Weeks after publicly supporting Kamala Harris' presidential candidacy, UnidosUS, the largest Latino civil rights organization in the U.S, has introduced a plan aimed at addressing the concerns of Latino voters who prioritize a secure and well-managed border.
The three-point plan, which the organization says is designed to be firm, fair, and free of cruelty, outlines specific measures to improve border management, provide fair treatment to asylum seekers, and reject inhumane immigration policies.
UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía summed up the objectives of the plan in a press release:
"While relief for undocumented immigrants who have been living in our communities for years remains the top priority for the Hispanic electorate, UnidosUS is seeing for the first time a major rise in frustration with the situation at the border. Latino voters see securing the border and helping immigrants both as elements to restore order. Our policy plan reflects what Latino voters say they want more than anything else on the border: an approach that is firm, fair and free of cruelty."
The first point of the plan emphasizes the need for firm and enforceable rules at the border. In that regard, UnidosUS advocates for significant investment in border infrastructure, including enhanced technology and staffing at ports of entry. "Congress must sufficiently fund ports of entry and Customs & Border Protection (CBP) field offices with enough staff and facilities to target the movement of illicit substances and human smugglers across the border," explains the project.
The point also proposes giving the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) the authority to prioritize asylum cases for individuals seeking protection at official ports of entry while managing the release of migrants in a more organized manner to ensure receiving communities are adequately prepared.
The second point focuses on providing migrants with fair opportunities to enter the United States legally. "The Hispanic electorate wants the U.S. to partner with other countries to expand opportunities to seek protection elsewhere and process asylum applications outside of the U.S.", explains the organization.
In that regard, the project calls for expanding legal pathways for migration, including the continuation of parole programs for specific nationalities and the creation of regional visa processing centers outside the U.S. The plan also suggests that asylum officers should be responsible for the initial adjudication of asylum cases, something that could reduce backlogs and ensure the integrity of the asylum system.
The third point of the plan highlights the importance of investing in a cruelty-free immigration infrastructure. "Hardline immigration policies like finishing the border wall or deporting all undocumented immigrants receive very little support within the Hispanic electorate," explains UnidosUS, adding that "Latino voters want policymakers to provide a path to citizenship for long-residing undocumented immigrants and support cities receiving new arrivals."
In practical terms, the organization backs proposals that support self-sufficiency for migrants and provides relief for long-residing undocumented individuals. UnidosUS recommends that Congress allocate funding to local governments and legal service providers to assist migrants with work permits, asylum claims, and other relief benefits.
Additionally, the plan proposes the creation of an "immigration FEMA" within DHS to manage large-scale migration events, with a permanent emergency funding source to support state and local governments.
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