Refugee Congress Calls upon Biden Administration to Act Now to end 'Remain in Mexico'

For Immediate Release: August 1, 2022

WASHINGTON–Following yesterday’s decision by the Supreme Court to certify their June 30th ruling to allow for the end of the Migrant Protection Protocol (MPP), also known as ‘Remain in Mexico,’ Refugee Congress urges the Biden administration to immediately proceed with reversing this harmful policy.

The ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy, begun during the Trump administration, has forced thousands to continue to live in fear and danger, rather than residing in the safety of the United States while awaiting asylum proceedings. 

As an organization built and led by refugees and asylees, we believe that the Supreme Court’s certification of its June 30th decision is now the Biden administration’s call to action. We call upon the Biden administration to act now to end ‘Remain in Mexico,’ and to provide immediate assistance to the asylees who have been denied safety within the U.S. under the policy. 

We call upon our nation’s leaders to reject other harmful policies, including Title 42, that subject people who are seeking safety to further risk of violence or death. We can and must be a nation that welcomes people seeking refuge with dignity and humanity.

We also appeal to our nation’s elected officials to sign this letter of support, urging the President to renew the United States’ commitment to resettle refugees and restore asylum, immediately and into the next fiscal year. 

“Now that the decision has been made, there should be zero hesitation in proceeding with the immediate reversal of ‘Remain in Mexico’ and beginning to undo all the untold harm it has caused to so many. We must ensure that those seeking asylum can do so in safety. The US has a long history of leading the world in refugee protection and now is the time to step up,” said Nili Sarit Yossinger, Executive DIrector of Refugee Congress. 

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Refugee Congress is a nonpartisan advocacy organization built and led by former refugees, asylum-seekers and other vulnerable migrants to promote the well-being, integration and dignity of all vulnerable migrants. With delegates across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, we use our voices and experiences to inform and influence decision-makers on critical domestic and international issues that affect our communities.

MEDIA CONTACT: (202) 905-6238, media@refugeecongress.org