As the nation struggles against rising authoritarianism and white nationalism, we must respond to xenophobic rhetoric and attacks that seek to further fracture our country and threaten our multiracial democracy. It is essential that we combat the lies and false claims that distract from the important issues facing our nation – the need for a fair economy, a lack of affordable housing and health care, the harms of climate change – and stop disparaging and scapegoating our communities without any basis in fact.
People want to work and thrive, no matter where they were born. They want to keep their families safe – free from violence and persecution – and healthy, with access to doctors, homes they can afford, and enough food on the table. At GCIR, we support the right of individuals fleeing violence and persecution to access our asylum system, and we reject arbitrary changes to policies that foreclose opportunities for asylum seekers. We acknowledge that political violence, armed conflict, persecution, failing economies, climate change, and other factors have always resulted in the movement of people.
Part of our responsibility in this moment is to ensure that we develop strategies with both domestic and international partners to protect the right of individuals to stay in their countries of origin or, when untenable, to move. We call on philanthropy – together with public and private partners – to provide the resources needed to address the movement of people in a manner that respects due process, the sanctity of family, and the lives of vulnerable populations, including children.
America best demonstrates our values when we respect the human and civil rights of all individuals no matter where they were born, as guaranteed in the Constitution. One of our nation’s greatest strengths is our diversity, including those who have come from near and far to contribute to our democracy. As we move through a period of uncertainty, risk, and opportunity in the lead up to the November election and beyond, we must live those values by dedicating our time, effort, and resources to realizing this vision.
Photo by CRobertson on iStock, is licensed under standard license.