Border Restrictions Threaten Human Rights, Nonprofits Need Support 

Philanthropic Leadership Needed to Protect Vulnerable Families on the US-Mexico Border

In response to President Biden's recent executive order, Hispanics in Philanthropy shared the following, calling for a multi-sector response.

“This executive order gives U.S. Customs and Border Protection the authority to suspend entry and deport those seeking asylum across the US-Mexico border. There are so few humanitarian exceptions to this ruling that HIP and our network are alarmed that the closure will be triggered at just 2,500 people per day. With average daily encounters of around 6,000, this executive order will abruptly halt the asylum process for so many seeking protection.

“This new policy threatens to violate the fundamental human rights and safety of countless vulnerable individuals fleeing violence, persecution, and dire conditions, including those caused by climate change.

“A few weeks ago, in partnership with Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees, we hosted a visit for funders to the Rio Grande Valley. Nonprofit leaders from McAllen, Texas, and Reynosa, Mexico, who work to provide essential services, legal aid, and humanitarian assistance to asylum seekers, shared they often operate at or beyond capacity due to the ongoing impacts of migration. With this executive order poised to exacerbate an already precarious situation, these organizations urgently need additional resources and funding to continue their work.

“We need philanthropic institutions, the public, and the private sector to step up and ensure that these frontline organizations have the necessary support to protect the rights, dignity, and well-being of those impacted by this executive order. Our collective commitment to upholding human rights and providing support must transcend political agendas and prioritize the safety and well-being of all people on the move. ”

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