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Press Release

Over 130 human rights, humanitarian, immigration and women’s rights organizations called on President Biden, the Department of Homeland Security, the Domestic Policy Council, the National Security Agency, and the Department of State to welcome Haitians following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. “At this time of great political and social uncertainty, it would be unconscionable and unlawful for the United States to refuse the entry of Haitians seeking protection at the U.S. border or to pursue removal proceedings, detention, deportation or expulsion of any Haitian nationals to conditions that can only be described as dangerous,” the groups stated in a…

July 13, 2021

Press Release

Today, the #WelcomeWithDignity campaign responded to Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s new memo pertaining to pregnant, postpartum, or nursing individuals. The memo limits the detention of nursing, postpartum, or pregnant people, but still allows ICE officials to detain them in exceptional circumstances. #WelcomeWithDignity campaign members--many of whom have previously spoken out against conditions pregnant people face in ICE custody--responded.

July 9, 2021

Press Release

Today, the #WelcomeWithDignity responded to the Government Accountability Project’s press release on whistleblower allegations of abuse at Fort Bliss. Eyewitnesses described a fire and water damage repair company with no experience of youth care being charged with the direct supervision of children, failures in case management and oversight, and thousands of children housed in dormitory tents. #WelcomeWithDignity campaign members--many of whom visited the center in question--responded:

July 8, 2021

Update

On June 22, 2021, Amnesty International USA’s Middle East and North Africa advocacy director Philippe Nassif and Mustafa Kassem Fellow Amit Dadon submitted the following statement for the record to the House Foreign Affairs Committee's Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee June 23 hearing on “COVID-19 in the MENA Region: Addressing the Impacts of the Pandemic and the Road to Recovery”. In the statement, Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) details our research on and human rights concerns relating to the COVID-19 pandemic in the region, especially as pertaining to its compounding effect of existing devastating crises and armed crises on countries'…

June 24, 2021

Press Release

This week, the Biden administration announced that it would take steps to allow additional asylum seekers to come back to the U.S. to safety after they were subjected to the Trump administration’s Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP). This decision will help thousands of immigrants who were forced to remain in Mexico while waiting for their U.S. asylum cases to be heard. Members of the Welcome With Dignity Campaign applaud this step to unwind the Trump administration’s ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy but are advocating for the Biden administration to swiftly end other cruel policies of the former administration, including mass expulsions of asylum seekers…

June 23, 2021

Report

According to a new report released today by Amnesty International USA (AIUSA), the Biden administration’s approach to people seeking safety not only falls short of expectations but is in urgent need of course correction as we approach World Refugee Day and reaffirm our commitment to supporting refugees worldwide.  

June 17, 2021

Press Release

Today, the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), Amnesty International USA (AIUSA), and the Niskanen Center published a joint paper offering recommendations to the Departments of State (DOS) and Health and Human Services (HHS) as they design an expanded community sponsorship system that includes a new private sponsorship program for refugees. President Biden’s Executive Order 14013, issued February 4, 2021, directed the Secretaries of State (DOS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to deliver a report to the White House detailing their plan to expand opportunities for communities to partner in welcoming refugees to the United States. The Secretaries were due to deliver their…

June 10, 2021

Press Release

The Interagency Task Force on the Reunification of Families released an initial progress report today. The Task Force states ‘one child was reunited with their parent in March 2021 and six children were reunited in May 2021 --a small but significant number that reflects the challenge of reuniting families that were callously separated by government officials without even an adequate paper trail. In light of these challenges, the newly launched #WelcomeWithDignity campaign appreciates these first signs of progress in addressing the harms that should have never been done, but much more needs to be done to ensure families can seek…

June 8, 2021

Press Release

Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) supports joint resolutions in the House and Senate, introduced by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders, to block the United States’ pending $735 million weapons sale to Israel. Israeli forces have carried out airstrikes in Gaza targeting residential buildings and family homes, in some cases killing entire families. These attacks may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity and must be investigated. By planning to supply hundreds of millions of dollars worth of weapons to Israel, the United States government stands to help carry out war crimes and kill or injure more people with…

May 21, 2021

Press Release

This week, Amnesty International USA Executive Director Paul O’Brien, Amnesty International Mexico Executive Director Tania Reneaum Panszi, and Amnesty International Americas Director Erika Guevara Rosas wrote to Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of her June trip to Guatemala and Mexico, urging her to work with leaders to develop a regional strategy that addresses the root causes of displacement and migration while respecting the human rights of asylum-seekers and migrants.  The Amnesty leaders also urged Vice President Harris to raise key human rights concerns including the arms trade, gender-based violence, unlawful use of force, human rights defenders, arbitrary detention, and enforced…

May 19, 2021

Press Release

Responding to reports that the Biden Administration has approved a $735 million sale in weapons to Israel, Philippe Nassif, the advocacy director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International USA, said: “President Biden’s approval of a $735 million offensive arms sale to Israel in the midst of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law perpetrated by Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups directly undermines his commitment to upholding human rights around the world. By supplying weapons that could be used to commit war crimes, the U.S. government is taking the risk of further fueling attacks against…

May 17, 2021

Press Release

Responding to reports that President Biden will maintain the 15,000 person refugee cap, the lowest refugee numbers established during the 2020 presidential determination under Donald Trump, Joanne Lin, the National Director of Advocacy and Government Relations said: “Today, President Biden is turning his back on tens of thousands of refugees around the world who have been approved to come to the United States. Communities across the United States, from local groups to faith-based institutions, are ready to welcome these refugees. As a presidential candidate, Joe Biden pledged to welcome 125,000 refugees during his first year in office. In February, Secretary…

April 16, 2021