Asylum Process Fraught with Obstacles
The process of applying for asylum is straightforward on its face, but in reality it is fraught with significant obstacles, delays and government action to supplant the obligations outlined in international and U.S. law. Ideally, an asylum seeker would be able to approach an immigration officer at a legal point of entry to request asylum. However, access to this course of action has been limited or completely restricted during the past several years.
The asylum process starts with an application that must be initiated on the U.S. side of the border. But guidance issued in 2018 formalized a policy that already had been informally followed in prior months to turn away asylum seekers at the border. Under a procedure called “metering,” they are told to wait in Mexico, their names put on a list, and called over as border patrol officers determine that a point of entry is capable to process them. In so doing, asylum seekers are barred from initiating the process because they are prevented from crossing the border and reaching U.S. soil. (For more information: Asylum in the United States)
More Changes in 2020
In 2020, the Border Patrol began expelling arriving immigrants without giving them the opportunity to apply for asylum under an order to eliminate the prospect of spreading the Covid-19 virus across the border. This action was carried out as a public health measure and thus did not involve immigration law. By skirting that law, the policy greatly restricted, with a few exceptions, the ability of immigrants to initiate asylum applications as permitted under U.S. statutes. (Note: this Covid era policy was ended last year.)
For those desperate to have their claims heard, and to escape dangerous conditions during indefinite waiting periods in Mexico, these obstacles to applications for asylum have spurred an increase in illegal crossings with the aim to encounter a Border Patrol officer and make the request once in custody.
CHICAGO (March 5, 2021) — The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has joined more than 500 ELCA rostered ministers and the CEOs of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) and Lutheran Services in America (LSA) in calling on Congress to support the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021. In a March 4 letter, the leaders urge lawmakers to work collaboratively to advance legislation “around a long overdue solution that reflects our shared values as a nation.”
The ELCA, LIRS and LSA recognize the need for legislative action based upon their historic service to and accompaniment of communities with migrant and refugee populations. Lutherans respond to people who are caught in conflict and face persecution, and they advocate for compassionate, just and wise immigration policies, driven by God’s love for all people and a biblical commitment to welcome the stranger.
“Guided by our faith values and biblical teachings, we believe that immigration policies must prioritize and honor the God-given dignity of each person, especially those who live on the margins of society,” the letter states. “We regard the family as an indispensable social institution and stand firmly against policies that cause the separation of families. We are therefore pleased to see that the proposed legislation works to recognize these values.”
ELCA social teaching and actions insist on family reunification, upholding human dignity and rights, driving cooperative responses to the root causes of forced migration, and stressing inclusion and equity across federal immigration policy. Several provisions of the legislation advance these commitments.
Across an expanding network, welcoming congregations of the ELCA, for example, closely accompany migrants in the United States through ministry and advocacy. Lutherans across the country also participate in resettling refugees who have been admitted with the support of LIRS. Reacting to a Supreme Court decision on the popular Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program last summer, the ELCA continued to press for permanent protection for Dreamers and just treatment for other undocumented communities. The U.S. Citizenship Act makes a promising contribution toward ensuring a just immigration system.
“Making progress on these long overdue immigration reforms is important to us as leaders who serve in church and society,” the letter states. “We ask God to guide our nation and grant the grace of a welcoming heart. To that end, we ask you to work collaboratively, with haste, to promote this comprehensive legislative solution through Congress and provide lasting solutions that will strengthen our nation for generations to come.”
Learn more about immigration through:
The Webinar
President Biden’s First 30 Days: https://www.lirs.org/immigration-townhall-first-30-days
Webinar Speakers
Antonio Tijerino, Hispanic Heritage Foundation: https://hispanicheritage.org/
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, American Immigration Council: https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/
Sindy Benavides, League of United American Citizens (LULAC): https://lulac.org/
Jeremy Robbins, New American Economy: https://www.newamericaneconomy.org/
Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS): https://www.lirs.org
An explanation of Biden’s Immigration Plan: https://www.lirs.org/biden-immigration-plan
The White House Fact Sheet on the Plan:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/02/02/fac
Websites to learn more:
AMMPARO, the ELCA program for migrant children:
https://www.elca.org/Our-Work/Publicly-Engaged-Church/AMMPARO
Interfaith Immigration Coalition: https://www.interfaithimmigration.org/
National Immigration Forum: https://immigrationforum.org/
Gov track: Use this page to browse bills in the U.S. Congress related to the subject Immigration, as determined by the Library of Congress.
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/subjects/immigration/6206
Books, geared for children and adolescents, are categorized into age groups by Chicago Public Library and Amazon, mainly according to reading level. The list was jointly researched and compiled by Susan Corapi of Trinity International University and Megan McCaffrey of Governor’s State University. Books are written from many different perspectives and lands. Some tell the story of life in a war zone or conflict, flight from a home country, life in a refugee camp, or adjustment to a new home in a faraway country. The themes often tell truths of the refugee or immigrant experience, no matter which countries they come from. Some of the content may contain sensitive material that may be upsetting or scary. Parents will use their own judgement for what is appropriate for an individual child.
http://www.refugeeone.org/uploads/1/2/8/1/12814267/childrens_book_list_may_2019_5.29.19.pdf
These books, podcasts and films are intended for adult readers. The synopses, and other information for the list were gathered from Amazon and Google. The list was curated with input from RefugeeOne staff, interns, volunteers, and supporters. The themes that run through these stories often tell truths of the refugee or immigrant experience, no matter which countries they come from. Some tell the story of life in a war zone or conflict, flight from a home country, life in a refugee camp, or adjustment to a new home in a faraway country.
http://www.refugeeone.org/uploads/1/2/8/1/12814267/book_list_for_adults_final_version_may_2019.pdf
These books are recommendations from the Arlington Heights Memorial Library on the topic of immigration. They HAVE NOT yet been read and/or critiqued by members of POWER. They are fiction unless otherwise noted.
Adult
Behold the Dreamers, Imbolo Mbue
Exist West, Mohin Hamid
The Brief Wondrous LIfe of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz
The Best We Could Do, Thi Bui (non fiction)
The Namesake, Jhumpa Lahiri
Brooklyn, Colm Toibin
The Ungrateful Refugee: What Immigrants Never Tell You, Dina Nayeri (non fiction)
The Beekeeper of Aleppo, Christy Lefteri
On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous, Ocean Vuong
Lost Children Archive, Valeria Luiselli
Undocumented: A Dominican Boy's Odyssey From A Homeless Shelter, Dan-el Padilla Peralta (memoir)
Native Speaker, Chang-rae Lee
The Last Story, Nancy Jooyoun Kim
My (Underground) American Dream: My True Story As An Undocumented Immigrant Who Became A Wall Street Executive, Julissa Arce (memoir)
The Refugees, Viet Thank Nguyen
Teen
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, Erika L Sanchez