We are petitioning that ICE halts all deportation and harmful immigration enforcement activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Continued arrests limit immigrant families and communities from accessing services necessary for their health. Detention centers are crowded, unclean, and unsafe putting detainees at higher risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 and spreading it to neighboring countries. In late April, people deported to Guatemala made up 20% of all COVID-19 cases in the country. It is time to open our eyes to these inhumane happenings and put a pause on further damage during this global pandemic.  

This petition is in support of the “Immigration Enforcement Moratorium Act”  as introduced by Congresswoman Veronica Escobar and Frederica Wils. This act would:

• Halt deportations of noncitizens during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide for release on orders of supervision for people who have received removal orders to prevent prolonged post-removal-order detention.

• Halt arrests and apprehensions of noncitizens physically present in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Halt in-person check-ins, service of Notices to Appear, and referrals for 1325/26 prosecutions 

• At the border, provide for processing and parole of individuals who make claims for relief under immigration laws.

• Suspend all in-person court proceedings, and, for detained individuals, establish a procedure for conducting custody determinations and provide for telephonic hearings provided the respondent requests such a hearing in writing.

• Prohibit federal funds from being used to implement the CDC order powering automatic expulsions of asylum-seekers and unaccompanied children at the border.

Risky and unlawful U.S. immigration practices during COVID-19 are at large. In recognition of the risks presented by immigration enforcement during COVID-19, the UN Refugee Agency, and many other migrations and human rights agencies have called on all UN member states to halt deportations. Many countries around the globe have previously halted deportations and continued processing asylum seekers. The U.S. can and must do better.

Join us as we take a stance in support of the Immigration Deportation Moratorium Act, as we fight against the cruel and unnatural maltreatment from ICE in our nation.