WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a tweet late Monday night, President Donald Trump announced plans to temporarily suspend all immigration to the United States, citing the COVID-19 pandemic and “invisible enemies.”

In response, Michelle Brané, senior director of the migrant rights and justice program at the Women’s Refugee Commission, issued the following statement:

“President Trump’s tweet late Tuesday night is the latest in a growing number of examples of how this administration is using the pandemic as an excuse to violate the rights of migrant and asylum-seeking families at the border. Instead of working to ensure safe — and tested — processes for both asylum and immigration, he is talking about doubling down on executive actions that exacerbate threats to families at the U.S. border with Mexico.

“His pending decision to halt immigration, however temporary he claims it might be, will harm families and children, and has nothing to do with keeping our nation safe, but is all about deflecting attention from his failures managing the pandemic within our own borders.”

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