To be clear: seeking asylum at the border is not illegal, but turning asylum seekers away is illegal.
Providing a bridge to safety to those seeking protection is a responsibility our nation took on after the Holocaust.
Despite the rhetoric and policy efforts of this administration, U.S. and international law explicitly state that we must offer individuals a fair opportunity to request asylum.
Individuals approaching the border must first alert a Customs and Border Patrol agent that they are afraid to return to their home countries.
Those who have experienced human trafficking, rape, and domestic violence have an especially difficult time communicating these fears to armed, uniformed border guards.
For years, bona-fide asylum seekers have been released through parole or use of alternatives to detention.
Archi Pyati is chief of policy for the Tahirih Justice Center, a nonprofit advocacy organization focused on helping immigrant women and children. »
![image for This rainbow appeared and disappeared within seconds as a huge storm rolled in over the Dolomites [1550x1950] [OC]](159cf343-6aa8-5052-8ff2-bf7692a74da1_y1QfHpJ_thumb.jpg)
