FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 1, 2024
Media Contact: Bethelhem@undocublack.org
WASHINGTON D.C. – The UndocuBlack Network fiercely and unapologetically stands for Black liberation in all its forms. We bear witness to the glaring parallels between the historic liberation struggles for Black folks in the U.S. and the urgent challenges and multifaceted discriminations faced by Black undocumented migrants today. The echoes of systemic injustice persist — fueled by harmful, xenophobic, and white supremacist policies. This year, as we celebrate and honor the legacies of our ancestors, we continue to stand on the shoulders of Black revolutionaries to continue the sacred work of Black liberation.
President Biden's recent stunt to embrace a white-supremacist approach to immigration policy is an unsurprising setback in the ongoing struggle for Black liberty. The harmful policies, such as the ones currently being negotiated and have been reported to include expedited removals and a plan to "shut down the border," will harm Black asylum seekers and perpetuate the violent cycle of disproportionately detaining and deporting them. This move, similar to his predecessor's multiple attacks on the right to asylum, inflicts harm by implementing policies that disproportionately target and adversely impact Black immigrant communities.
This Black History Month, we demand the Biden Administration and policymakers to reject harmful policies and to affirm their position in safeguarding the dignity and rights of Black communities, irrespective of their country of origin and immigration status. We acknowledge this country's brutal legacy of state-sanctioned physical and systemic violence against Black communities and the blatant replication of past struggles.
Through our community organizing, unwavering commitment to healing justice, protecting our overall wellness, dedication to shifting harmful narratives about our people, building strategic alliances, and commitment to advocating for more just policies, we remain dedicated to a non-negotiable fight for the sanctity of Black lives.
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