President Trump is expected to sign a proclamation today to send the National Guard to the US-Mexico border until a wall is built. Yesterday, he also called for a renewed push for immigration restrictions that would make it more difficult to apply for protection in the United States.
Marselha Gonçalves Margerin, advocacy director for the Americas at Amnesty International USA, issued the following statement:
“Once again, President Trump has openly dismissed the desperate situation of people fleeing violence and persecution who only want to find a safe place for themselves and their families. Sending the National Guard to the border could put the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people in grave danger. Turning our backs on desperate families does not make anybody safer. The administration should focus on finding compassionate solutions addressing why people are running for their lives.”