Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement on President Trump’s new anti-asylum policy, which for the first time in our history would impose fees on families seeking asylum and seek to hinder fair consideration of asylum cases:

“This despicable attack on desperate families seeking asylum is cruel, unprecedented and fails to address the root causes of migration.

“This inhumane action is a stark departure from past presidents, Republican and Democrat, who have always recognized that the lifeline of asylum is central to our nation’s values, history and future. As the American Association of Evangelicals has testified, America’s commitment to opening our doors to those in need is the ‘crown jewel of American humanitarianism.’

“The Administration’s failed policies have created senseless heartbreak and horror at the border, and this latest policy only compounds the cruelty. House Democrats call on the President to stop sabotaging Congress’s efforts to address the root cause of the situation by blocking funding for humanitarian efforts in Central America, and to join us to support smart, effective immigration policies that honor our values and keep families together and safe.”

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