Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the leading Democrats on the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, released the following statement on the Trump administration’s plan to force asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while their immigration cases are pending:

“The Trump administration is on a mission to take apart the asylum system, which was developed after the horrors of World War II to ensure persecuted people have an opportunity to petition our government for safety. The basic responsibility owed to those seeking asylum under U.S. and international law is that people fleeing for their lives cannot be turned away without a chance to make their case.

“This system was created to balance both border security and humanitarian protection, but the Trump plan creates more chaos at the border, harming refugees instead of protecting them. Asylum seekers are easy prey for criminals and gangs in Mexico, but the Trump plan forces people to remain in harm’s way, even if there is a significant possibility they will be persecuted or tortured in Mexico.

“This system was created to balance both border security and humanitarian protection, but the Trump plan creates more chaos at the border, harming refugees instead of protecting them. Asylum seekers are easy prey for criminals and gangs in Mexico, but the Trump plan forces people to remain in harm’s way, even if there is a significant possibility they will be persecuted or tortured.

“The Trump administration’s nativist policies betray our laws and our values. We strongly oppose these changes and fully expect they will be challenged in court.”

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