Washington, D.C., June 17, 2020—This week, the administration published regulations that would overturn U.S. asylum law and deny protection to children and families fleeing persecution. Among other limitations, the regulations would eliminate asylum for persecution based on LBGTQ status, on gender, and by private actors such as gangs or cartels. The regulations also seek to deny asylum based on how children enter the country—something federal courts have already found to be illegal.

Our laws have long provided a safe haven to children from around the world whether they were fleeing armed conflict, domestic violence, or other life-threatening conditions. Though children who seek asylum face a rigorous process designed for adults, many have found safety under our asylum laws and made this country their home. At the Young Center, we’ve worked with hundreds of children who’ve found safe haven and escaped persecution through asylum. None could win their cases under the proposed regulations. We cannot allow this administration to make a mockery of our asylum system and send children back into harm’s way.

From day one, this administration has made the elimination of protections for immigrant children a primary goal. If finalized, the new regulations would make access to asylum virtually impossible. But seeking asylum remains a human right—a right the Young Center has repeatedly fought to protect. We will fight against these regulations and against any other policy that undermines the safety, well-being, and rights of immigrant children.