Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The Completely Unacceptable Treatment Of Haitian Asylum Seekers At Our Southern Border

Washington, D.C. –  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor regarding the mistreatment of Haitian asylum-seekers at our southern border, calling on the Biden administration to end the Trump-era policies resulting in the expulsion of asylum seekers. Senator Schumer also urged the Biden Administration to uphold our refugee laws and immediately put a stop to these expulsions. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

We’ve all seen these horrible images coming from our southern border as Haitian asylum-seekers—simply looking to escape tyranny and the problems that they have in their country—have been met at our doorstep with unimaginable indignity.

Images of Haitian migrants being hit with whips and other forms of physical violence is completely unacceptable. This behavior must be addressed and we must provide accountability. The images turn your stomach. It must be stopped, this kind of violence.

Right now, I am told there are four flights scheduled to deport these asylum seekers back to a country that cannot receive them. Such a decision defies common sense. It also defies common decency and what America is all about. Remember that harbor—that Lady in the harbor in the city in which I live.

I urge President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas to immediately put a stop to these expulsions and to end this Title 42 policy at our southern border. We cannot continue these hateful and xenophobic Trump policies that disregard our refugee laws. We must allow asylum seekers to present their claims at our ports of entry and be afforded due process.

I commit to work with this administration to providing the resources so that we can establish safe, orderly, and humane processes for those seeking protection.

Again, the policies that are being enacted now—and the horrible treatment of these innocent people who have come to the border—must stop immediately.

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