Immigration advocates urge Schumer to abandon reconsideration of border deal

More than 100 immigration and civil rights groups are calling on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, R-New York, to abandon plans to bring the bipartisan Senate immigration deal, which was rejected by Republicans earlier this year, to the floor.

In a letter Thursday, the groups said the bill “represents a grave betrayal of immigrant communities.”

Senate Republicans blocked the move in February after former President Trump criticized the policy as something only “stupid people” would support. The bill was being negotiated by Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), along with Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.).

However, the bill was also opposed by various immigration allies because it would severely deny the right to asylum for people fleeing danger or persecution.

The measure would raise the “credible fear” threshold that asylum seekers must meet in order to proceed further with their application.

It would also only allow migrants to apply for asylum if they cross a port of entry, but that option would also be suspended if certain border crossing restrictions are triggered.

“Among many concerns, this bill would for the first time allow the U.S. government to deny people the opportunity to apply for asylum at the border based solely on the number of border crossings,” a group led by human rights groups said. is written in a letter. beginning.

The letter further claims that Schumer was critical of Trump-era efforts to restrict immigration, saying, “Instead of supporting proposals that would exacerbate challenges at the border, Congressional leaders need to invest in building capacity.” management.

Schumer told colleagues he plans to vote on the bill next week.

And this week, on the Senate floor, he called on Republicans to join Democrats in supporting it.

“We’re not going to walk away from the effort to solve the border problem. We’re hoping that Republicans will change course and join us. We’re not going to just make a lot of speeches, a lot of blaming, a lot of blaming. Instead of pointing fingers and pointing fingers, let’s get something done. This is a bipartisan bill in our hands, and when we showed it to a lot of Republicans, they said, ‘Wow.’ Schumer said.

“Republicans backed off until Donald Trump said he wanted to leave the border in chaos to win re-election. Well, it’s embarrassing.”

The American Civil Liberties Union, Immigration Hub, International Refugee Assistance Project, and National Immigrant Justice Center are among the groups that urged Schumer to shelve the bill.

Schumer first considered the bill in response to demands from Republicans that aid to Ukraine be considered only in conjunction with immigration reform.

But Republicans have since reversed course on that demand, passing an aid bill for Ukraine and other allies last month.

“Aid to Ukraine is not the issue right now. Sending this harmful and counterproductive bill to a vote would still be a grave betrayal of immigrant communities,” the group wrote.