Statement on the Menendez Plan on Migration from the Americas

Statement on the Menendez Plan on Migration from the Americas
J. Kevin Appleby
Interim Director
Center for Migration Studies of New York
April 18, 2023

Today, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) offered a plan to humanely manage migration to the United States. President Biden should endorse and implement the proposal through his executive authority.

The plan approaches regional migration in a mature and comprehensive way. Instead of relying upon deterrence policies which cause human suffering and fail to address the root causes of flight, Senator Menendez recommends rights-based solutions more reflective of a nation founded upon the principles of freedom and protection from persecution.

Senator Menendez’ focus upon the creation of legal pathways for migration, the provision of humanitarian assistance to help stabilize local communities, and the protection of the due process rights of asylum seekers will help facilitate orderly migration without sacrificing human rights.

As always, Senator Menendez has engaged the immigration debate constructively, offering a substantive proposal rather than the dehumanizing rhetoric against asylum seekers used by some immigration opponents in recent years.

Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle should not only embrace his plan, but work with him on reaching a long overdue agreement on comprehensive immigration reform legislation.

April 18, 2023