Washington, D.C.—In light of possible action by the White House to shut the Southern border and deny asylum to asylum seekers, Michelle Brané, director of the Migrant Rights and Justice program at the Women’s Refugee Commission issued the following statement:

“The actions that President Trump is reportedly considering violate international human rights law. Seeking asylum is a legal right. Seeking safety is a human right. Families seeking safety are not a threat to our national security. This administration is intentionally undermining well-established procedures for safely vetting and reviewing asylum claims, which is both illegal and flies in the face of our national traditions. This is about the continued gaslighting of the country to perpetuate fear for political gain – and that is morally repugnant.”