National Council of Jewish Women
2055 L Street, NW, Suite 650
Washington, DC 20036

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 2, 2021

Media Contact: Sarah Garfinkel, West End Strategy Team
sgarfinkel@westendstrategy.com; 202-765-4290

National Council of Jewish Women Hails End of “Remain in Mexico” Program

WASHINGTON — National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) Chief Policy Officer Jody Rabhan issued the following statement in support of the Biden administration’s end to the Migrant Protection Protocols, also known as “Remain in Mexico,” requiring asylum seekers from Central America to wait in Mexico during their asylum proceedings:

“National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) welcomed President Biden’s suspension of the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) on his first day in office, and hail yesterday’s announcement to end this xenophobic and dangerous program, which barred more than 70,0000 asylum seekers from entering the United States, once and for all. No longer will families be forced to wait at our doorstep in unsafe conditions or sent back to violent situations they were trying to escape. Instead, women, families, and children will be welcomed with dignity as they safely wait for their asylum cases to be heard.

“The horrors and traumas faced by people seeking asylum cannot be understated. It is on all of us, working with Congress and the administration, to transform the way we respond to and protect those forced to flee their homes who are among the most vulnerable. This means in addition to terminating MPP, the administration must also end the misuse of the Title 42 policy, instigated under the former administration, to block, expel, and separate asylum seekers under the guise of protecting the country from COVID-19.

“NCJW advocates around the country, informed by our history of being “strangers in a strange land,” look forward to working with our lawmakers and the administration to address the root causes of migration, invest in support for asylum seekers instead of detention, and build a more just, comprehensive, humane, and equitable immigration system that ensures dignity and protection for those seeking safety at our border and more fully aligns with our nation’s values.”

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National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a grassroots organization of 180,000 volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms. Through a program of education, community service, education, and advocacy, our advocates across the country create lasting social change on our key issues of the federal courts; reproductive health, rights, and justice, and voter engagement. More information on Facebook and on Twitter at @NCJW.