“The United States must uphold its commitment under international treaties relating to refugees and asylum seekers and stop this unfair deportation,” lawmakers said.
Some members of the United States Congress has called on the Donald Trump administration to halt the deportation of some African asylum seekers starting today.
Six Democratic lawmakers sent a joint statement to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday morning, saying the country’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is forcing asylum seekers in Africa to sign a voluntary deportation order, an act they describe as a gross violation of human rights. .
Some of the asylum seekers are activists who have fled their respective countries to escape arrest or extrajudicial killings of government forces.
The legislators aroused their suspicion of foul play by the immigration office and the fear of imminent death on some of the asylum seekers in their countries. They called on the administration to halt the deportation flight scheduled for Wednesday until the new government is sworn in and the demands made.
“Our offices have been warned that Afrikaans asylum seekers from Cameroon and other African countries, many of which were allegedly improperly forced by ICE to sign voluntary deportation orders, will be deported tomorrow morning. Upon their arrival in their designated countries, many people will be in imminent danger of death. Their deportation must be postponed until the new administration is sworn in and the claims can be thoroughly reviewed.
“Everything else is outrageous and unacceptable. We plan to introduce a measure this week to condemn this deportation should it take place. The United States must uphold its commitment under international treaties on refugees and asylum seekers and stop this unjust deportation. , “the legislators led by Karen Bass, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on Africa, wrote jointly.
Trump has imposed strict policies against immigrants and asylum seekers, such as work restrictions and the delay in authorizing work permits to one year after the application from the usual 150 days.
Other lawmakers who signed the joint statement were Bennie Thompson, Shelia Jackson-Lee, Judy Chu, Joaquin Castro and Jamie Raskin.