CUNY Law fought back hard against the proposed regulations eviscerating asylum protections by submitting multiple public comments in opposition to the policy. Prof. Calvo highlighted the numerous ways the regulation does not comport with the Immigration and Nationality Act, Prof. Goldscheid specifically narrowed in on the damage the policy would bring to those fleeing from private actor violence, while Profs. Arastu and Peleg worked with students Andy Morrison, Isadora Jaffee, Erik Schlein, and Nikita Patel to draft a comment on behalf of the Asylum Law and Representation Course, CUNY Law’s Immigrant and Non-Citizen Rights Clinic, and the Dilley Delegation.
“I appreciated the opportunity to contribute to a strongly-worded public comment opposing the Trump Administration’s racist assault on asylum seekers,” said part-time student, Andy Morrison. “As we continue to advocate on behalf of immigrants, refugees, and people seeking asylum in the U.S., I am proud that the CUNY School of Law community is speaking out against Donald Trump’s noxious policies and lawless actions.”
“The proposed regulations threaten to hollow out asylum protections already under assault. The impact promises to make a fraught situation even more dangerous and inhumane for people desperately in need of asylum protections,” notes Erik Schlein. “I’m proud and thankful for the opportunity CUNY Law and Professor Arastu have given us to stand against these inhumane and unjust proposals.”
CUNY student Isadora Jaffee also provided additional support to the Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center in El Paso, Texas with which CUNY Law students are working this summer through the Asylum Law and Representation course. “Reading through the case list for Las Americas and seeing what each of their clients’ asylum claims were based on taught me so much about how much this proposed rule would destroy the chances for so many folks to escape not only the persecution in their country but the daily dangers of being in the MPP program forcing them to wait in Mexico,” shares Isadora. “I feel very lucky to attend CUNY Law, where as always, we are connected to impactful work against the daily attacks on vulnerable individuals.”