Rainbow Railroad is deeply concerned and condemns the Biden Administration’s executive order that imposes severe restrictions on the right to seek asylum, putting those seeking refuge in harm’s way.
This unlawful ban violates U.S. and international refugee laws, endangers LGBTQI+ people at risk seeking safety at the border, and breaches the Presidential Memorandum on Advancing the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons Around the World.
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The latest regulations will bar numerous individuals requiring international safeguards from seeking asylum. This will leave them in danger without a viable means of finding refuge and vulnerable to being sent back to life-threatening circumstances.
Those asserting a genuine fear of persecution in their country of origin must be granted access to secure havens and have their cases thoroughly and fairly evaluated before any consideration of deportation or expulsion.
At a time when there are more forcibly displaced people in the world than at any other time in recorded history, we need concrete solutions that uphold human rights, tackle underlying drivers of forced migration, and establish secure pathways to safety.
In over 60 countries around the world, queer and trans people face persecution, simply because of who they are or who they love. Rainbow Railroad calls for Solidarity in Pride and a collective commitment to queer liberation.
Seeking asylum is a human right. Queer and trans individuals seeking refuge in the U.S. are fleeing persecution in countries that criminalize their LGBTQI+ identity. This executive order breaks the Biden Administration’s promise to protect vulnerable LGBTQI+ refugees and asylum seekers.
Rainbow Railroad calls on the United States to uphold its international obligations and urges the government to reconsider restrictions that undermine the fundamental right to seek asylum.