1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

The Trump administration's decision to grant expedited refugee status to Afrikaners from South Africa while halting admissions for those fleeing war and famine in places like Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo is deeply concerning. Granting preferential treatment based on race undermines America's founding ideals of equality and goes against the principles of an equitable immigration system. It is unacceptable to discriminate against refugees based on their ethnicity or country of origin. Every person deserves protection from persecution, regardless of their race or background. The administration should reconsider this misguided policy that favors white applicants over others facing dire circumstances and revise its approach to uphold humanitarian values and human rights for all. We call on the administration to reopen refugee admissions for vulnerable groups worldwide and process claims through a fair and impartial system. Discriminating against refugees from certain regions while expediting cases for others based solely on their race is an injustice that betrays America's commitment to human rights and equal protection under the law. A just immigration policy must treat all people with dignity and compassion.