This legislative ask is designed to be shared with your members of Congress and their staff.
The United States isn’t facing a migration crisis—it’s facing migration mismanagement. As asylum seekers and migrants flee escalating humanitarian crises worldwide—including wars, environmental disasters, and human rights abuses—U.S. policymakers have responded by restricting the right to seek asylum, forcibly expelling families to the harmful conditions from which they fled, and mandating at-risk populations from around the globe wait in Mexico for the mere chance of an immigration proceeding in the United States.
Instead of continuing to funnel billions annually towards cruel enforcement, the United States should invest in humane, community-based migration management programs.
Physical barriers, drones, and an overreliance on failed deterrence policies are inefficient and costly stopgaps for real migration management practices. Instead of continuing to funnel billions annually towards cruel enforcement, the United States should invest in humane, community-based migration management programs.
Congress cannot remain stalled by unproductive proposals and entrenched negotiations. It’s time for lawmakers to shift their approach to successful and economically fruitful solutions that provide support and trauma-informed care for those seeking refuge and navigating our complex immigration system.
In the FY 2025 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, please provide:
- $100 million for Alternatives to Detention Case Management, community-based programs for asylum seekers in removal proceedings with an over 99% compliance rate with immigration appearances. Case management provides basic social services, including legal and medical assistance. It’s a humane, effective, and cost-efficient solution, with case management costing hundreds of dollars less per person daily than detention
- $4.5 billion for the Shelter and Services Programs (SSP), a grant program offering recent asylum seekers short-term shelter, food, clothing, health services, and limited transportation. SSP facilitates migration coordination and lessens the response burden on border patrol.
Co-sponsor and support:
- Destination Reception Assistance Act (S. 4861, H.R.9217), which invests in communities offering medium-term services to asylum seekers as they become self-supporting and economy-boosting community members. This would complement SSP’s short-term services.