America Must Not Send Refugees Back to Putin’s Prisons

I urge you to speak out urgently against U.S. deportations of Russians back to Putin’s regime. These men and women fled political repression, forced conscription, and persecution. To send them back knowingly into danger is not only reckless - it betrays the values that have long defined America. Deportations Put Lives at Risk U.S. authorities have already deported Russian nationals, often through third countries such as Egypt, before transfer to Moscow. On arrival, people have been interrogated, detained, and mistreated. These are not allegations - they are documented realities. The fact that our government is facilitating this is unacceptable. America Must Keep Its Word International law and U.S. commitments forbid returning people to persecution or torture. Deporting dissidents and draft evaders defies the principle of non-refoulement and makes a mockery of the protections that brought them here. If America abandons these obligations, what does our word mean to the world? Due Process Is Being Undermined Reports show deportees denied fair hearings, stripped of legal counsel, or removed while asylum claims may have been unresolved. Such opaque and rushed practices reek of injustice and run counter to our basic constitutional values. Our Reputation Is on the Line America has always claimed to stand with the oppressed. Forcing people back into the grip of an authoritarian state shreds that reputation. It signals to the world that our human rights commitments are negotiable. That message is dangerous - and shameful. Congress Must Act Now • Speak publicly and condemn deportations to Russia. • Demand DHS and ICE disclose how many Russians have been deported and under what conditions. • Launch oversight and support legislation that enforces non-refoulement. • Guarantee that every Russian asylum claim receives full and fair review. America cannot defend freedom abroad while sending refugees into Putin’s prisons at home. I urge you to raise your voice and act to stop these reckless deportations now.