to make this failed, illegal policy permanent by codifying it into law.

 “Unfortunately, our lawmakers are playing political games instead of legislating workable solutions. We urge the President to reject these cruel policies that will endanger refugee lives and incite chaos at the border. Deterrence-based policies have always failed, and will always fail. Punishing refugees with cruelty will never stop them from seeking safety.”