The Arab-American Family Support Center (AAFSC) stands in solidarity with immigrant communities facing unprecedented uncertainty due to recent federal policy changes and harmful rhetoric. As an organization dedicated to supporting immigrant and refugee families for over three decades, we are deeply troubled by actions that undermine the dignity and wellbeing of those who have sought safety and opportunity in the United States.
Recent decisions to pause green card processing for refugees and asylees, halt immigration applications from 19 countries, and dehumanizing rhetoric targeting Somali communities all share a troubling common thread: those decisions treat entire populations as threats rather than as human beings deserving of dignity.
These policies and statements inflict harm on people who have already endured extraordinary hardship. Many refugees and asylees fled persecution and violence, dealt with extensive bureaucracy, and underwent rigorous security vetting—the most intensive of any immigration category. Now, after completing this exhaustive process, they face frozen applications, canceled citizenship ceremonies, and public attacks on their communities. Parents worry about separation from their children. Young people grow up in fear about their future in the only country many have ever known.
To apply blanket restrictions based on country of origin or to characterize entire communities as unworthy violates fundamental principles of fairness. These approaches are not about security—they are barriers that punish people for who they are or where they were born.
At AAFSC, we have served immigrant communities in New York City since 1994. We will continue to provide legal services and support to affected families, combat harmful stereotypes, and advocate for change that recognize what we know to be true: immigrant communities are not problems to be solved. They are human beings deserving dignity, compassion, and justice.
We call on federal officials to resume processing applications without unnecessary delay, end blanket restrictions based on national origin, and treat all applicants with the dignity they deserve. And all of us—especially those in positions of power—must recognize the profound harmful impact that such rhetoric has on people’s lives.
The strength of our country has always been rooted in our diversity and our commitment to welcoming those seeking safety and opportunity. We must do better.
Image credit: Marjorie Zien