Tell Biden #NoAsylumBan

The Biden administration recently closed public comments on its proposed rule resurrecting an asylum ban at the border. This repackaged Trump-era policy would block most people from exercising their legal right to seek asylum at the border, placing refugee families, children, and adults in harm’s way.

Advocates, organizations, and allies mobilized to submit over 50,000 comments ahead of the government's deadline on March 27. CGRS's comment can be read here.

Information about the rule - including talking points and templates - can be found below. Though the comment period is closed, it's important the we keep speaking out and telling the administration: #NoAsylumBan

For Individuals

• Use our click-to-comment campaign noasylumban.us to submit a public comment opposing the proposed rule.
• CGRS's webinar, "FAQs on the Proposed Asylum Ban Rule," provides an overview of the rule and how to submit a public comment. Advocates can access a recording of the webinar via CGRS's TA Library. Individuals not registered with CGRS can request a copy using this form.
• Immigration Equality has prepared a template comment focused on the rule's disparate impact on LGBTQ+ and HIV+ asylum seekers.
• The National Immigrant Justice Center has prepared a template comment for attorneys and legal practitioners.

For Organizations

CGRS, Human Rights First, the National Immigrant Justice Center, Tahirih Justice Center, and the ACLU have prepared a template for organizational comments.

Spread the Word

• Encourage your friends to speak out on social media using our #NoAsylumBan and 10 day countdown toolkits.
• Use the #WelcomeWithDignity campaign's meme toolkit to inject some humor into the conversation.

More Information

• In an explainer for The Conversation, CGRS Director Karen Musalo breaks down what the administration's proposed asylum ban rule would do, what its impact on people seeking asylum would be, and how the rule violates our laws and treaty obligations to protect refugees.
• In a recent piece for Just Security, CGRS Director Karen Musalo explains how an asylum transit ban violates U.S. and international law, and why common countries of transit (i.e., the countries people pass through en route to the U.S. border) remain profoundly unsafe for asylum seekers.
• "How To Seek Asylum (Under Biden’s Proposed Asylum Transit Ban), In 12 Not-At-All-Easy Steps," from the American Immigration Council's Dara Lind, illustrates the absurdity of the proposed rule which, contrary to the administration's protests, amounts to a near-complete ban on asylum at the border.