FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 25, 2023
Contact: Gaia Filicori, gfilicori@vera.org, 917-696-8851

Oakland, CA – Today, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California ruled against the Biden administration, striking down regulations that have unjustly obstructed access to asylum and impeded due process for thousands of people. Megan Mack, director of the Immigration Hub at the Vera Institute of Justice, issued the following statement:

“I welcome the U.S. District Court’s decision, which restores the rights of those seeking asylum at our border. However, most of the deterrence policies that the Biden administration has relied on in the months since Title 42 expired remain in effect. These policies are not only cruel, but they are also ineffective. The right to claim asylum at the border and live and work safely in the United States while that claim is being processed is fundamental. Instead of supporting these failed policies, the Biden administration should prioritize creating pathways to legally enter and remain in the country and building the immigration system’s capacity to deliver the justice and due process every person facing removal deserves.”

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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.