AILA Executive Director Benjamin Johnson Responds to the Tragic Loss of Life in Ciudad Juárez Detention Facility

Washington, DC - Benjamin Johnson, Executive Director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, responds to the tragic loss of life in the Ciudad Juárez detention facility with the following statement:

“The tragic deaths of at least 38 people at a detention center in Mexico is a stark reminder of the heart-breaking consequences of an 'out of sight, out of mind' border policy. The U.S. and Mexican governments must work together to ensure the safety of those who are seeking asylum. Both governments’ policies and procedures must offer steadfast protection of asylum seekers’ basic human rights. Looking ahead, the Biden administration’s proposed transit rule risks causing more harm as people are blocked from their legal right to seek asylum and forced back into Mexico.”