InReach Condemns New ‘Third Country’ Asylum Rule

Under a new ‘third country’ rule, which went into effect on July 16, 2019, the Trump administration has barred asylum applications from individuals at the southern border who passed through a third country on their way to the United States but did not seek asylum in that country.

This new policy violates both domestic and international law, and threatens millions of lives. InReach joins the many civil rights groups in calling for this new rule to be immediately blocked by the courts.

“The new ‘third country’ rule is the latest in a series of cruel attempts by the Trump administration to dismantle the U.S. asylum system. These restrictions are immoral, illegal and especially dangerous for persecuted LGBTQ people. It remains fundamentally unsafe for LGBTQ people to seek asylum in transit countries where those who are LGBTQ continue to face rampant violence, prejudice and discrimination due to their LGBTQ identity. With this new rule, the Trump administration is once again disregarding asylum seekers’ basic human right to safety as well as the unique needs and challenges of the LGBTQ community. ”
— Katie Sgarro, InReach Co-Founder & President

America must continue to respect the life-or-death urgency and need for asylum.