In reaction to President Trump’s proposal tonight of a rule that limits the ability of migrants to seek asylum at the United States border, Vicki Gass, Senior Policy Advisor for Central America at Oxfam America, made the following statement:
“This rule is as heartless as it is illegal. All people fleeing violence and persecution should be able to exercise their right to seek asylum in our country. To prevent them from doing so is a violation of international law.
“Oxfam has been working in Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua for more than three decades and we understand that families are fleeing the region because they have no other choice. The violence, instability, corruption, impunity, lack of opportunity, and food insecurity resulting from poor public policies and the impact of climate change are the push factors forcing people to leave.
“Attempts to use fear tactics and hate speech, and the criminalization of migrants by governments is dangerous and makes political pawns out of the innocent and vulnerable men, women, and children leaving their homes out of desperation.”
