I-ARC Executive Director Interviewed for Ms. magazine: ‘Compassion, Not Rejection, Will Do Something About the Border’

Immigrants seeking a better life in the U.S. need compassion, not more restrictive and confusing laws that make access to asylum and other legal pathways difficult. 

For months now, the words “we must do something about the border” have been thrown about in the United States—as though the border were a leaky roof or broken window that could be quickly repaired and made new again. Listen closely, however, and it becomes apparent that many politicians mean something different altogether: To them, “doing something about the border” means preventing people from accessing border crossings and preventing them from obtaining asylum or other legal means of entry. The only “fixing” going on is the kind that makes it so people in need can be turned away.

To the thousands of people arriving at the southwest border each day, “doing something about the border” frequently translates into despair and tragedy. Many of the schemes currently being proposed—such as bringing back some form of Title 42 expulsions or gutting the asylum system—will affect real people.

The impact on those real people easily gets lost in budget talks and political squabbling. Understanding who is coming to the border can help us make better decisions about what actually needs to be done to create a functioning migration system.

Read the rest of the article HERE.