Sixty-Five Law Makers Write to President Biden Urging Relief for Black and Brown Immigrants

WASHINGTON, DC – Sixty-five law makers have written to President Joe Biden urging his administration to prioritize much-needed relief for immigrant communities, particularly those from the African and Caribbean Diasporas.

Caribbean American Democratic Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants and vice chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), is among the law makers who wrote to Biden on Monday highlighting the moral imperative to address the challenges faced by Black migrants and families, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive immigration reform.

The congresswoman, who represents the predominantly Caribbean 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York, aid the letter further calls on the administration to exercise existing legal authorities to bestow Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations and redesignations for Caribbean and African countries, protect Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients under threat of the courts, and address the unacceptably long green card and work permit backlogs.

“As we commemorate Immigrant Heritage Month and Caribbean American Heritage Month in June, we write in solidarity with America’s immigrant communities – particularly those from African and Caribbean Diasporas who have long been an integral part of our society.

“We urge you to heed our moral imperative to provide much-needed relief to these individuals, many of whom have resided in the United States for years and have made significant contributions to our communities.

“By exercising your existing legal authorities, we request you provide relief to these communities who yearn for stability, justice, and the opportunity to contribute to our great nation,” the law makers wrote.

“This month, as we honor the rich tapestry of immigrant experiences that have shaped our nation, we are reminded of another milestone – the 11th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. First announced on June 15, 2012, DACA has persisted as a beacon of hope for countless undocumented individuals and their families, including Black immigrants.

“It remains an incredibly successful and popular policy, yet the threat it faces in the courts continues to cast a shadow of uncertainty over the lives and aspirations of hundreds of thousands of immigrants,” they added in the letter.

The congressional representatives noted that Black immigrants are the fastest-growing immigrant group in the US, and that they bring unique perspectives, diverse talents and valuable skills that enrich the country.

“They have forged deep connections and are an integral part of our country,” they said.

According to Pew Research Center in Washington, D.C., the Black immigrant population has increased by 475 per cent over the last 40 years, and today more than one-fifth of America’s Black population are either foreign-born or second generation.

The Center also said that there are about 600,000 undocumented Black immigrants in the US, many of whom are long-term residents with strong family and community ties.

“However, despite their boundless contributions, Black immigrants often encounter systemic barriers and confront disproportionate challenges within our immigration system,” the congressional representatives said.

For example, they said Black immigrants are more likely to be detained and deported based on alleged criminal offenses compared with other immigrant groups.

In fact, while comprising fewer than nine per cent of the undocumented population, the congressional representatives said Black immigrants represent 20 per cent of all immigrants facing deportation due to criminal issues.

In addition, the law makers said certain Black immigrant communities experience discriminatory treatment in bond determinations, with higher bond amounts imposed on individuals from Haiti, among others.

Furthermore, they said Black immigrants from Caribbean countries are disproportionately denied their right to asylum.

“The policies of the Trump administration only served to exacerbate the harmful impacts of the long-standing disparities within our immigration system.

“From a discriminatory travel ban targeting African countries, to family separation policies that inflicted long-lasting harm on Black immigrant families arriving at the border, to frequent attempts to terminate Temporary Protected Status for foreign nationals from places like Haiti, Black immigrant communities seem to disproportionately face any number of burdens not placed on other immigrant groups.

“These measures instilled fear and disrupted the lives of countless individuals and families, and, to this day, we continue to hear about the lasting effects of these policies from our constituents,” they added.

For those reasons and more, the congressional representatives urged Biden to advance policies that promote immigration relief for longtime residents  as “a crucial step towards addressing these concerns and restoring community trust.

“Further, we urge your administration to utilize all available executive and agency powers to provide immediate relief and protection for undocumented immigrants, including those from African and Caribbean Diasporas.”

Clarke said the letter has received the support and endorsement from a number of immigration advocacy groups including The Immigration Hub, African Communities Together, UndocuBlack, Haitian Bridge Alliance, Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI) and Border Network for Human Rights.