Refugee Congress Calls for an End to Migrant Bussing
For Immediate Release, September 19, 2022
Refugee Congress calls for an immediate end to the reprehensible practice of moving migrants and asylum seekers from the border to interior cities, often without their informed consent. Those seeking asylum in the United States should be received with dignity and afforded due process—not treated as a means to a political end.
Since the spring, Texas Governor Gregg Abbott has sent over 10,000 migrants on buses to Washington D.C., Chicago, and New York. Other Republican governors have recently followed suit, including Arizona Governor Doug Ducey and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis who unexpectedly sent two chartered planes carrying migrants to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts this week.
‘Exploiting humans who are at their worst and while they’re seeking safety is reprehensible,” said Nga Vuong-Sandoval, Refugee Congress Honorary Delegate. “The actions of Governors Abbott and DeSantis contradict their “Christian values” of welcoming the stranger. It reaffirms their xenophobic agenda to only score political points. We must continue to ensure that migrants can apply for asylum pursuant to U.S. Code § 1158 and welcome all those seeking refuge.”
On Thursday morning, Gov. Abbott sent two buses of migrants to Vice President Kamala Harris’ residence at the Naval Observatory in Washington D.C., tweeting “We’re sending migrants to her backyard to call on the Biden Administration to do its job and secure the border.” The governor’s political stunt left over 100 migrants stranded on sidewalks for hours, lost and confused. This sort of behavior is reckless, irresponsible, and shows no regard for the lives and needs of the migrants affected.
“How are we tolerating this kind of behavior from our elected leaders?” said Executive Director Nili Sarit Yossinger. “The actions of Governors Abbott and DeSantis are an embarrassment to everything we stand for as human beings and as a country. We are grateful to leaders across the US, from Chicago to DC, who are standing up to demonstrate what it means to be welcomers.”
As an organization, built and led by refugees and asylees, Refugee Congress knows how critical it is for communities to welcome and embrace newcomers, and we applaud the heroic efforts by volunteers in these receiving cities to provide a warm welcome to migrants bussed from the border, meet their immediate needs, and help them find their way to their final destination in the United States. These volunteers represent the best that the United States has to offer and embody our values as a nation of immigrants. Refugee Congress also applauds mayors Muriel Bowser of Washington D.C. and Lori Lightfoot of Chicago, among others, for their efforts to mobilize critical support for migrants arriving in their cities.
However, this issue must be also addressed at the highest levels of government. Refugee Congress calls on the White House to work with shelter providers, faith- and community-based housing networks, and other advocates to address short- and long-term housing needs for arriving asylum seekers. Refugee Congress also calls on Congress to appropriate multi-year, committed funding for sustainable, expanded capacity in border and interior communities for transitional housing arrangements to host asylum seekers who do not have sponsors immediately available.
###
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
