New York, NY, January 22, 2025 —  The International Rescue Committee (IRC) reiterates that a safe, fair and organized asylum system should be a priority. The actions invoked by Executive Order, including the suspension of entry of asylum seekers, ending the use of the CBP One app to schedule appointments for asylum seekers, and reinstating the Remain in Mexico policy, will block people fleeing conflict and persecution from protection. The impact of these new decisions will further spur confusion and increase harm to asylum seekers by placing them at the risk of exploitation by criminal actors, setting back efforts for an orderly and humane U.S. asylum process. 

The experience of the IRC and partners has shown that humane and orderly processes across the region benefit host, transit, and destination countries as well as those seeking protection. The IRC has cited a significant body of evidence to show that deterrence-based policies fail to stop people from seeking safety, and instead create opportunities for organized criminal organizations and smugglers to exploit people on the move. 

The IRC has seen how opening safe and accessible pathways to protection tends to decrease irregular migration. While the CBP One application had its flaws, the scheduling of appointments at border ports of entry permitted some asylum seekers to safely present themselves to U.S. officials, avoiding dangerous border crossings. The usage of this application also enabled government officials to plan for arrivals, allocate resources efficiently, and conduct necessary background checks.

Hans Van de Weerd, Senior Vice President for Resettlement, Asylum and Integration (RAI) at the IRC said: “We know that policies that block access don’t stop asylum seekers from trying to gain safety for themselves and their families. Instead, this approach enables criminals, smugglers and other bad actors and risks the lives of vulnerable individuals. Evidence shows that increasing safer pathways reduces dangerous, irregular crossings.” 

Under the Refugee Convention and US law, the United States has legal obligations to provide refugees the legal right to seek safety in America. People seeking asylum, like everyone else, have a right to due process - the fair consideration of their request for protection. The United States has long respected these obligations to prevent refugees from being sent back to life-threatening situations. 

 

See here for more on asylum and the IRC’s Q&A and explainer on the topic.