Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that it would no longer enroll people in the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) program, which deprived thousands of people of their right to seek asylum in the United States. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Biden administration could end the program, and yesterday a district court lifted the injunction that had blocked this termination. The Vera Institute of Justice issued the following statement:

“We welcome this long overdue announcement by the Biden administration. The Migrant Protection Protocols policy fundamentally violated the human rights of thousands of people, forcing people to remain in Mexico while seeking asylum in the United States; exposing them to violence, rape, and murder; and cutting them off from access to legal representation and other life-saving services.

We urge the administration to wind down MPP quickly and to work to ensure that due process is provided to the people who were enrolled in the program. The Biden administration must do everything it can to provide justice for those affected by this policy and work with Congress to build an immigration system rooted in human dignity.”

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About the Vera Institute of Justice
The Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and policy experts working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they’re fair for all. Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change. We develop just, antiracist solutions so that money doesn’t determine freedom; fewer people are in jails, prisons, and immigration detention; and everyone is treated with dignity. Vera’s headquarters is in Brooklyn, New York, with offices in Washington, DC, New Orleans, and Los Angeles. For more information, visit vera.org.