LANSING, Mich. (Oct. 20, 2021) — Sen. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor) has issued the following statement after offering a resolution today that calls on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to review and rescind an order that has sent asylum seekers from Haiti back to their country, which is in turmoil:
“The humanitarian crisis in Haiti has been, and remains, a grave concern due to compounded tragedies of violence, political upheaval, and natural disasters. If we are to advance as a nation, we must continue to sharpen and refine our policies, especially when it comes to people yearning for a better life for themselves and their families. In this time of great upheaval, we must reassert ourselves as a global power rooted in kindness, humanitarianism, and justice.”
The U.S. allows people the right to seek asylum upon arrival to ensure those who need protection are not dangerously expelled. However, as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC issued an order in March 2020 that suspended people coming from countries where a quarantinable, communicable disease existed. Unfortunately, in the process of doing so, it also endangered the lives of those in need of protection.
Senate Resolution 87 was referred to the Senate Government Operations Committee.
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