Inter-American Commission Hearing Charges U.S. and Mexico with Human Rights Violations at the Border
Press Release
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Grants USF Request for Human Rights Hearing on Border Abuse
On October 9, 2020, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights will conduct a hearing to assess allegations that the United States and Mexico are systematically violating the human rights of asylum seekers who have reached the U.S. southern border. The hearing is set for 2 PM EST, 11 AM Pacific time. To attend the hearing please REGISTER HERE or you could also watch it through the CIDH Facebook page.
The hearing was requested by a coalition of human rights organizations led by the University of San Francisco Masters in Migration Studies Program and the Law School Immigration & Deportation Defense Clinic. In its request, the coalition focused on three primary areas:
COVID-19 measures put in place by the governments of the United States and Mexico violate, among others, the rights to seek asylum; not to be returned to a country where one’s life or freedom would be threatened; to due process; not to be subjected to arbitrary detention; to family unity; to respect the best interests of the child; and to the preservation of health and wellbeing. Public health experts agree border closure to asylum seekers is not necessary to protect the U.S. from the pandemic while recognizing the human rights that are at stake.
Asylum Cooperative Agreements (“ACA”) that allow the U.S. to transfer asylum seekers to third countries. ACAs violate the principle of non-refoulement; the requirements stipulated by the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees and Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) for safe third country transfers; and the rights to a fair trial and due process. ACAs with countries such as Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras where violence is rampant illustrate the insanity of these policies.
Under the Migrant Protection Protocols (“MPP”), also known as the “Remain in Mexico” policy, the United States, in coordination with Mexico, violates the principle of non-refoulement, and fails to protect the rights to life, liberty and personal security, equality before the law, and due process. Thousands of asylum seekers have been forced to remain in dangerous living conditions along the border under the MPP policy.
Information on Inter-American Commission hearings on the Hearings Calendar. To attend the hearing please REGISTER HERE or the hearing can also be observed on the CIDH Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/CIDH.OEA/
The hearing will take place on October 9, 2020 at 11:00 PST, 14:00 EST.
The panelists will include: Professor Bill Ong Hing (USF), Nicole Ramos (Al Otro Lado), Laura Pena (Non-Profit Immigration Attorney), Ismael Moreno Coto -Padre Melo(Director of Radio Progreso- Honduras), and Maira Delgado Laurens (USF MiMS Graduate Student).
Additionally, there will be an online Q&A session right after the hearing to which members of the press, organizations, and other interested persons are invited.
- After Hearing Q&A Session
The Q&A after the hearing will be hosted by Ernesto Ledesma, director of Rompeviento Televisión in Mexico City. The panel will be bi-lingual, but mostly in Spanish. (Simultaneous Interpretation will be Available)
WHEN: Friday, October 9, 2020
TIME: 15:30 EST
WHERE: Zoom
REG Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PLdXTxWgSQG6FpKoZsD1Ww
Please contact the following for more information:
Maira Delgado Laurens: mdelgadolaurens@dons.usfca.edu
Gaganpreet Kaur: gkaur12@dons.usfca.edu
Bill Ong Hing: bhing@usfca.edu