National Week of Action in Support of Black Migrants
Image from Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI)
In October, the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI) called for a National Week of Action in Support of Black Migrants, with the goal to highlight how U.S. immigration policies impact black migrants. RMIAN joined efforts to bring awareness to the lived experience of Black migrants, calling on the Biden Administration to protect black migrants.
Black immigrants are disproportionately affected by immigration enforcement. Over-policing of Black communities results in the disproportionate detention and deportation of Black immigrants—who make up only 7% of non-citizens in the U.S., yet account for a full 20% of those facing deportation on alleged criminal offenses. While detained, Black immigrants are 6x more likely to be locked in solitary confinement—an act of punishment outlawed in many state prison systems yet continually used by ICE.
Over the last month, the world bore witness to the unconscionable images of U.S. border patrol agents whipping Black migrants. Amid these abuses, the Biden Administration pushed ahead with the deportations of around 10,000 Haitians and other Black asylum seekers at our border. The Administration continues to use Title 42 to expel individuals at our border, denying them their lawful right to seek asylum, despite public health experts publicly stating that there is no evidence this policy prevents the spread of COVID-19.
We encourage our friends and colleagues to read the articles and studies below on these issues and others facing Black migrants and to call on the Biden Administration to #DefendBlackImmigrants