Black women leaders denounce SCOTUS decision targeting low-income immigrants

Statement by In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda Founder and President Marcela Howell 

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 to allow the Trump administration to deny residence or entry to the country for immigrants who need public assistance. This decision follows last week’s Trump administration announcement of a new visa restriction targeting travelers who are or appear to be pregnant. In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda Founder and President Marcela Howell issued the following statement in support of immigrants’ rights: 

 
“The Trump administration’s open war on immigrants continues. Today, the conservative Supreme Court sided with the Administration in penalizing immigrants who may need public assistance when they first arrive in the U.S. Last week, Trump added ‘pregnancy profiling’ to the cruelties already inflicted on immigrants, with foreign-born people of color now facing pregnancy interrogations before being granted visas.
 
“We denounce these xenophobic policies, which will have an especially chilling effect on immigrants of color, including Black immigrants. There are an estimated four to five million Black immigrants in the U.S. —a fast-growing population, but one that is often overlooked. Many come seeking asylum because of armed conflict, natural disasters or other extraordinary and temporary humanitarian circumstances. Their health and well-being are jeopardized by Trump’s inhumane and racist immigration policies — including the new rule targeting pregnant travelers, which targets a number of Black travelers, while not being applied to European countries. 
 
“The administration’s attacks on pregnant immigrants and foreign-born travelers coupled with denying legal status or entry to immigrants who need some support is in keeping with Trump’s unrelenting assaults on human rights — especially the rights of people of color and our families and communities. 
 
“Trump has made it clear that he will stop at nothing to dismantle our constitutional rights, whether it is around religious freedom, voting rights, or freedom to travel. Make no mistake; if we allow Trump to impose these injustices at borders, our airports or in our homes, it won’t be long before all of our constitutional rights are eliminated. If we stand by as immigrants who need safety net protections are persecuted, we can be sure that Trump will accelerate his attacks on U.S. citizens and their families who need such support.
 
“We at In Our Own Voice will continue the fight to ensure that all women have the right and resources to make decisions about their own bodies — including women passing through U.S. points of entry and immigrant women at our country’s border. We call on Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration law that protects the rights of all people, including those seeking asylum on our shores.”


In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda is a national Reproductive Justice organization focused on lifting up the voices of Black women at the national and regional levels in our ongoing policy fight to secure Reproductive Justice for Black women, femmes, queer, trans and gender non-conforming people, and youth. Our strategic partners include Black Women for Wellness, Black Women’s Health Imperative, New Voices for Reproductive Justice, SisterLove, Inc., SisterReach, SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW, The Afiya Center and Women With A Vision.