Young Center Urges Biden Administration to Stop Defending its Illegal Asylum Ban and Restore Access to Asylum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Washington D.C.— Today, a federal judge in California blocked President Biden’s unlawful asylum ban, which was put into effect in May of this year following the end of Title 42 and has been used to wrongfully deny many individuals, including children and families, their right to seek asylum in the United States. The court’s injunction is on hold for the next 14 days, leaving the administration’s asylum ban in effect for now.

Jane Liu, Director of Policy and Litigation at the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, said:

"Today’s federal court ruling is a clear affirmation of our moral and legal obligation as a country to honor the right to seek asylum. For weeks, President Biden’s asylum ban has denied this right and forced many children and families into truly horrific and dangerous situations. Families have been left to sleep on the streets along the border after being turned away at ports of entry. To try to seek safety and protection, children and families have been forced to forge through deadly barbed razor wire put in place at the border by Texas officials and endure extreme lacerations on their bodies. Many have been left in the deadly heat without water. The asylum ban is cruel and inhumane, and has failed to create a safe, fair, and orderly immigration system. We urge the Biden administration to stop defending this illegal and inhumane ban and restore the right to asylum for all.”

Alexandra McAnarneyJuly 25, 2023