Proposed Asylum Transit Ban Capitol Comments

Senator Cory Booker

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez (both D-N.J.) and U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.-14), alongside Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX-35), and Rep. Raúl Grijalva (DAZ-07), led a bicameral group of nearly 80 lawmakers urging President Joe Biden to reverse his administration’s expansion of the failed border policy known as Title 42 and to abandon the proposed asylum “transit ban” rule.” The lawmakers also encouraged the President and his administration to work with Congress to ensure they develop safe, humane, and orderly border policies that enforce our immigration laws and uphold the right to asylum under domestic and international law.

“The administration’s announced border enforcement actions circumvent [domestic and international] law by not only expanding Title 42 beyond what is required by any court but by further implementing policies to deter and penalize people exercising their legal right to seek asylum at the border,” wrote the bicameral group of lawmakers to President Biden. “…We are therefore distressed by the deeply inconsistent choice to expand restrictions on asylum seekers after your administration determined it was no longer necessary for public health. Title 42 circumvents domestic law and international law. Human rights groups have extensively documented more than 10,000 violent attacks – including kidnappings, serious assaults, and deaths – against individuals who were expelled to or blocked in Mexico due to Title 42 since the beginning of your administration, with a disproportionate impact on Black, Brown, LGBTQ+, and Indigenous migrants.”

Sens. Booker and Menendez and Reps. Ocasio-Cortez and Casar hosted a press conference outside the Senate steps to detail their request to President Biden.

“We are further concerned by the administration’s announcement that it will be issuing a proposed rulemaking in the coming days that would require asylum seekers to first apply for asylum in a transit country instead of allowing them to seek their legal right to asylum at our southern border. This, in effect, is a transit ban. The courts rightly rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to categorically end asylum when he similarly required asylum seekers to seek asylum in transit countries,” added the lawmakers.

“Specifically, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found that the Trump-Era Third Country Transit ban violated well-settled U.S. asylum laws that prohibit turning people away unless they have ‘firmly resettled’ in a transit country, especially not if conditions in the transit country are not safe… At the time of this ruling, countries across the Western Hemisphere were unable to meet such requirements. There does not appear to be evidence to show that country conditions in transit countries have improved since the relevant appellate decision was rendered as to justify a new Third Country Transit bar. As the administration well knows, current conditions in Mexico – the primary transit country – cannot ensure safety for the families seeking refuge in the United States.”

“It is unconscionable that asylum seekers have no option but to sleep in the streets of El Paso, in overcrowded shelters in Juarez, or in tents in Reynosa, but new asylum restrictions against migrants will not solve this problem. We believe that your administration can and must continue to expand legal pathways for migrants and refugees into the United States – without further dismantling the right to seek asylum at our border. This right is a pillar of the post-war international order to which the United States has committed itself. We are ready to work with you to ensure that we can have a safe, humane, and orderly border that upholds the right to asylum,” concluded the lawmakers.

Joining Sens. Booker, Menendez, Luján, and Padilla in signing the letter in the Senate are Sens. Elizabeth Warren (DMA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tina Smith (D-MN), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Peter Welch (D-VT). Joining Reps. Ocasio-Cortez, Casar, and Grijalva in signing the letter in the House are Reps. Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Juan Vargas (DCA-52), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.-13), Nanette Barragán

(D-CA-44), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.-12), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.-16), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.-At-Large), Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.-07), Hank Johnson (D-GA-04), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.-09), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA-29), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Lou Correa (DCA-46), Cori Bush (D-MO-01), Grace Meng (D-N.Y.-06), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10), Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20), Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24), Adam Smith (DWA-09), Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05), Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13), Jim McGovern (D-MA-02), Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA-34), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Gwen Moore (D-WI-04), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Dwight Evans (D-PA-03), Becca Balint (D-VT-At-Large), Grace Napolitano (D-CA-31), Mark Takano (DCA-39), Frank Pallone (D-N.J.-06), Robert Garcia (D-CA-42), Betty McCollum (D-MN-04), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-03), Doris Matsui (D-CA-07), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-N.M.-03), Norma Torres (D-CA-35), Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10), Rob Menendez (D-N.J.-08), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Donald Payne Jr. (D-N.J.-10), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37), Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), Adam Schiff (D-CA30), Ted Lieu (D-CA-36), Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.-15), Linda Sanchez (D-CA-38), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-03), Alma Adams (D-N.C.-12), Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), Katie Porter (D-CA-47), and Summer Lee (D-PA-12).

Police: Continued From Page 1

County Narcotics Strike Force, Drug Enforcement Unit, and Internal Affairs Division.

In 2004 he was placed on special assignment with the Ocean County Prosecutors Office and one year later, he was added on special assignment with the FBI covering official corruption throughout New Jersey.

“James Riccio has had a distinguished career during which he has served in virtually every role in the department. His professionalism, expertise and dedication to being the best law enforcement professional he could be helped him climb the ranks to the position of Deputy Chief in May 2011 and ultimately led to his being appointed

Brick Township’s third Chief of Police in December 2015,” Mayor John Ducey said.

While serving as Deputy Chief, Riccio was responsible for the Patrol Division, SERT Team, Marine Unit, SET Team, Motorcycle Unit, Honor Guard and the K-9 Unit.

During this time, the department received accreditation status for the first time in 2012 by the New Jersey Chiefs of Police Association and has been renewed each assessment period since.

Within his seven years as Chief, he led many initiatives in order to provide a safer community. This includes the Blue HOPE program, the creation of dedicated patrol districts, the creation of the Neighborhood Watch Program as well as efforts to help keep local schools safe.

In addition, Chief Riccio guided the Brick Township Police Department through challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, the department consists of over 240 employees which includes 146 sworn officers and 120 unsworn and civilian employees who work together to serve the residents of Brick.

At the January 24 Council meeting, Mayor Ducey along with members of the Township Council honored Chief Riccio for his commitment and dedication to serve the community. Chief Riccio was honored with a proclamation, naming January 31, 2023 as Chief James Riccio Day in Brick Township.

Brick Elks Lodge #2151 Trick Tray Fundraiser

BRICK – Brick Elks Lodge #2151 will be hosting a Trick Tray Fundraiser on March 12. Doors open at 12 p.m.; first ticket pulled at 2 p.m.

Admission includes three gift tickets. Three categories of prize tickets available. Bring your own food and snacks; cash bar available.

For more information call Barbara at 732-740-5275 or Cherie at 908-5101803.

Aidan Huhn Named To Dean’s List

BRICK – Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg congratulates the more than 1,870 students who were named to the Fall 2022 Dean’s List.

Aidan Huhn from Brick, a Bus Admin-Finance BSBA major, was one of those recognized. To qualify for Dean’s List, a student must earn a grade point average of 3.5 or higher (based on 4.0) during the semester.

Casey Murphy Named To UVM Dean’s List

BRICK – Casey Murphy has been named to the dean’s list for the fall 2022 semester at the University of Vermont. Murphy from Brick, New Jersey is majoring in History.

To be named to the dean’s list, students must have a grade-point average of 3.0 or better and rank in the top 20 percent of their class in their respective college or school.