Take Action Now to Protect Asylum Seekers and Vulnerable Populations

I write to urge you to take immediate action to protect the fundamental rights and dignity of asylum seekers and vulnerable populations. I respectfully request the following: 1. End the Detention of Asylum Seekers at Guantánamo Bay: The U.S. government’s practice of detaining asylum seekers, including children, at Guantánamo Bay is inhumane and unlawful. Reports from the Haitian Bridge Alliance and the International Refugee Assistance Project highlight that these individuals face indefinite detention in prison-like conditions without adequate healthcare or legal representation. Such actions contravene the principles of justice and compassion that our nation strives to uphold . 2. Suspend Deportation and Repatriation Flights for Asylum Seekers: Deportations to Haiti, Sudan, and other crisis-stricken regions exacerbate already dire humanitarian conditions. For example, half of Haiti’s population faces acute hunger amidst escalating violence, the direct result of long-term foreign interference and the dismantling of democratic institutions . In such a context, deportation is not only unconscionable but life-threatening. 3. Grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Haiti, Sudan, and the Occupied Palestinian Territories: The security situations in Gaza, the West Bank, and other regions are dire, rendering them unsafe for returnees. As Senator Peter Welch and others have emphasized, granting TPS to these regions is both a moral imperative and a practical necessity to protect lives and uphold international human rights commitments . As a nation built on the principles of justice and equality, it is essential to lead with policies that reflect these values. I implore you to champion these critical changes, ensuring that the United States remains a beacon of hope and refuge for those fleeing persecution and conflict. I look forward to your response and to seeing decisive action on these issues.