The “Circumvention of Lawful Pathways” rule, the Biden administration’s new immigration order, is in many ways as draconian in rejecting asylum claims as the pandemic-era Title 42 that it replaces. The new rule stands to dangerously dismantle many of the protections our current laws afford. It is clear that the new measure contradicts our moral and human rights obligations and should be scrapped.
I am proud to serve as a member of the rabbinic human rights organization T’ruah, and as a rabbi in a Jewish social service agency where asylum seekers as young as 14 are able to find comprehensive support, including holistic trauma-informed counseling, safe housing, and access to education.
Under the new rule, people must first apply for asylum in bordering countries before asking for protection from the United States, even if they would not actually be safe. Why are we exposing those in need of refuge to even more opportunities for danger, severe illness or even death? Instead, our policies should prioritize the protection of human life above all else.
