Over the last few weeks, we have witnessed the governors of Texas, Florida, and Arizona sponsor the cruel and craven relocation of asylum seekers to New York, Martha’s Vineyard, and Washington, D.C. As I watched people in those receiving communities welcome these newcomers with generosity and resources, I reflected on the fundamental right to move freely. As described by the Immigrant Movement Visioning Process, the freedom to move means that “all people should have the freedom to move equitably and be welcomed,” and that “immigration should be a safe and empowering choice that is available to all, rather than an act of desperation.” And, just as migration is a natural part of the human experience, so too is the right for individuals, families, and communities to stay once they have migrated – to establish roots and belong in a place they call home
