.png)
June 14, 2024
President of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators and Utah House Democratic Leader Calls for Respectful Handling of Asylum Seekers and Federal Bipartisan Immigration Reform
“Today, news broke about migrants being redirected from Colorado to Utah to continue their legal asylum application process. We want to provide clarity on the story and situation. Asylum seekers have a legal right to be in the U.S. under immigration law. Those entering Utah are at various stages within the legal asylum-seeking process that they started at the U.S. border. Amidst the debates and policies regarding immigration, it's crucial to remember that asylum seekers are real people, including many children, who have endured incredibly harsh conditions and arrived here with hopes and dreams of a better life.
Congress had the opportunity to introduce bipartisan legislation that would have resolved this crisis by introducing new migrant policies. Although not a perfect bill, it would have addressed the issues we’re dealing with today. However, Congress has not acted, leaving state and local governments to handle the situation on their own. We urge our governor, the state legislature, and the entire Utah congressional delegation to leverage this opportunity and ask Congress to bring the bill to a vote.
Since the news broke, our office has been in close communication with the Denver Mayor’s Office and peers in the Colorado State Legislature. We want to emphasize that Denver is not proactively choosing to send migrants to Utah. As part of the legal asylum-seeking process, migrants are asked where they want to go. As our state continues to navigate this situation, we urge Utah’s leaders to address immigrants entering our state with humanity and respect. Instead of placing blame on one state, we need to come together. Dehumanizing these families and individuals not only harms them but also fractures our communities and fosters division. We call on Utahns to reject stereotypes and recognize the complexities of our immigration system. As a nation built by immigrants, we have always been a beacon of opportunity. Let’s uphold our values by treating all immigrants with respect and dignity while navigating these complex policy decisions.”
###
Comments