FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GALEO Impact Fund and Georgia Based Groups Denounce Senator Warnock’s Opposition to Ending Title 42
Atlanta, Georgia — In a recent interview with CNN Chief Congressional Correspondent asked Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock about the announcement by the Biden administration to end Title 42, Senator Warnock stated, “It is the wrong time.”
The Senator’s statement is deeply concerning to us, considering our commitment to supporting policies that ensure the humane treatment of migrant communities. As a result, we released the following letter to Senator Warnock imploring him to support our community as we supported him in his election.
In response to this letter Jesús Rubio, Mi Familia Vota Georgia State Director, released the following statement:
“After being sworn into the office of U.S Senator for Georgia, Senator Warnock promised a more humane approach towards immigration policy and our community stood by the Senator. We now ask him to stand by our community and support the Biden administration’s decision to End Title 42. Nearly two million migrants have been expelled over a public health measure that the CDC no longer considers necessary. We ask Senator Warnock to do right by the same communities that supported him when he needed our support.”
Jerry Gonzalez, CEO of GALEO & GALEO Impact Fund said:
“We do hope U.S. Senator Warnock will clarify his statements and support ending the Trump Administration’s disastrous Title 42. Senator Warnock promised a more compassionate approach to immigration and his preliminary comments do not reflect that promise he made to us earlier.”
Gilda “Gigi” Pedraza, Executive Director of Latino Community Fund (LCF Georgia) said:
“Title 42 was implemented to deny asylum seekers their legal right to have their case heard using a public health rationale as an excuse. Thousands of experts in the field have denounced this reason as baseless, the CDC is now also recommending the policy is rescinded. At a time when COVID-19 restrictions are being removed and the country is taking in people from all over the world as visitors, immigrants, and refugees, it makes no sense to continue upholding this draconian policy. This is the right time to start moving towards fair and common-sense immigration policies. We welcome the announcement from the Biden Administration and expect both our Senators to support it.”
Luis Zaldivar, Georgia State Director for CASA & Casa in Action said:
“Senator Warnock has the duty to protect immigrants and asylum seekers by standing against anti-asylum legislation that may threaten the end of Title 42 and by holding this administration accountable to conduct a fair and efficient wind-down of the program. As Title 42 ends, we expect the Senator to be an ally in supporting the Biden administration in the difficult and absolutely essential work of ensuring the safety and dignity of migrants, halting all expulsions of asylum seekers to danger, and working in close coordination with groups and communities who stand ready to welcome them.”
Shelly Anand, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Sur Legal Collaborative:
“Senator Warnock’s comments about the Biden Administration’s decision to end the harmful Title 42 policy are beyond disappointing and shows us that he has much to learn about the history of the U.S Mexico Border and its legacy of anti-Blackness, racism, and xenophobia. I am hopeful that he will take the time to speak with our community and come to the conclusion that Title 42 is harmful and should never have been implemented in the first place. My hope is that he will join us and welcome immigrants seeking asylum in this country, as that is their legal right under both US and international law, and move away from harmful xenophobic rhetoric around immigrants being a threat to our safety.” Mi Familia Vota is a national civic engagement organization that unites Latino, immigrants, and allied communities to promote social and economic justice through citizenship workshops, voter registration, and voter participation. Mi Familia Vota has operations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, and Texas.
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